#JustIn: NTB without CEO

The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) inaugurated its new board yesterday, and they have been instructed to promptly designate an acting CEO for the organisation. Currently, NTB is without a CEO, following the conclusion of Digu //Naobeb's two-decade term earlier this year, which was not extended with the appointment of the new board. The board members have been appointed for a three-year term, effective from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2026, in accordance with the Public Enterprises Governance Act and the NTB Act. Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta acknowledged that the board appointment process was time-consuming. “It delayed the appointing of the board and the outgoing board had to stay until 31 October to avoid a vacuum.” Shifeta highlighted the urgency of the board's first task, which is to appoint a CEO. Despite //Naobeb's tenure ending in August, the board had requested extensions. “There was another request for an extension and I said no and I have directed instead that it is better to appoint one of the managers as an acting CEO for now. “”Right now I can tell you there is no CEO, because I have not approved it that a person acts. So when you get in there, check one of the managers. “An institution cannot die when somebody departs. An institution has to stay.” He explained that the process of appointing the new board involved advertising board vacancies, shortlisting candidates, and conducting interviews with an independent panel including officials from the public enterprises ministry, tourism ministry, and the private sector. Among the board's responsibilities are promoting tourism within Namibia, fostering tourism industry development, and advocating for environmentally sustainable tourism. Shifeta underscored the significance of the new board's appointment, coinciding with the tourism sector's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Expectations include the regulation of the industry, marketing and promotion of Namibia, and efforts to diversify tourism economic activities across the country. Improvement areas outlined by Shifeta include the development of new products, route expansion, cultural heritage tourism products, and popularising Namibian cuisine. The board is also tasked with marketing and developing new products and services in transfrontier conservancy areas, such as Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area and others, to enhance the variety and value of tourism experiences in the country. The appointed board members are Janette Fourie (Chairperson), Olavi Hamwele (Deputy Chairperson), Ally Karaerua, Maggy Mbako, Ngivitjita Zatjirua, Efraim Nkoshi, and Rachel Nathaniel-Koch.