New CEO outlines his ideas for turning around the NHE

THE new Chief Executive Officer of the National Housing Enterprise (NHE), Vinson Hailulu, has vowed to turn around the troubled parastatal by broadening its scope and role on the economic front.

In an exclusive interview with The Namibian, Hailulu said the NHE played a vital role not only in providing housing, but significantly in the socio-economic development of the country. For this reason there was a need for key stakeholders – notably Government, local authorities, the private sector and the public – to co-operate and work for the common good.The former City of Windhoek boss said the provision of housing needed to be viewed in a broader context in line with Namibia’s national objectives.Vision 2030, he said, and the Second National Development Programme (NDP2), needed to be supported operationally by specifics such as NHE’s role in providing accommodation to the needy.Hailulu said there was a need to adopt a people-centred management strategy to take the NHE to the next level.A manager by training, Hailulu said his strategy was to tap into people’s capabilities, allowing human creativity to take centre stage.Innovation, he said, was the key to successful organisational development.”Certainly there is need for key stakeholders to co-operate and work together.Let’s form linkages for the betterment of our society,” said Hailulu.One of the greatest challenges facing NHE is a lack of serviced erven for building houses.Noted Hailulu: “There is a need to increase the rate of construction.Thus in that context, our key partners should work with us.”In an effort to strengthen the role and effectiveness of the housing utility, the NHE boss said plans were afoot for a white paper to be presented to Government.Asked about the workers’ protests at the parastatal in recent months, Hailulu said the solution lay in good corporate governance.Upholding the principles of good corporate governance would allow men and women of integrity to be appointed into positions of management, he said.”Integrity is central.We need to be accountable both internally and externally in our quest for the creation of a corruption-free organisation as well as society.”However, as critics have noted, parastatal heads face numerous challenges emanating chiefly from reduced public confidence.Hailulu was adamant that sound management principles incorporating change management and the participation of workers in the daily operation of organisations was vital.The new boss hinted that structural adjustments were on the way at the NHE that could affect employees.For this reason there was a need for key stakeholders – notably Government, local authorities, the private sector and the public – to co-operate and work for the common good.The former City of Windhoek boss said the provision of housing needed to be viewed in a broader context in line with Namibia’s national objectives.Vision 2030, he said, and the Second National Development Programme (NDP2), needed to be supported operationally by specifics such as NHE’s role in providing accommodation to the needy.Hailulu said there was a need to adopt a people-centred management strategy to take the NHE to the next level.A manager by training, Hailulu said his strategy was to tap into people’s capabilities, allowing human creativity to take centre stage.Innovation, he said, was the key to successful organisational development.”Certainly there is need for key stakeholders to co-operate and work together.Let’s form linkages for the betterment of our society,” said Hailulu.One of the greatest challenges facing NHE is a lack of serviced erven for building houses.Noted Hailulu: “There is a need to increase the rate of construction.Thus in that context, our key partners should work with us.”In an effort to strengthen the role and effectiveness of the housing utility, the NHE boss said plans were afoot for a white paper to be presented to Government.Asked about the workers’ protests at the parastatal in recent months, Hailulu said the solution lay in good corporate governance.Upholding the principles of good corporate governance would allow men and women of integrity to be appointed into positions of management, he said.”Integrity is central.We need to be accountable both internally and externally in our quest for the creation of a corruption-free organisation as well as society.”However, as critics have noted, parastatal heads face numerous challenges emanating chiefly from reduced public confidence.Hailulu was adamant that sound management principles incorporating change management and the participation of workers in the daily operation of organisations was vital.The new boss hinted that structural adjustments were on the way at the NHE that could affect employees.