Zaamwani is elected new NCCI president

INGE Zaamwani, managing director of Namdeb was at the weekend elected president of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) taking over the reigns of leadership from Dr Leake Hangala, who had been at the helm for the last four years.

Lazarus Ipangelwa managing director of First National Bank Namibia was elected first vice-president and Ongopolo Mining and Processing managing director Andre Neethling was elected second vice president with Sackey Aipinge become a board member. The three are new members to the NCCI board.The rest of the board was re-elected except for Douglas Reisner and Welbert Ockhuizen.The elections were conducted at NCCI’s 14th annual general meeting (AGM) held at the NamPower Convention Centre in Windhoek on Saturday.Speaking at a gala hosted after the AGM, the newly -elected president said her major task included seeing the organisation remain part of the process of economic transformation and nation building and she appealed to stakeholders to continue with the existing partnership between them and her organisation.”NCCI has fostered a strong and constructive partnership with both Government and labour.It, will therefore, be challenging to build upon the foundation laid by my predecessor.I am aware of the sacrifices made by him and the board of directors… ensuring that it (NCCI) remained relevant and true to it s core functions, namely that of rendering appropriate and timely services to its members and articulating the interests of the business community…”Zaamwani also outlined challenges that the NCCI had to address from Black Economic Empowerment to HIV/Aids.She called for support from all involved in order to deal with these issues.”The vital question of Black Economic Empowerment still remains unresolved.All stakeholders need to urgently convene a working session that will steer the process of putting in place, the necessary policy and legislative framework for accelerated implementation,” said Zaamwani.Officially opening the AGM earlier, Trade and Industry Minister Jesaya Nyamu said his ministry regarded NCCI as a key player in the country’s economy.He said, “The Chamber has a huge mandate of mobilising the Namibian community into a formidable force in the socio-economic development of our country.Our Government and the civil society, no doubt recognise NCCI as their critical link to the private sector and a valued partner in the job creation and poverty eradication.”In his last speech as sitting president, before elections were conducted, Dr Hangala expressed gratitude for having been NCCI president for the past four years.He added that NCCI is ready to move ahead purposefully in the coming four years.”I am confident that this great institution will go from strength to strength, just as I am confident that our great country will continue to live up to its reputation as the land of the free and the brave,” said Hangala.To date NCCI has offices in all the country’s 13 regions, and is an active advocate of the role business can play in the socio-economic transformation of Namibia.The three are new members to the NCCI board.The rest of the board was re-elected except for Douglas Reisner and Welbert Ockhuizen.The elections were conducted at NCCI’s 14th annual general meeting (AGM) held at the NamPower Convention Centre in Windhoek on Saturday.Speaking at a gala hosted after the AGM, the newly -elected president said her major task included seeing the organisation remain part of the process of economic transformation and nation building and she appealed to stakeholders to continue with the existing partnership between them and her organisation.”NCCI has fostered a strong and constructive partnership with both Government and labour.It, will therefore, be challenging to build upon the foundation laid by my predecessor.I am aware of the sacrifices made by him and the board of directors… ensuring that it (NCCI) remained relevant and true to it s core functions, namely that of rendering appropriate and timely services to its members and articulating the interests of the business community…”Zaamwani also outlined challenges that the NCCI had to address from Black Economic Empowerment to HIV/Aids.She called for support from all involved in order to deal with these issues.”The vital question of Black Economic Empowerment still remains unresolved.All stakeholders need to urgently convene a working session that will steer the process of putting in place, the necessary policy and legislative framework for accelerated implementation,” said Zaamwani.Officially opening the AGM earlier, Trade and Industry Minister Jesaya Nyamu said his ministry regarded NCCI as a key player in the country’s economy.He said, “The Chamber has a huge mandate of mobilising the Namibian community into a formidable force in the socio-economic development of our country.Our Government and the civil society, no doubt recognise NCCI as their critical link to the private sector and a valued partner in the job creation and poverty eradication.”In his last speech as sitting president, before elections were conducted, Dr Hangala expressed gratitude for having been NCCI president for the past four years.He added that NCCI is ready to move ahead purposefully in the coming four years.”I am confident that this great institution will go from strength to strength, just as I am confident that our great country will continue to live up to its reputation as the land of the free and the brave,” said Hangala.To date NCCI has offices in all the country’s 13 regions, and is an active advocate of the role business can play in the socio-economic transformation of Namibia.