Commissioners
Chairperson: Dr Elsie T. Nghikembua
Dr. Elsie Tuleingepo Nghikembua currently serving as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission
of Namibia (ECN), has extensive experience in public administration and management, having held
various significant roles in both academia and the public sector.
Dr. Nghikembua has been a Commissioner at the ECN since October 2016, and was appointed as
the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in September 2021. As the
Chairperson, she oversees the Commission's activities and plays a crucial role in ensuring the
integrity and efficiency of electoral processes in Namibia.
She served as an academic at the University of Namibia and has practical experience in the
Namibian Public Sector. Her previous roles include Director of Specialised Services at the
Parliament of Namibia where she provided procedural advice and administrative support to
Members of Parliament, and as the Deputy Executive Director at the Namibia Institute of Public
Administration and Management (NIPAM). She has experience in corporate governance as a Board
Member of the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) and the National Council for Higher
Education (NCHE).
Dr. Nghikembua holds several postgraduate qualifications in Public Administration and
Management. Notably, she completed the Senior Executive Fellows Programme at Harvard
Kennedy School and pursued executive education at institutions like Tulane Law School, the
University of Cape Town, and the University of Stellenbosch. Her research interests focus on Public
Affairs and Electoral Governance.
She hold Doctorate in Business Administration, with her thesis examining the legislative
frameworks for Election Management Bodies and their impact on operational independence. This
research is significant for electoral governance in the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) region.
At regional level, Dr Nghikembua is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Executive
Committee of the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF SADC). The ECF-SADC is
a regional body comprising Election Management Bodies of the SADC member States. The
Constitution of the ECF-SADC provides for a Governance & Executive Management structure that
includes the Conference, the Executive Committee and the Secretariat. As Chairperson of the
Executive Committee, Dr Nghikembua oversees the implementation of policy decisions by the
Conference and oversees the delivery of work by the Secretariat.
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Commissioner: Gerson Uaripi Tjihenuna
Commissioner Gerson Uaripi Tjihenuna is a retired senior civil servant who has held various prominent positions, including Under Secretary in the Cabinet Office and Director in the Office of the Speaker of Parliament. He also served as the Chairperson of the Air Namibia Board of Directors and has taught at all major universities and colleges in Namibia. Additionally, he provides consultancy services to civil society organizations, focusing on public policy advocacy.
From 2019 to 2024, he served as a Commissioner of Elections for the Republic of Namibia and was reappointed to the same position on March 15, 2024, for another five-year term. Commissioner Tjihenuna holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He is also a minister of the gospel and a published author and poet.
Commissioner: Pius Ilende Iikwambi
Mr. Pius Ilende Iikwambi is a highly accomplished legal professional with extensive expertise in various facets of law. He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the University of Cape Town, specializing in International Trade, Competition Law and Regional Integration in Africa. He also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Drafting and Interpretation of Contracts from the University of Johannesburg.
With a strong foundation in law, Mr. Iikwambi has gained valuable experience across different sectors. He is currently employed as a Legal Officer at the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), where he plays a pivotal role in overseeing legal matters and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
He serves on various committees and boards, including the Appeal Tribunal of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, and the Council of the Law Society of Namibia.
Through his roles at the Law Society of Namibia and other legal bodies, Iikwambi contributes to the regulation and development of the legal profession in the country.
Mr. Iikwambi has been involved in part-time lecturing at the University of Namibia, sharing his expertise in various legal subjects such as Company Law, Competition Law, Law of Contract, Law of Property, Workplace Dispute Resolution, Accountancy for Lawyers and Administrative Law., which contributes to the education of future legal professionals.
He participates in initiatives aimed at empowering youth and promoting social justice, demonstrating his dedication to community development beyond his professional responsibilities
Commissioner: Dr Emmerentia Leonard
Dr. Emmerentia Leonard is an academic with over 12 years of teaching experience at university level and excellent research skills. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Social Work at the University of Namibia. She has over the years worked in a bilateral agency, public enterprise and the public service, and has gained experience in programme and project management, monitoring and evaluation, administration and social justice.
Dr. Leonard has extensive experience in corporate governance having been the Chairperson of the National Youth Service Board and a member of the Namibia Press Agency Board, as well as a board member of a Not-for-Profit Organisation. She chaired the Namibia Training Authority’s Health Care and Social Services Sector Skills Committee which advises the entity’s Board of Directors on relevant skills for the country within the sector and also served as a Subject Matter Expert for the Namibia Qualifications Authority. Dr. Leonard is an avid reader with a continued desire to better herself as an academic and leader through hard work and intellectual curiosity. She is driven by service excellence, integrity, commitment and values human relationships.
Dr. Leonard holds a Doctorate in Social Work, Masters of Business Administration, Masters in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Social Work. In addition, she has a Certificate in Corporate Governance and an Advanced Diploma in Project and Programme Management.
Commissioner: Dr Gerson Sindano
Dr. Gerson Sindano is a scholar with a combined 14 years of research, teaching and administration experience at the University of Namibia and secondary school level. He is currently a senior lecturer in Language Development at the University of Namibia. He is a prolific writer and has published several academic papers and books. Sindano has over the years worked in public, parastatal and private institutions. He worked as a teacher, head of the centre at NAMCOL, political analyst, senior personal assistant and a Disciplinary committee member at the University of Namibia. Gerson Sindano holds a Doctorate in English (rhetorical) studies, a Master of Arts in English studies, a Bachelor of Eng. (Honours) Degree, a Bachelor of Education Degree, and an ICDL (International Computer Driving License)
