Exodus at treasury

MATHIAS HAUFIKUWINDHOEKThree senior officials at the finance ministry have resigned and will leave the ministry at the end of this month.Long-serving executive director Ericah Shafudah informed her colleagues that she would leave the public service at the end of July “as per my personal development plan”.The ministry’s spokesperson, Tonateni Shidhudhu, and finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi’s economic advisor, Penda Ithindi, are also on their way out.As for Shidhudhu, it is understood that he tendered his resignation last Friday.The former journalist confirmed his imminent move when contacted, but refused to divulge any further details.“What I can confirm is that I have received three job offers recently. All of them are exciting opportunities just like my current position in the ministry of finance. I am still weighing my options, but this is too early to talk about as I have not even briefed my minister yet, as a matter of courtesy,” he said.Ithindi, Namibian Sun understands, is moving over to the agriculture ministry. He was, however, not available for comment yesterday.Greener pasturesShafudah, who served the finance ministry in various capacities since 2002, is leaving at a time when the ministry is battling to stabilise the country’s teetering economy.Approached for comment, she said her departure would not have any adverse impact on the ministry.“The ministry of finance has a competent team that will be able to navigate through all weathers even in the absence of one of the team members,” Shafudah said, adding that her departure is for a new career and to apply the experience that she gained over years in the public sector.She said her biggest challenge at the ministry was “the adverse developments in the economy, impacting negatively on spending and fiscal sustainability parameters such as public debt and budget deficits”.She listed stable revenue collection, public expenditure reviews, strengthening of public finance management systems and the mid-term budget review process as some of her successes.“Increasing revenue collection has enabled the government to fund socio-economic development programmes and social safety nets to push back the frontiers of poverty and vulnerability,” she added.Shafudah will join the World Food Programme (WFP) in August.“My transition to the WFP is part of the contribution of Namibia to the United Nations, as well as a representation of the mutual trust and cooperation that exists between the government of Namibia and WFP,” she said.

Exodus at treasury

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

Please login to leave a comment

Exodus at treasury

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

Please login to leave a comment

Login