Staff Writer
The board of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) has announced the reappointment of Alex Shimuafeni as Statistician-General for a new five-year term, securing his leadership at the helm of the country’s central data authority through 2031.
The decision, made in accordance with the NSA Succession Planning Policy and Section 23 of the Statistics Act (No. 9 of 2011), extends Shimuafeni’s contract from 1 October 2026 until 30 September 2031.
The appointment has received the required approval from the government.
Shimuafeni has led the agency for a decade, having first taken office on 1 April 2016. His first term ended in March 2021, followed by a second five-year term that was originally set to expire in March 2026, before the board passed a short-term extension to 30 September 2026 to facilitate long-term planning.
NSA Board chairperson Justice Tjituka expressed full confidence in Shimuafeni’s leadership. Tjituka highlighted the successful execution of the landmark 2023 Population and Housing Census and the subsequent publication of thematic reports between 2024 and 2026 as major milestones of his tenure.
The reappointment comes at a pivotal moment for the agency. The NSA is currently in the fourth year of its 2022–2027 Strategic Plan.
Moving forward, Shimuafeni is tasked with steering the development and launch of the upcoming 2027–2032 Strategic Plan, which will be closely aligned with Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
According to the board, Shimuafeni will focus on guiding the National Statistical System toward data-driven economic development, robust statistical governance, and evidence-based planning to accelerate decentralization and regional development across all 14 regions of Namibia.
