Niël Terblanché
Sam Shivute, the Commissioner of the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), has been elected as the Vice Chairperson of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) which represents a giant leap forward for the country’s tax administration structures.
According to NamRA’s spokesperson, Yarukeekuro Ndorokaze, the election took place during ATAF’s General Meetings held in Kigali, Rwanda, on Wednesday.
“Shivute, the founding Commissioner of NamRA, will serve as the deputy to Professor Edward Kieswetter, the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service,” Ndorokaze said.
ATAF serves as a platform for intra-African collaboration and peer learning among tax administrations. Its mission is to enhance the capacity of African tax administrations, strengthen the role of taxation in governance and state-building, and ultimately improve living standards across the continent.
The forum also provides a unified voice for African tax administrations and grows Pan-African collaboration with development partners.
Established in 2009, ATAF has grown to include 38 member countries, providing a collaborative platform for African tax authorities to share knowledge and best practices.
The forum focuses on improving tax systems, capacity building, and influencing international tax policy in favour of African interests.
Through initiatives such as technical assistance, research, and training programmes, ATAF aims to build efficient and effective tax administrations across the continent.
Ndorokaze highlighted the benefits Namibia derives from its membership in ATAF.
“Being an ATAF paid-up member, Namibia benefits enormously from the value proposition technical assistance and training offered to NamRA, thus increasing the effectiveness of revenue collection, addressing identified gaps, and strengthening the capacities of NamRA officials to serve the public with passion,” he said.
In addition to his new role at ATAF, Shivute has been serving as the Chairperson of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Commissioners General Forum since July 2024.
“His leadership in these regional tax bodies is a demonstration of Namibia’s commitment to enhancing tax administration and regional cooperation,” Ndorokaze said.
He added that Shivute’s election to the Vice Chairperson position is evidence of his dedication as well as the progress NamRA has made under his leadership. It also reflects Namibia’s growing influence in regional tax administration matters.
As Vice Chairperson, Shivute is expected to play a key role in guiding ATAF’s strategic direction and fostering greater cooperation among African tax administrations.
According to Ndorokaze, the appointment of Shivute and other commissioners to ATAF’s Governing Council comes at a crucial time as African countries seek to enhance domestic revenue mobilisation to support development goals.
The ATAF aims to address common challenges such as tax evasion, base erosion, and profit shifting, which have significant implications for the continent’s economic growth through collaborative efforts and shared expertise.
According to Ndorokaze, Namibia’s active participation in ATAF and the election of its tax commissioner to a leadership role indicate the country’s efforts to strengthen tax governance while also contributing to the broader objectives of economic development and improved living standards across Africa.
