Edward Mumbuu
Lahja Nashuuta
Paheja Siririka
Filling the shoes of his predecessor, the late Hage Geingob, President Nangolo Mbumba’s State of the Nation Address was a baptism of fire.
The President came prepared, providing a roadmap to a prosperous future, optimism premised on oil finds and green hydrogen, guarded by Namibian-centric policies.
“We expect firmer estimates of recoverable reserves to be announced this financial year. We are prepared for this opportunity through a robust local content regime, a ready sovereign wealth fund, amongst various other measures to maximise the impact and benefit for our country,” he stated.
Mbumba also gave an update on the growth recorded by the Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund, through which the current generation seeks to bequeath resources to descendants.
He said the government is committed to ensuring that the fund is transparent and accountable to the Namibian people.
“I am pleased to report that since its establishment, the fund’s investment returns have grown from the initial seed capital of N$262 million to N$425 million. Namibia’s economic trajectory is promising, with a projected medium-term growth forecast of between 3% and 4%,” he continued.
What was apparent from Mbumba’s presidency, albeit brief, is that he will continue relying on the solid governance architecture laid by his predecessor.
“Through effective governance, we promote responsive processes, systems and accountable institutions in the public sector to accelerate the national development plans towards Vision 2030,” he noted.
“Over the past year, we have witnessed significant progress in the areas of fiscal discipline, the unlocking of new economic opportunities and the crafting of progressive policies that will anchor Namibia’s regional and international competitiveness,” the President said.
Genocide
Picking the August House up from despair and anguish following Geingob’s demise, Mbumba vowed to see key projects and initiatives through to their logical conclusion before leaving office on 21 March 2025.
“I wish to assure the Namibian people that the government remains committed to conclude the genocide negotiations with Germany, and the Orange River Boundary negotiations with South Africa, to which our late president was firmly committed,” he promised.
During the final memorial service for the late Geingob at Independence Stadium last month, German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier acknowledged that it is high time for his country to take full responsibility, and tender a formal apology to Namibians for the atrocities committed during the 1904/08 genocide.
The German leader assured Namibians about his government’s commitment and readiness to take relations between the two countries to new heights.
That, he stated, can only be achieved by addressing the sensitive genocide question.
“I hope I will be able to return to this country very soon and under different circumstances, because I am convinced that it is high time to tender an apology to the Namibian people,” said Steinmeier.
Progress
As required by law, Mbumba accounted for progress made during the past year, while always giving a hint of what the future holds.
“In our resolve to bring the government closer to the people, the transfer of decision- making and activity implementation powers and responsibilities were approved by Cabinet, and transferred by delegation from five ministries to regional councils,” he informed.
Also, during the reporting period, progress was recorded in the areas of water provision, land allocation and housing.
About 146 boreholes were drilled in various regions, with 97 commissioned. In addition, 51 boreholes and 45 water supply points were rehabilitated. To improve the availability of water, 310 000 litres of water was supplied to rural communities, Mbumba said.
Zero hunger
Additionally, 2 073 housing units, constructed at a cost of N$97 million, were completed in partnership with stakeholders over the past 24 months. In the government’s quest to confront hunger head-on, 331 009 households, including 33 105 marginalised households, received drought relief on a monthly basis.
Moreover, 57 581 farmers were capacitated in crop, livestock production, animal health, horticulture and poultry farming.
In addition, 354 tractors and other equipment was deployed to farmers countrywide through the Namibia Agricultural Mechanisation and Seed Implementation Programme.
With regards to job-creation, the government facilitated the placement of 1 350 job-seekers in different sectors under the Namibia Integrated Employment Information System.
“To strengthen policing capacity, the Namibian Police Force recruited 1 119 cadet constables during the 2023/24 financial year. Plans are also underway to recruit an additional 1 700 cadet constables during the 2024/25 financial year. Additionally, six new police stations were constructed at Tutaleni in Walvis Bay (Erongo), Onkumbula (Oshikoto region), Nkurenkuru and Namasira (Kavango West), Kamenga (Zambezi) and Omatako (Otjozondjupa),” the president accounted, further buttressing the government’s resolve to maintain a zero-tolerance stance against perpetrators of gender-based violence and violence against children.
“Let me strongly emphasise the need for visible police patrols, anti-crime operations and a greater police presence on the ground, most particularly in crime hotspots in and around our cities and towns. Furthermore, let me encourage the public to play an active role by holding hands with the law- enforcement agencies in ensuring that our Namibian House is crime-free,” Mbumba stressed.
He did not conclude his Sona without addressing Namibia’s population growth, which this week surpassed the three-million mark.
“I commend the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) for successfully executing our national census. I now task our experts from the NSA and the Bank of Namibia to update our social accounting matrix to enable us to comprehensively measure the wider socio-economic impact of the key economic drivers,” he directed.
Education
Dduring 2023, 510 classrooms and 70 ablution facilities were constructed at public schools countrywide.
To address learner accommodation, five hostel facilities with a combined capacity of 1 260 beds were built in the Kavango West and Zambezi regions during the reporting period.
The government is also on a drive to expand access to vocational education.
To date, 13 out of 14 regions have public TVET centres.
“Of the newly-constructed centres, the Khorixas Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in the Kunene region and Kai//Ganaxab VTC in the Hardap region will be operationalised in April 2024, while the Nkurenkuru and Keetmanshoop VTCs are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2024,” the President said.
International footprint
On the global map, Namibia continues punching above its weight.
“The policies that we follow in our international relations are a response to a world that is becoming increasingly complex, with multifaceted challenges that have the potential to affect our stability, peace, development and prosperity. Multilateralism, which is the bedrock for a peaceful and stable rules-based world order, is under serious threat,” Mbumba said noted.
“The right to self-determination must be upheld, and the long-awaited 1991 UN referendum for the people of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic be implemented. In the same vein, Namibia reiterates support for the people of Palestine to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination”.
- emumbuu@nepc.com.na