The hunt is on for CEO for TransNamib – again

THE appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer was halted at TransNamib after the Board was unable to recruit the preferred candidate.

They have since gone back to the drawing board by re-advertising the position. Board member and acting Chief Executive Officer Mbakutua Rairirira Mbetjiha told The Namibian on Wednesday that they were unable to recruit either of the two preferred candidates because they both work for Government agencies.”We were forced to go back to the market to explore other possibilities,” Mbetjiha said when asked why there had been no appointment yet.Former CEO John Shaetonhodi left more than three months ago after his contract had not been renewed.Mbetjiha said they interviewed “six or seven” candidates during the first round but only two suitable people were found.Both work for Government institutions and cannot be redeployed, Mbetjiha said.Earlier, The Namibian was informed that there were differences among the Board members over the selection of the candidate.Sources had said that the race was between the Permanent Secretary of Works, Shihaleni Ndjaba, and Engelhard Haihambo, General Manager at the Roads Contractor Company (RCC).Mbetjiha said they hoped to conduct new interviews by the middle of November but the new CEO would only start work in January.Other members of the Board are Foibe Namene (Chairperson), Tarah Shaanika (Deputy Chairperson), Riaan Potgieter and Martin Fabianus.Board member and acting Chief Executive Officer Mbakutua Rairirira Mbetjiha told The Namibian on Wednesday that they were unable to recruit either of the two preferred candidates because they both work for Government agencies.”We were forced to go back to the market to explore other possibilities,” Mbetjiha said when asked why there had been no appointment yet.Former CEO John Shaetonhodi left more than three months ago after his contract had not been renewed.Mbetjiha said they interviewed “six or seven” candidates during the first round but only two suitable people were found.Both work for Government institutions and cannot be redeployed, Mbetjiha said. Earlier, The Namibian was informed that there were differences among the Board members over the selection of the candidate.Sources had said that the race was between the Permanent Secretary of Works, Shihaleni Ndjaba, and Engelhard Haihambo, General Manager at the Roads Contractor Company (RCC).Mbetjiha said they hoped to conduct new interviews by the middle of November but the new CEO would only start work in January.Other members of the Board are Foibe Namene (Chairperson), Tarah Shaanika (Deputy Chairperson), Riaan Potgieter and Martin Fabianus.