Chairperson of the Public Enterprise CEOs’ Forum, Fluksman Samuehl, has called for the appointment of public enterprise board members based on merit, warning that Namibia risks undermining its development agenda if unqualified individuals are entrusted with leading state-owned enterprises.
Speaking at the Public Enterprise CEOs’ Forum in Rundu, Kavango East, Samuehl said merit-based leadership is essential if public enterprises are to deliver on their mandates and contribute meaningfully to the country’s socio-economic development.
He cautioned that appointing individuals who lack the necessary knowledge, expertise and understanding of an industry could have serious consequences, weakening public enterprises’ ability to implement government policies and deliver services efficiently.
“We need to embrace meritocracy. It is a concept that people are often afraid to discuss openly. Meritocracy means deploying people based on merit. If we do not do that, we deprive ourselves of advancement. There are also serious consequences when we appoint people to institutions to lead boards without a clear understanding of the industry, and without the ability to comprehend or learn. We have seen this before,” he said.
According to Samuehl, effective governance begins with capable boards, but success also depends on competent executive management.
He said boards should appoint chief executive officers and senior executives who are innovative, results-driven and capable of implementing agreed strategies.
“Similarly, merit-based boards should ensure they appoint competent management teams that can dream, innovate and implement strategies that move the country forward,” he said.
Samuehl said public enterprises have a critical role to play in helping Namibia achieve its national development objectives, particularly as the country moves closer to its Vision 2030 targets and continues implementing the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
He added that while public enterprises are expected to fulfil their mandates efficiently, government also has a responsibility to create an enabling environment that allows them to succeed.
“We are approaching 2030, and we have NDP6 to implement. Public enterprises have a critical role to play in achieving these national development goals. Therefore, we need collaboration between government, boards and CEOs to ensure effective delivery,” he said.
