CEO merry-go-round continues at Agribank

THE Agribank Board has been ordered to appoint Deputy Minister of Lands Isak Katali as acting Chief Executive Officer of the parastatal, further prolonging the search for its main administrator.

Katali will take over from another acting CEO, Shihaleni Ndjaba, who will finally join the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication as Permanent Secretary. Agribank Chairman Dr Franz Stellmacher confirmed on inquiry yesterday that the Ministry of Finance had “decided” that Katali be appointed from tomorrow to replace Ndjaba.The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development are in charge of the Agricultural Bank of Namibia, which was set up to finance the farming industry.The Namibian understands that a decision on Katali’s appointment was taken at the Office of the President last week.Comment could not be obtained yesterday from the Ministry of Finance, whose head, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, is reported to be on maternity leave.Katali too could not be reached for comment late yesterday.Given the situation, Stellmacher said he had proposed to the other directors that Katali be appointed as acting CEO for six months to give them time to complete the hunt for a permanent chef administrator.The Board is all but obliged to rubber-stamp the appointment.The search for a CEO for Agribank has become a controversial and drawn-out affair with Finance Minister Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and the directors continuously becoming deadlocked on who to choose.In the process, former Managing Director, Tjeripo Hijarunguru opposed the board’s decision not to renew his contract and refused to budge.The first interviews and selections were done at the beginning of 2003, but the process was cancelled, allegedly amid objections.Since then, advertisements have been published at least twice.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila who appeared to have initially accepted the appointment of Maureen Hinda, one of Agribank’s directors, did an about turn and ordered the board to re-advertise the post.She said procedures had not been followed.Two months ago, the Minister halted the latest round of interviews while she sought legislative powers to appoint and fire directors more easily than has been the case in the past.Stellmacher said yesterday they would not appoint a new chief until the amendments that Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was seeking had been passed by Parliament.Agribank Chairman Dr Franz Stellmacher confirmed on inquiry yesterday that the Ministry of Finance had “decided” that Katali be appointed from tomorrow to replace Ndjaba.The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development are in charge of the Agricultural Bank of Namibia, which was set up to finance the farming industry.The Namibian understands that a decision on Katali’s appointment was taken at the Office of the President last week.Comment could not be obtained yesterday from the Ministry of Finance, whose head, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, is reported to be on maternity leave.Katali too could not be reached for comment late yesterday.Given the situation, Stellmacher said he had proposed to the other directors that Katali be appointed as acting CEO for six months to give them time to complete the hunt for a permanent chef administrator.The Board is all but obliged to rubber-stamp the appointment.The search for a CEO for Agribank has become a controversial and drawn-out affair with Finance Minister Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and the directors continuously becoming deadlocked on who to choose.In the process, former Managing Director, Tjeripo Hijarunguru opposed the board’s decision not to renew his contract and refused to budge.The first interviews and selections were done at the beginning of 2003, but the process was cancelled, allegedly amid objections.Since then, advertisements have been published at least twice.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila who appeared to have initially accepted the appointment of Maureen Hinda, one of Agribank’s directors, did an about turn and ordered the board to re-advertise the post.She said procedures had not been followed.Two months ago, the Minister halted the latest round of interviews while she sought legislative powers to appoint and fire directors more easily than has been the case in the past.Stellmacher said yesterday they would not appoint a new chief until the amendments that Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was seeking had been passed by Parliament.