Namport boasts new port operations executive

Well-qualified port manager takes pristine office
With an array of qualifications to his name and international experience under his belt, Richard Mutonga Ibwima promises to be a robust leader in his field.
Staff Reporter
Earlier this year, the Namibia Ports Authority welcomed a new executive for port operations when Richard Mutonga Ibwima left his position as the manager for terminals to take up the new role.

Ibwima completed his master’s of business administration (MBA) degree with a major in port management at the Middlesex University in London in 2015. He also holds a diploma in port management from Lloyd’s Maritime Academy in the United Kingdom, which he completed in 2006, as well as a certificate in marketing from the Institute of Marketing Management Graduate School of Marketing in South Africa.

Executive for commercial services Elias Mwenyo believes that Ibwima is perfectly suited for the position due to his vibrant history in management and leadership.

“We are confident that he will play a significant role in cultivating the high-performance culture we are striving for in the port operations function in order for us to optimise efficiencies of our operations, maximise the satisfaction of our customers and overall attain Namport’s strategic goals going forward. We congratulate Richard on his appointment, and wish him success in his new role as we strive towards achieving our vision to be the best performing seaports in Africa,” he said.

Ibwima joined Namport as a protection services manager for the entity’s risk management department.

He later took up work in the cargo services department, serving as the planning coordinator before becoming the port operation coordinator in the container and general cargo terminals department between 2004 and 2009.

Ibwima then started work at the container terminal until April 2012, whereafter he briefly left Namport to pursue other projects.

He returned to the company in April 2015 after three years as a terminal project manager in Sudan. This experience coloured in Ibwima’s international port management skills.

Upon his return, he worked as the manager of port terminal operations planning until January the following year, when he took up office as the manager of terminals.

He served in this capacity, working on port automation and expansion projects, until his most recent promotion.