Minister again stalls AgriBank CEO hunt

THE search for a CEO at Agribank has been put on hold again while Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is reportedly seeking authority to hand-pick the chief administrator.

Interviews were cancelled two weeks ago after Kuugongelwa-Amadhila requested that she be informed about the process, ostensibly to screen the applicants. It is believed that more than 30 people have applied for the post.Government sources said last week that the Finance Minister had started to amend the Agricultural Bank’s Act, which would give her the authority to appoint the chief executive officer and to have easier control of the board of directors.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila declined to respond to specific questions, saying only that the matter will be dealt with “in the interest of the nation”.AgriBank Chairman Dr Franz Stellmacher said they were waiting to hear from Cabinet after the Minister had told the board she wanted the appointment to be discussed there.Stellmacher said the Minister expressed concern that the board was moving too quickly in appointing a CEO.He said the board planned to have a new head of the bank by July 28 in order to ensure that when the term of Haleni Ndjaba, the acting chief administrator, came to an end on July 30, someone would be ready to step in.The Namibian understands Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has asked to be informed of the candidates who have been short-listed.Ndjaba, the deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, was sent to take over the reigns at Agribank at the urging of Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.The search has triggered a controversy lasting for more than a year now since the first term of former CEO Tjeripo Hijarunguru came to an end.The board advertised the vacancy for the third time this year after Kuugongelwa-Amadhila rejected their choice of Maureen Hinda as CEO.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila told the board she was not satisfied that procedures have been followed in Hinda’s appointment.It is believed that more than 30 people have applied for the post.Government sources said last week that the Finance Minister had started to amend the Agricultural Bank’s Act, which would give her the authority to appoint the chief executive officer and to have easier control of the board of directors.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila declined to respond to specific questions, saying only that the matter will be dealt with “in the interest of the nation”.AgriBank Chairman Dr Franz Stellmacher said they were waiting to hear from Cabinet after the Minister had told the board she wanted the appointment to be discussed there.Stellmacher said the Minister expressed concern that the board was moving too quickly in appointing a CEO.He said the board planned to have a new head of the bank by July 28 in order to ensure that when the term of Haleni Ndjaba, the acting chief administrator, came to an end on July 30, someone would be ready to step in.The Namibian understands Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has asked to be informed of the candidates who have been short-listed.Ndjaba, the deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, was sent to take over the reigns at Agribank at the urging of Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.The search has triggered a controversy lasting for more than a year now since the first term of former CEO Tjeripo Hijarunguru came to an end.The board advertised the vacancy for the third time this year after Kuugongelwa-Amadhila rejected their choice of Maureen Hinda as CEO.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila told the board she was not satisfied that procedures have been followed in Hinda’s appointment.