By: Sheila Perestrelo
Minister of Industrialisation and Trade Lucia Iipumbu says disputes have become frequent amongst board members. Iipumbu said board members should instead focus their energy on solving the problem they already face.
Iipumbu said this during Wednesday’s inauguration of the newly appointed Namibia Standards Council (NSC).
“In recent times, we have started experiencing the unwanted phenomenon of board members fighting amongst themselves and even resorting to courts to sort out their differences,” she said.
She cautioned and advised the members against protracted legal challenges.
“Rather focus your energy towards finding lasting solutions to the challenges that may present themselves. Effective boards have several ways to avoid litigation and preserve civility among dissenting board members,” she added.
Her comments come two weeks after TransNamib’s former board chairperson Lionel Mathews and his deputy Sigrid Tjijorokisa resigned from the board, with a conflict between the two over CEO Johnny Smit’s reign at the company seen as the bone of contention.
The newly appointed NSC, which Iipumbu inaugurated, will serve from 2022 to 2025.
The new council consist of Paulus Natangwe Kalenga and Matilda Kahimbi Jankie-Shakwa, who will serve as chairperson and vice chairperson, respectively, Vincent Nowaseb, Thaddeus Eli-Megameno Shigwedha, Lloyd Liewelly Londt and Monica Nehemia as members.
Iipumbu urged the council members to work as a body and not as individual actors to ensure that the Nambia Standard Institute (NSI) is brought to great heights and excels in future projects.
She further stressed that the council members should avoid indulging in personal self-interest as they are in power to speak on behalf of the NSI.
“NSC appointment is based on the ability to ensure the sustainability of the NSI, the NSC is responsible for the management, conducting, supervision, and control of the affairs and activities, and the performance of the functions, of the NSI, including the maintenance and safekeeping of proper records of accounts and financial statements of the institute,” she said.
According to her, the NSC is tasked to lead the institutional and legal modernisation of the National Quality Infrastructure.
This, she said, is to ensure that the concerned bodies provide competent and essential support and services to industries, government and stakeholders in line with international best practices and norms.
Iipumbu further states: “I have no doubt that the council members will utilise their diverse skills for the betterment of NSI, and your appointment to the council is a testament to the trust the government has in you.”
Iipumbu concluded that the new council are expected to enter into a collective governance agreement and individual performance agreements to ensure their performance while they serve their terms.
