Public Enterprises minister Leon Jooste says Cabinet will soon approve a substantive Chief Executive Officer for the troubled government-owned fishing company, the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor).
Jooste, who was tightlipped on the preferred candidate, said he had already submitted the name to Cabinet for approval.
“The CEO recommendation is before the cabinet already. The proposed candidate for the CEO position and Fishcor will first serve before the cabinet for endorsement. The outcome will be revealed thereafter,” he said in response to an inquiry from The Brief.
The Fishcor interim board had targeted to appoint a substantive CEO for the company before the end of October after having received a recommendation from a recruitment consultant.
On the future of the interim Fishcor board led by Heinrich Gaomab II whose term ends next month and had its terms extended previously after being tasked with recruiting a new CEO for Fishcor, Jooste said the recruitment for a new board was currently underway.
“The recruitment process for a new Fishcor board will be concluded soon and submitted to cabinet for consideration,” he said.
Fishcor, once perceived as a success case of a state-owned enterprise, was plunged into crisis after its former Chairperson James Hatuikulipi and CEO Mike Nghipunya were fingered in what is now dubbed the Fishrot scandal.
The company’s interim board consists of Heinrich Mihe Gaomab II as Chairperson, Ruth Herunga who previously doubled as interim CEO, Milka Mungunda and Dr Penny Hiwilepo van Hal.