A video clip now circulating widely on social media has struck a nerve across the country. In it, Prof. Job Amupanda confronts the CEO of a local authority over a presentation made to a parliamentary committee. The presentation contained a slide titled “Statistical Overview”, yet when questioned, the CEO could not provide a single statistic. The uncomfortable exchange that followed has since become a viral moment, but beyond the embarrassment of one official lies a much deeper and more troubling national issue: the appointment of individuals to critical public positions without the competence such offices demand.
This newspaper has previously raised concerns about the growing pattern of political patronage, factionalism and internal party loyalty determining who gets appointed to key administrative roles. The incident in the video is not merely about one flawed presentation. It is a reflection of a systemic weakness that, if left unchecked, threatens the very efficiency of our institutions and the confidence citizens place in them.
Local authorities and public institutions are not ceremonial posts. They are operational engines of service delivery. They manage water supply, electricity, sanitation, housing development, local roads, zoning, billing systems and community engagement. In many ways, towns and cities are the heartbeat of our national economy and social life. When they function efficiently, businesses thrive, communities grow and citizens experience dignity in their daily lives. When they fail, frustration brews, investment retreats and inequality deepens.
It is for this reason that Prof. Amupanda’s statement during the confrontation resonated so strongly with the public. “In such a state, meritocracy is important. Those that run the administrative machinery of state institutions, including towns and cities, must be competent and command clarity.” These words cut through the noise because they express what many Namibians have been saying quietly for years: certain positions cannot be treated as rewards for loyalty or tools for political balancing. They must be filled by capable minds who understand their mandates and can deliver measurable results.
Political parties, by their nature, engage in strategy, alliances and internal power negotiations. That is the reality of politics. However, when this culture spills over into administrative appointments, the consequences are felt not within party structures but in the lives of ordinary citizens. A mismanaged town council does not only reflect poorly on the party that appointed its officials; it affects the resident who waits months for a land allocation, the entrepreneur struggling with erratic electricity, and the family facing inflated water bills with no explanation.
Namibia is not short of talent. Our universities produce skilled graduates every year. Our private sector is filled with professionals who manage complex systems efficiently. Our diaspora includes Namibians excelling in engineering, finance, urban planning, governance and public administration across the world. Even within political parties themselves are individuals of immense competence and integrity. The problem is not a lack of capable people. The problem is a selection culture that too often prioritizes loyalty over literacy, connections over competence, and factional alignment over functional ability.
The viral confrontation has embarrassed one CEO, but it should also embarrass the system that placed him in a position where he could not defend his own work before a parliamentary committee. That is not merely an individual failure; it is an institutional one. When leaders are appointed without the skills required for their portfolios, they are set up to fail. And when they fail, the public pays the price.
Public confidence in governance is fragile. Each incident of visible incompetence chips away at trust in institutions. Citizens begin to question whether taxes are being used responsibly, whether decisions are being made with insight, and whether anyone in authority truly understands the challenges faced on the ground. Restoring that trust requires more than public statements; it requires reforming how appointments are made.
Meritocracy is not a fashionable slogan. It is a practical necessity. It means transparent recruitment processes, clear qualification criteria, performance-based contracts and accountability mechanisms that reward results and address failure. It means insulating key administrative positions from factional tug-of-war. It means acknowledging that political victory does not automatically confer administrative expertise.
There are certain posts where political considerations will always play a role, that is the nature of democratic systems. But there are also positions where politics must step aside in favor of professionalism. Town CEOs, municipal managers, heads of public utilities, financial controllers and technical directors fall squarely into that category. Their job is not to advance party agendas but to ensure services run efficiently, budgets are balanced and development plans are executed.
The confrontation that has captured national attention should therefore be treated not as entertainment, but as a warning. If we continue to appoint individuals who lack the necessary competence into vital roles, more such embarrassing moments will follow. But more importantly, service delivery will suffer, opportunities will be lost, and public faith in governance will continue to erode.
This country deserves better. Our towns deserve managers who understand urban planning, finance and governance. Our institutions deserve leaders who can explain their decisions with confidence and data. Our citizens deserve assurance that their future is being shaped by capable hands.
It is time for political parties to recognise that playing politics with technical and administrative positions ultimately weakens the very state they seek to lead. Namibia’s progress depends not only on visionary politics but also on competent administration. The two must complement each other, not undermine each other.
The lesson from the viral video is simple: loyalty may win appointments, but competence sustains nations.
