Iipumbu Shiimi


Iipumbu Wendelinus Shiimi is a Namibian economist and politician who served as the Minister of Finance from 2020-2025. Before that, he served as the Bank of Namibia governor from 2010 until 2020.

Early life and education

Shiimi holds a Master of Science degree in Financial Economics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics from the University of London. He also holds a Diploma in Foreign Trade and Management from the Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands, an Honours degree in Economics from the University of Western Cape in South Africa, and a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of Western Cape. He underwent specialized training in Management from the University of Stellenbosch and Wits Business School, and other specialized training in economics and finance in Tanzania and the USA, as well as at the Bank of England and the Reserve Bank of South Africa.

Career

Shiimi started working at the Namibia Economic Policy Research Unit in 1994. He joined the Bank of Namibia as a Senior Researcher in the Research Department and became a Manager of the Economics Division in the same department in 1997. In 1999, he became Manager of the Modelling and Forecasting Division in the Research Department. In 2000, he took over as Manager of the Statistics Division in the Research Department. In 2001, he became the Deputy Head of the Research Department, and in 2002, he became the Chief Economist and Head of the Research Department. In June 2006, Shiimi became a Senior Manager in the Banking Supervision Department until his appointment in November 2006 as Assistant Governor. In this role, he was responsible for providing strategic direction to the operations of the Bank, which included managing foreign exchange reserves, banking supervision, economic stability, and financial monitoring.
Shiimi was appointed as the new central bank chief on March 25, 2010, by President Hifikepunye Pohamba. He took over from Tom Alweendo, who was appointed Director-General of the Namibian National Planning Commission and later Minister of Mines and Energy. President Hage Geingob re-appointed him to a second term in December 2016.

Other activities