President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah wasted no time in stamping her authority on the country’s executive branch.

On Saturday, she unveiled a bold and restructured Cabinet which signalled a shift in governance.

In her first major act since assuming office, the country’s first female Head of State executed a series of sweeping changes, merging ministries, abolishing redundancies and bringing in fresh faces to key positions. Flanked by senior government officials at State House, Nandi-Ndaitwah declared, 

“We have an immense responsibility to consolidate democracy, peace, stability and good governance while expediting service delivery.”

Her announcement was met with intrigue, anticipation, and in some corners, shock, as she outlined her government’s new blueprint – a leaner, more strategic Cabinet meant to cut costs and enhance efficiency.

Strategic shifts

Among the most striking changes was the realignment of major portfolios.

The Ministry of Trade has been absorbed into the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, a move she said is aimed at strengthening Namibia’s economic diplomacy and tapping into the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Meanwhile, fisheries will now be managed under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform. The higher education mandate, together with youth, sport and national services and the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, has been consolidated into one ministry.

It is now the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture.

Perhaps the most unexpected shake-up was in labour relations, which has now been placed under the Ministry of Justice.

The President said this will ensure better coordination between employment policies and the legal framework governing workers’ rights. On the economic front, industrialisation has been reassigned to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, a move which ties value-addition directly to the mining sector.

The ministry is now called the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Industry. In another first, the emerging oil and gas industry will fall under the direct oversight of the Office of the President.

“These industries must be managed in a manner that maximises benefits for all Namibians,” Nandi-Ndaitwah stated.

New faces

With a restructured Cabinet came a fresh crop of ministers tasked with executing the President’s vision. As reported by New Era in December last year, former Swapo Party Youth League secretary Elijah Ngurare was named Prime Minister.

Ngurare, who rose from the political ashes after he was expelled from the party in 2015, has bounced back to cement his rise in the government hierarchy.

Speaking to the media just after he was sworn in, he underscored his commitment to streamlining government operations.

In his early days of governance, he served as a personal assistant to the late minister of local government, John Pandeni.

Before assuming the prime minister’s office, he was a deputy executive director in the department of water affairs in the ministry of agriculture.

He said he will leverage this experience in executing his duties in high office.

“This is not the time for empty rhetoric. We must be results-driven, and ensure that government services reach the people faster and more effectively,” he noted.

Ngurare is deputised by Natangwe Ithete, who will also serve as minister of mines.

Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed former deputy of home affairs Lucia Witbooi as the vice president. Additionally, the appointment of Dr Esperance Luvindao as the new Minister of Health and Social Services was another eye-catching pick.

With critics already questioning if she’s able to handle such a huge responsibility, the 34-year-old Luvindao is expected to inject youthful energy into a sector whuch has long been plagued by inefficiencies.

It was previously held by Kalumbi Shangula.

Speaking to New Era, Luvindao said, “My appointment speaks to the need for involving not just young people, but young people who are passionate and can get the job done.”

One of the areas she will tackle is the digitalisation of healthcare services.

“Everyone in Namibia, irrespective of where they are in the country, should be able to receive standardised healthcare services. The goal is, once someone steps into a State hospital, they should not be able to differentiate between State and private hospitals,” she envisages.

In the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, newly-appointed Sanet Steenkamp vowed to tackle all sectors of her ministry.

“Once I get in the office, I have to meet with the leadership of different departments that fall under the ministry, and we will then strategise on how we can all ensure the efficiency of our ministry,” she said.

Fillemon Wise Immanuel, who now heads the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, said he will have to apply himself and identify gaps in his ministry.

“This is a call to duty, and I will deliver,” he promised.

Exit

While the new appointments grabbed headlines, the absence of some political heavyweights from the Cabinet list was equally telling.

The following ministers will not be returning to Cabinet: Pohamba Shifeta, Iipumbu Shiimi, Agnes Tjongarero, Anna Nghipondoka, Yvonne Dausab, Itah Kandjii-Murangi, Tom Alweendo, Christine Hoebes, Peya Mushelenga, Albert Kawana, Erastus Uutoni, Utoni Nujoma and Derek Klazen.

Meanwhile, the likes of John Mutorwa, Calle Schlettwein, Shangula and Tjongarero indicated last year that they had no intention of returning to politics.

From the previous Cabinet, only Emma Theofelus, Lucia Iipumbu, Festus Mbandeka and Frans Kapofi have been retained.

Theofelus, Kapofi and Mbandeka have retained their old portfolios as Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, and Attorney General, respectively.

Meanwhile, Lucia Iipumbu was moved to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security from the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s former campaign manager and close ally, Kaire Mbuende, was appointed as the Director General of the National Planning Commission.

Mbuende is a seasoned diplomat.

Future

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the restructuring of ministries is expected to shake up the bureaucracy and alter how government functions.

By absorbing social grants into the Ministry of Finance, for example, the President said she aims to improve service delivery and eliminate bottlenecks which have delayed payments to beneficiaries in the past.– ashikololo@nepc.com.na