The Namibian Standard Institution has finally been set up shop with the appointment of a chief executive and the board of director.
Trade minister, Immanuel Ngatjizeko announced the five member board this week. It comprises of Dr Martha Kandawi, Asteria Nasheya, Salomo Hieta, Fritz Jacobs and Dr Moses Mawihungirire.
Dr Kandwi will chair the board.

Immanuel Ngatjizeko

Riundja Ali Kaakunga was appointed as the chief executive officer.
In the past 10 years, government has been talking of establishing the NSI that will localise the functions currently done by the South Africa Bureau of Standards.
“Your primary responsibility is to safeguard and nurture the NSI through a governance process that will ensure that it performs its job properly,” said Ngatjizeko.
Yet the constituting act, Standards Act No. 18 of 2005 only came into force in late 2006. And the actual establishment of the NSI took a year to materialise as it needed skills, not to mention the legal framework on which it would operate.
The legal framework was put up by the National Accreditation Focal Point (NAFP) an institution that was formed late last year specifically for that purpose.
The board will serve for three years, but the SABS will continue to render assistance to the NSI in terms of transfer of technological know-how to Namibia.
The board is tasked with the articulation and formulation of policies at the NSI. It will also have to set up a Biotoxins Laboratory in Walvis Bay to provide testing facility for the fishing industry.