Hamutenya lands plum job
Cabinet has finally approved the appointment of Kennedy Hamutenya as substantive CEO of diamond marketing parastatal, Namdia.
After a long drawn-out battle Kennedy Hamutenya has landed the CEO position of Namibia Desert Diamonds (Namdia) on a full-time basis, Namibian Sun can reveal.
Hamutenya's appointment at the newly formed parastatal is effective 1 July and runs until 30 June 2022.
He received his letter of appointment this week from minster of mines and energy, Obeth Kandjoze.
The diamond commissioner at the ministry of mines has been serving as an acting CEO of Namdia since the company started operating in April last year.
Approached for comment yesterday, Hamutenya confirmed his appointment, saying it took about four years of negotiations to set up Namdia, even though it has been in the pipeline for some ten years.
“It is a great relief, I have been in limbo for so long, it is not nice because you cannot plan nor do anything. It is emotionally and psychologically draining but I'm happy it is over and now I can concentrate on my mission and vision of the company,” said Hamutenya who has been a public servant for the past 21 years.
He said being the first CEO of the company, he understands the challenge will be big, but is eager to get on with the job.
He said the priorities include starting a management team, recruiting workers and getting the newly renovated building ready for business.
“It took a lot of work finding the right building for our offices and we had to do a lot of work to secure it. It has to be safe for both diamonds and our people and we should be moving in by 1 October,” he said.
An excited Hamutenya said Namdia is a 100% state-owned company that will enable the country, for the first time, to have sovereignty to sell her diamonds.
“Our diamonds, our God-given heritage have been sold by De Beers all these years but we as Namibia are now going into the market, we have a strategic commodity, which belongs to us. We want to be able to sell our diamond directly. We want to create a brand, a Namibian brand that says Namibia and not De beers where anyone in the world can see it comes from Namibia. And Namdia is going to be the vehicle of this product. We are going to leave a footprint of our product in the diamond market,” he said.
He said he has an amazing team at the moment, but he is looking forward to building capacity, especially within the country's youth to learn.
“I am passionate about this job, selling the best diamonds in the world is my labour of love and I want our youth to be the ones who mine, cut, polish and negotiate prices of our diamonds. I am honoured and proud for the trust government has put in me but I have no illusions about the responsibility ahead of me. I know this organisation started off with some negative publicity but I can tell you this is a company Namibia will be proud of.
“All I need is the support of my government, my board of directors as well as fellow Namibians.”
The Namibian reported in May this year that the Namdia board was heavily divided over the appointment of a substantive CEO. According to reports, some members of the board preferred Hamutenya, while another camp was rooting for Alex Gawanab, an executive at Swakop Uranium, to take up the job on a full-time basis. The candidates were interviewed in November last year.
The Namdia board is headed by Shakespeare Masiza, while ordinary members include Chris Nghaamwa, Tania Hangula, Bonny Konjore, Loretha Harases and Venondjo Maharero.
NAMENE HELMICH
Hamutenya's appointment at the newly formed parastatal is effective 1 July and runs until 30 June 2022.
He received his letter of appointment this week from minster of mines and energy, Obeth Kandjoze.
The diamond commissioner at the ministry of mines has been serving as an acting CEO of Namdia since the company started operating in April last year.
Approached for comment yesterday, Hamutenya confirmed his appointment, saying it took about four years of negotiations to set up Namdia, even though it has been in the pipeline for some ten years.
“It is a great relief, I have been in limbo for so long, it is not nice because you cannot plan nor do anything. It is emotionally and psychologically draining but I'm happy it is over and now I can concentrate on my mission and vision of the company,” said Hamutenya who has been a public servant for the past 21 years.
He said being the first CEO of the company, he understands the challenge will be big, but is eager to get on with the job.
He said the priorities include starting a management team, recruiting workers and getting the newly renovated building ready for business.
“It took a lot of work finding the right building for our offices and we had to do a lot of work to secure it. It has to be safe for both diamonds and our people and we should be moving in by 1 October,” he said.
An excited Hamutenya said Namdia is a 100% state-owned company that will enable the country, for the first time, to have sovereignty to sell her diamonds.
“Our diamonds, our God-given heritage have been sold by De Beers all these years but we as Namibia are now going into the market, we have a strategic commodity, which belongs to us. We want to be able to sell our diamond directly. We want to create a brand, a Namibian brand that says Namibia and not De beers where anyone in the world can see it comes from Namibia. And Namdia is going to be the vehicle of this product. We are going to leave a footprint of our product in the diamond market,” he said.
He said he has an amazing team at the moment, but he is looking forward to building capacity, especially within the country's youth to learn.
“I am passionate about this job, selling the best diamonds in the world is my labour of love and I want our youth to be the ones who mine, cut, polish and negotiate prices of our diamonds. I am honoured and proud for the trust government has put in me but I have no illusions about the responsibility ahead of me. I know this organisation started off with some negative publicity but I can tell you this is a company Namibia will be proud of.
“All I need is the support of my government, my board of directors as well as fellow Namibians.”
The Namibian reported in May this year that the Namdia board was heavily divided over the appointment of a substantive CEO. According to reports, some members of the board preferred Hamutenya, while another camp was rooting for Alex Gawanab, an executive at Swakop Uranium, to take up the job on a full-time basis. The candidates were interviewed in November last year.
The Namdia board is headed by Shakespeare Masiza, while ordinary members include Chris Nghaamwa, Tania Hangula, Bonny Konjore, Loretha Harases and Venondjo Maharero.
NAMENE HELMICH
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