Hunt for Agribank CEO may be in final stretch

AGRIBANK may be closer to getting a chief executive officer after nearly two years of controversies.

Last week the new Agricultural Bank of Namibia board of directors ended their hunt for the CEO and submitted names to the Ministry of Finance for a decision. Chairman Hans-Guenther Stier declined to mention any names but confirmed that they had made “recommendations”.Stier denied that the board headhunted candidates for the controversial CEO position left vacant when the long-serving Agribank chief administrator, Tjeripo Hijarunguru, was booted last December.The previous board of directors was also fired because it refused to rubber-stamp the choice of Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.Stier declined to confirm or deny whether Namibia’s Ambassador to the United States, Leonard Iipumbu, was in the running.Other names that have been mentioned are those of acting CEO Shihaleni Ndjaba and Agribank finance manager Justus Tjituka.”I think there are rumours around but that does not mean it’s true,” Stier said.The Agribank Chairman said the board hoped to get an answer from the Government within two weeks, but pointed out that the Ministry of Finance still had a major say in accepting the board’s choice or not.The previous board of directors was fired for arguing with the minister about the “suitability” of the person she wanted as CEO.Chairman Hans-Guenther Stier declined to mention any names but confirmed that they had made “recommendations”.Stier denied that the board headhunted candidates for the controversial CEO position left vacant when the long-serving Agribank chief administrator, Tjeripo Hijarunguru, was booted last December.The previous board of directors was also fired because it refused to rubber-stamp the choice of Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.Stier declined to confirm or deny whether Namibia’s Ambassador to the United States, Leonard Iipumbu, was in the running.Other names that have been mentioned are those of acting CEO Shihaleni Ndjaba and Agribank finance manager Justus Tjituka.”I think there are rumours around but that does not mean it’s true,” Stier said.The Agribank Chairman said the board hoped to get an answer from the Government within two weeks, but pointed out that the Ministry of Finance still had a major say in accepting the board’s choice or not.The previous board of directors was fired for arguing with the minister about the “suitability” of the person she wanted as CEO.