Staff Reporter
THE Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has responded to criticism over its recent vacancy for an ICT Systems Specialist, which was open to female candidates only, stating that the aim was to address gender imbalance in the workforce, not to exclude men.
According to Mufaro Nesongano, CRAN’s Executive for Communication and Consumer Relations, the vacancy was intended to strengthen the recruitment of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and to help redress existing gender imbalances within CRAN’s workforce.
“Currently, 80% of CRAN positions that require competencies in STEM (across our two STEM departments: ICT Services and Engineering and Technical Services) are occupied by men. We deeply value the contributions of our men in STEM, whose innovation and leadership have played a pivotal role in shaping Namibia’s technological landscape. However, this peculiar workforce profile (STEM positions only occupied by 20% of women at CRAN) highlights a significant gender imbalance, and it is precisely why we are taking a deliberate, equity-driven approach to ensure that women are afforded meaningful opportunities to contribute to and shape our digital future,” Nesongano said.
He added that this initiative forms part of CRAN’s Affirmative Action Plan 2024–2026, as approved in accordance with the relevant legislation. While acknowledging that the recruitment process may not align with popular expectations, Nesongano expressed appreciation for the public’s feedback and urged that it be considered in context.
“Based on the feedback on the media coverage, we have now noted that this recruitment approach, while it reflects a deliberate and responsible effort to redress current workforce imbalances (80/20), it may not align with popular expectations. We therefore value and acknowledge the feedback received from the public and our stakeholders. This input will be taken into consideration. We also trust that the public will appreciate the broader context within which CRAN advertised the position, recognising the regulatory, organisational, and strategic considerations that informed the process. We remain committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society, in a manner that is both equitable and compliant with legislation,” Nesongano added.
