2014-11-13Staff Report 2 WINDHOEK-President Hifikepunye Pohamba yesterday announced the appointment of three ambassadors and two high commissioners designate to represent Namibia abroad. Long serving chief of protocol, Mbapeua Muvangua, is on his way to Botswana, while Deputy Inspector General of Operations in the Namibian Police, Major General Vilio Hifindaka, will represent Namibia in Congo Brazzaville. Trudie Amulungu, who served in Paris, France, with UNESCO will be the country’s ambassador to Senegal, while Charles Josob - the deputy head of mission at the Namibian High Commission in Botswana – will be posted to Ghana. The current trade attaché at the Namibian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, Bonny Haufiku, becomes Namibia’s new ambassador to Finland. During the commissioning ceremony at State House yesterday, Pohamba called on the new Namibian envoys to remain committed to giving practical meaning to the principles of Namibia’s foreign and economic policies through the establishment of meaningful bilateral co-operations. “I call upon you to hold high the flag of the Land of the Brave and do your best to promote the central tenets of Namibia’s foreign policy in all your interactions with the governments of countries of your accreditation,” Pohamba, who probably made his last diplomatic appointments, said. He said the practice of diplomacy is becoming more and more complex as there is increasing competition for access to markets, with countries around the world seeking to maximise and leverage their competitive advantage in order to attract investment. He also called on the new diplomats to constantly educate and update themselves about the Namibian government’s policy positions in different areas, as well as on important policy interventions such as the National Development Plans and Vision 2030 in order to carry out their duties effectively. “At the continental level there is need for greater engagement and interaction with other AU member states and the regional economic communities in order to advance and accelerate the economic and social development programmes towards the achievement of Agenda 2063 and to follow with keen interest developments in the BRICS countries and to promote regional integration”. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues who were commissioned yesterday Muvangua, a long-time aide of Pohamba, said the new diplomats are ready to hit the ground running and make Namibia proud. “We will put the interests of Namibia first. I want to assure you that we will remain loyal and committed to serving the government and the people of Namibia to the best of our abilities,” he said. By Fifi Rhodes 2014-11-13Staff Report 2
