The Chamber of Mines of Namibia has appointed Fabian Shaanika as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 May 2026, bringing nearly two decades of mining sector experience and a complementary background in investment banking to one of the country’s most influential industry bodies.
Shaanika succeeded Veston Malango, who led the chamber for twenty years before retiring, a tenure the chamber’s executive committee described as one of outstanding contributions to both the organisation and the Namibian mining industry. Malango will continue in a transitional capacity alongside Shaanika until the end of 2026 to ensure a structured handover of responsibilities.His career spans the full mining value chain, from exploration and project development through to financing and production. His most recent role was as Managing Director of Kelp Blue, where he was responsible for scaling Namibian operations to full commercial capacity.
Prior to the Chamber of Mines role, he served as Mining and Resources Sector Lead at Rand Merchant Bank Namibia and Head of Business Banking at Standard Bank Namibia. Earlier career roles included senior technical and strategic positions at Namdeb, Vedanta’s Skorpion Zinc Mine and Debmarine Namibia. He holds an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch Business School and has completed executive education programmes at Imperial College Business School and London Business School. The chamber’s EXCO expressed confidence that Shaanika’s combination of technical expertise, financial acumen and leadership experience positions him well to elevate the chamber’s advocacy efforts and advance the sustainable growth and competitiveness of Namibia’s mining sector.
“EXCO extends its sincere appreciation to Malango for his outstanding contribution to the Chamber and the Namibian mining industry in the last 20 years,” stated the committee. Under Malango’s stewardship, the chamber grew into a respected and influential institution, one that Shaanika now inherits at a moment when policy certainty, investor confidence and mineral diversification are simultaneously in focus.
