Staff Writer
The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) has elected a new leadership team at its Annual General Meeting in Windhoek.
Vetumbuavi Mungunda takes over as president from Bisey /Uirab, who remains on the board. Leake Hangala continues as an honorary director.
In his first remarks, Mungunda acknowledged past leadership and said directors are custodians responsible for strengthening the institution to support the economy.
The new board will serve a two-year term. Patty Karuaihe-Martin is the first vice president and Tarah Shaanika is the second vice president. Other members are Amalia Schmidt, Bisey /Uirab, Brent Eiseb, Caroline Mswabi, Desmond Amunyela, Edwin Kamatoto, Elago Nantana, Hilda Basson-Namundjebo, John Roosa, Tracy Eagles and Leake Hangala as honorary.
Mungunda set out priorities that include strengthening the institution, mobilising resources, building staff capacity and improving the chamber’s ability to carry out economic and policy analysis.
He said the chamber will review its constitution to improve inclusion across sectors and regions and allow for more representation over time.
He said the chamber will work to reactivate regional branches, grow membership and strengthen policy engagement through the Namibia Public-Private Forum. Sector groups will focus on export promotion, taxation, MSME development and local content policies. The chamber also aims to present a unified business voice on input costs, regulation and investment incentives.
Mungunda said the chamber has a strong financial position, with a solid balance sheet and unqualified audit outcomes in recent years, which provides a base to expand its work.
In his outgoing remarks, /Uirab said Namibia’s private sector has remained resilient despite challenges, including unemployment above 30%. He pointed to opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area and urged local businesses to position themselves in a market of more than 1.3 billion people.
He said small and medium enterprises play a key role in growth and job creation and called for closer cooperation between large companies and SMEs to improve access to markets and value chains.
Both leaders said there is a need for more private sector participation and called for action to support growth, investment and job creation.
