WINDHOEK – President-elect Hage Geingob yesterday distanced himself from a list currently in circulation on social networks about his supposed new ministers and their deputies.
The list went into circulation days before last week’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, which Geingob and his ruling party Swapo won emphatically.
While some members of the public have swallowed the list hook, line and sinker as an authentic leak, some have questioned its credibility, especially because it surfaced before elections were held.
State House yesterday denied knowledge of the existence of the list, with presidential affairs minister Albert Kawana saying there are currently no ministerial vacancies in government.
“I am serving the current government and as far as I am concerned, there are no vacancies to accommodate a list of that nature,” Kawana told New Era.
Geingob, in a short response to New Era yesterday, said he was not interested in engaging in “senseless discussions concerning alleged lists of so-called future Cabinet members.”
The prime minister was responding to questions sent to him on Tuesday, but took time yesterday to respond despite news of the death of his ex-wife, Patty.
Although Geingob has distanced himself from the list currently in circulation, he confirmed yesterday that he was already working on his future plans, hinting that he is thinking about who will serve in his Cabinet.
The president-elect’s office said he is already “working on his plans, taking a holistic approach to tackling problems by looking at all aspects of where there are lapses and laxity in terms of administration.
“So all systems will be reviewed to ensure that fluid, consistent and transparent processes are in place,” he said.
Geingob is expected to announce his new Cabinet on 21 March 2015 after being sworn in as the country’s new head of state.
With Geingob as president, the circulating list suggests foreign affairs minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as vice-president in the supposed new-look government, and Swapo chief whip in the National Assembly, Professor Peter Katjavivi, as prime minister.
Charles Namoloh, the current local government and housing minister, is listed as the next foreign affairs minister, while National Planning Commission (NPC) director-general Tom Alweendo is given the finance ministry.
Incumbent finance minister Saara Kuugogelwa-Amadhila is listed as the next trade and industry minister.
The list reserves no space for many current ministers, especially those outside the 77 Swapo members heading to parliament after the election.
Kawana is among those not making to it parliament, unless Geingob appoints him among the eight non-voting members that the president will appoint next year.
“The next Cabinet will be announced on 21 March 2015. If there’s a list circulating, I am not aware of its existence. So I cannot deny or confirm its existence. It’s good if you call the office of the president-elect for their comment,” Kawana said yesterday, prior to the response from Geingob’s office.
By Toivo Ndjebela