Allexer Namundjembo
The newly appointed acting managing director of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, has appealed for support as she assumes leadership of the troubled state-owned oil company.
Namcor announced her appointment over the weekend.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Sunday, Hinda-Mbuenda said her success would depend on collective effort, stressing that the company’s challenges cannot be resolved in isolation.
“I am grateful for the appointment. I am ready for the task, and I will need to conduct a thorough analysis to familiarise myself with the institution,” she said.
She added that engaging widely and winning the confidence of stakeholders would be crucial to securing the resources Namcor urgently needs.
She acknowledged the company’s financial difficulties and the pressure to position Namibia as a reliable oil-producing nation following recent offshore discoveries.
“I am asking for support from the Namibian people so I can carry on to achieve the goals of the institution. It will be difficult to negotiate in terms of getting necessary assistance from different stakeholders,” she remarked.
Hinda-Mbuende urged the media to report fairly on Namcor.
“If Namcor is painted negatively, it may be hard for the institution to get assistance from interested stakeholders in terms of capital resources, such as human resources and other necessary support,” she said.
Her appointment was welcomed by deputy prime minister and minister of industries, mines and energy, Natangue Ithete.
“I believe that her experience, knowledge, courage and determination will steer Namcor through this current ‘not so easy’ chapter and lead the entity toward greater efficiency, innovation, and national impact,” he said.
He also thanked outgoing acting managing director Victoria Sibeya for her service during a turbulent period.
Hinda-Mbuende takes over from Sibeya, who stepped in after Shiwana Ndeunyema briefly acted in the role following the dismissal of former managing director Immanuel “Imms” Mulunga.
Namcor has faced severe financial setbacks, including a N$1.3 billion loss in the 2022/23 financial year.
Governance concerns and repeated bailout pleas have added to the pressure.
Hinda-Mbuende said partnership and trust will be key to repositioning Namcor.
She draws from her background as a deputy minister in three different ministries and senior roles at the National Housing Enterprise (NHE), City Savings & Investment Bank, and the Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank).
Political analyst Sakaria Johannes said it is too early to judge her performance.
“It is difficult to tell at this point since she was just appointed. She studied finance and public administration and has extensive experience in the administration,” he said.
Johannes added that while Hinda-Mbuende has strong administrative experience, she has not led a struggling parastatal before.
“It is wise to observe how she works, and her performance will determine whether she is the best fit,” he said.
