IMELDA AMBONDO and TIRI MASAWI
The vacant NamPost chief executive officer role has attracted interest from some of Namibia’s most prominent executives.
The new CEO, expected to start at the end of February or early March, will replace Festus Hangula, who served the company for 15 years before retiring last year.
Among the high-profile applicants are City of Windhoek strategic executive for finance Jennifer Comalie, former Namibia Wildlife Resort CEO Matthias Ngwangwama, and current NamPost chief operating officer Willem Mouton.
Namibia Business Review understands that Mouton is favourite for the position, after some board members opted for an internal candidate over an outsider. His appointment now awaits approval from the line minister and endorsement by Cabinet.
NamPost board chairperson Simeon Amunkete confirmed on Monday that the recruitment process for the top post has been completed, with the successful candidate expected to assume office by the end of February or early March.
“It is very encouraging to see that the media is interested in this issue. We would also want to have the position filled as soon as possible. We have gone for three months without a CEO and that is a long time,” Amunkete said.
He added that he could not disclose the names of shortlisted candidates.
“I am not in a position to reveal people’s names or tell you who is shortlisted. It is unfair that people apply in confidentiality and then their names are made public. What I can say is that we have submitted our recommendations to the minister and the process is now at an advanced stage,” he said.
The NamPost chief executive officer position is among the highest paying jobs in the sector, with a salary of over N$2 million a year, excluding bonuses and other benefits. NamPost lies in Tier 1 of the State-Owned Enterprises, operating as both a service provider and a profit-making organisation.
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Both Comalie and Ngwangwama confirmed their interest in the top position to Namibia Business Review on Thursday.
“I did apply for the job and I was interviewed for the position. However, after the interview I have not heard anything from NamPost. They have not called me or said anything since then,” Comalie said.
Comalie is a chartered accountant and experienced executive with a strong background in finance and strategic management. She served as board chairperson of Namcor. She was appointed City of Windhoek CEO in 2021. Her career includes senior roles in accounting and finance at Deloitte & Touche, Standard Bank of Namibia, and Olthaver & List, giving her extensive experience in organizational development, financial oversight, and strategic implementation.
Ngwangwama said NamPost never responded after he applied.
“I am one of the candidates that applied and yes, I was interested in the job, but I was never shortlisted. I was actually shocked that they did not even send me an email to acknowledge my application,” he said.
Ngwangwama previously served NamPost at various managerial and non-managerial levels before his roles at the National Youth Service (NYS) and later as NWR managing director.
Namibia Business Review understands the board has recommended Mouton for the position and is awaiting ministerial approval. Mouton did not respond to questions sent to him.
Sources say former Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) CEO Nangula Uaandja was also considered for the job. Uaandja last week said she was unaware of the issue.
“I have no idea about this,” she said.
Uaandja is a chartered accountant and an executive who previously served as the founding NIPDB CEO. She previously served as PwC Namibia’s first black female managing partner She has recently been appointed executive director at Emeraldsand Platforms, a diversified investment group, effective February 2026 before assuming the role fully in July 2026.
Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus last week said she is still awaiting a full report from the board on the recruitment process.
“The process is being conducted by the board of NamPost and is still ongoing. At this stage, I am awaiting a report from the board on the process so far. In the absence of that, I do not have the latest information on where the process currently stands. I therefore kindly ask that all questions be referred to the board chairperson, Dr Amunkete,” she said.
NamPost is Namibia’s national postal operator, providing financial, mail, logistics, and retail services to individuals, businesses, and communities across the country. Established in 1992 with 92 post offices, the entity now operates 136 customer points nationwide.
Over the years, NamPost has introduced several services, including the Biometric SmartCard in 2006, automated mail sorting, prepaid courier products, insurance offerings, an interoperable VISA SmartCard, the PostPay Money Transfer Service, a banking app, and internet-based services.
According to the latest figures, the NamPost Group employed 699 workers in 2024, operated a fleet of 102 vehicles, handled 1.8 million mail items, and served 251,455 VISA SmartCard customers. Each post office served an average of approximately 22,100 customers, while the entity recorded an 85% customer satisfaction rate.
Consolidated figures also indicate that NamPost’s micro-financing arm, PostFin, extended N$671 million in micro-loans to small businesses and pensioners, with a particular focus on women-run enterprises. The annual report further shows that about 151,290 people in the low-end market are insured through NamPost.
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