FNB CEO Ipangelwa dies in car crash

THE Chief Executive Officer of First National Bank Namibia and prominent Namibian business figure, Lazarus Shinyemba Ipangelwa, died in a car accident yesterday morning.

The Police confirmed that Ipangelwa died on the spot. His son Simson and domestic worker Elizabeth Kuluku Nuyoma were also killed after Ipangelwa’s Mercedes-Benz veered off the road and overturned between Otjiwarongo and Otavi.Another woman, whose name is being withheld as her next of kin have not yet been notified, died on the way to Windhoek where she was being transported for medical treatment.Police yesterday evening confirmed that the only survivor, Ipangelwa’s daughter, Tashiya Shinyemba, was hospitalised at Otjiwarongo and was in a stable condition.Ipangelwa became the first local black person to head a commercial bank in Namibia, when he was appointed Managing Director in March 2003.At the time of his death, he was also the Vice President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).Ipangelwa was the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Namibia before he joined FNB.FNB Namibia Chairman Dieter Voigts said management and staff at the bank were “very shocked at this tragedy”.He said Ipangelwa, who had been with FNB for three years, had played a major role in successfully developing FNB’s business in Namibia.”He was a respected business leader and community member.He will be greatly missed and FNB extends its condolences to Lazarus’s family and friends,” said Voigts.NCCI CEO Tarah Shaanika also expressed shock at Ipangelwa’s untimely death.He said the chamber would miss Ipangelwa’s contributions and hard work.”We [NCCI] relied heavily on his leadership.Most of the initiatives we are carrying out this year were ideas from him.Everyone was looking forward to him taking the NCCI presidency next,” said Shaanika.Voigts said FirstRand would deploy the former CEO of FNB Botswana, John MacAskill, to act as temporary CEO.The NCCI board will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss the appointment of a successor.His son Simson and domestic worker Elizabeth Kuluku Nuyoma were also killed after Ipangelwa’s Mercedes-Benz veered off the road and overturned between Otjiwarongo and Otavi.Another woman, whose name is being withheld as her next of kin have not yet been notified, died on the way to Windhoek where she was being transported for medical treatment.Police yesterday evening confirmed that the only survivor, Ipangelwa’s daughter, Tashiya Shinyemba, was hospitalised at Otjiwarongo and was in a stable condition. Ipangelwa became the first local black person to head a commercial bank in Namibia, when he was appointed Managing Director in March 2003.At the time of his death, he was also the Vice President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).Ipangelwa was the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Namibia before he joined FNB.FNB Namibia Chairman Dieter Voigts said management and staff at the bank were “very shocked at this tragedy”.He said Ipangelwa, who had been with FNB for three years, had played a major role in successfully developing FNB’s business in Namibia.”He was a respected business leader and community member.He will be greatly missed and FNB extends its condolences to Lazarus’s family and friends,” said Voigts.NCCI CEO Tarah Shaanika also expressed shock at Ipangelwa’s untimely death.He said the chamber would miss Ipangelwa’s contributions and hard work.”We [NCCI] relied heavily on his leadership.Most of the initiatives we are carrying out this year were ideas from him.Everyone was looking forward to him taking the NCCI presidency next,” said Shaanika. Voigts said FirstRand would deploy the former CEO of FNB Botswana, John MacAskill, to act as temporary CEO.The NCCI board will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss the appointment of a successor.