In Tanzania, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is known as “Mama Swapo”. This is the title given to her by the late President Julius Nyerere, instilling the belief that corruption is rebellion. That’s the principle she says she still cherishes.
On Friday, Nandi Nudaitwa was sworn in as Namibia’s first female president, making her own rights historical.
The next day she revealed a new exterior cabinet of the 14 ministers. This includes eight women and six men, including a total of 53.3% women and 40% men.
Previous administrations had 12 men and nine women in the cabinet, and 20 vice ministers. Of these, 17 were women and three men.
Only three ministers survived in the current administration.
The president’s team is tasked with creating 550 000 jobs by 2029 and providing the promises she made public during her political campaign.
The implementation plan promises to create 250,000 jobs instead.
Speaking on Saturday at the oath ceremony, Nadi Nudaitwa said that Namibian citizens had voted for Swapo.
“That is, the unification of diversity, natural resource benefits, and youth empowerment for sustainable development,” she said.
To realize these goals, Nandi-Ndaitwah said they have formulated implementation plans as a blueprint for the new government.
She said she merged several ministries and moved others to “maximise the results.”
She said new public agencies will manage government property and assets across the country, and the oil and gas industry will be overseen by the President’s office, maximizing the national interests.
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Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed Lucia Witbooi, former vice minister of interior affairs, immigration, security and security, as vice president.
Sources say the president initially considered vacant the position but may have felt compelled to be appointed.
Ultimately, she chose Witbooi – explaining that insiders are strategic and cautious.
Witbooi, a member of Congress since 2010, has never won a full Ministerial post. Party Insider suggests that she is a politically “safe” choice given her perceived lack of presidential ambitions.
The party reportedly has elected a vice president to replace Nandi Ndaitwa after seeing 2027.
“I consider this a great responsibility. I will fulfill it as the best of my ability,” Witbooi said yesterday.
Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed Elijah Ngurare as prime minister, showing a major rise from his previous role as deputy executive director of agriculture, water and land reform.
Once the executive director of the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL), Ngurare is currently in the country’s most influential position.
His appointment is widely seen as an effort to integrate support in the Cabango region. This is an important voting block where SWAPO maintains a strong election presence.
In recent years, Nandi-Ndaitwah and Ngurare have reconciled and have undergone major changes since they became estranged for ten years.
In 2015, then deputy prime minister Nandi Ndaitwa reportedly filed a motion within Swapo to expel ngurare from the party.
“My job is to support her Excellency in the mission given to me by the people of Namibia,” Nugrale said over the weekend.
Once labelled Swapo’s rebels, he saw himself as a defender of Swapo’s youth agenda, including empowerment, informal settlements and rural development.
“We must ensure that all 121 constituencies feel the impact of the marching order. Villages, rural areas and local governments must obtain services. To achieve this, we must unite,” he said.
Former Deputy Finance Minister Nathanwe Ichete emerged as one of the biggest winners after being appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Mining and Energy.
Over the years, Ithete has made public comments about mining and oil.
In 2019, former finance minister Calle Schlettwein criticized his agent, Ithete, for traveling to China without the minister’s approval.
That same year, the Namibian economic freedom fighters, opposed to Isate, had to separate after Congress’ Kalimbo Iponbu was involved in a physical conflict.
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Former executive director of finance, Erika Shafuda returned to her home ground as Minister of Finance and Social Subsidies, and resigned in 2021 to participate in the United Nations World Food Program. Currently 62, she is returning to the ministry where she served for 22 years.
Sources say Shahuda is open to fundraising projects like the revival of Air Namibia, which is said to have been opposed by her predecessor Ipbubu Shiimi.
“I am honored to continue serving the public. My priorities are in line with the president’s orders,” she said over the weekend.
Shafudah left public services under a final warning about her role in the controversial $5.5 billion fuel storehouse.
“No one who has resurfaced such information after my appointment should care.
Former Deputy Minister of Workko Nekundi has been appointed Minister of Work and Transport.
Nekundi was one of the Spyl leaders who led the purge against Ngurare 10 years ago.
Nekundi was recently caught up in a video push and push of the Namibian Election Commission (ECN) Committee during an observation trip in South Africa.
Selma az a a a a ash musavi, former high commissioner for Ghana, is the minister of international relations and trade. She was previously Nandi Nudaitwa’s right-hand woman as executive director of international relations and cooperation.
Ashipala-Musavyi was involved in the Anti-Corruption Committee’s investigation into broad favor and chronism in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.
Of those who served in the last administration, only three were retained as ministers. This includes Emma Theofelus, Minister of Information and Communications Technology.
French Capofi was retained as a minister of defense and veterans issue, while Lucia Yipbun was transferred to the Department of Interior, Immigration, Security and Security.
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Festus Mbandeka was retained as Attorney General.
Physician Esperance Rubindao has been appointed Minister of Health and Social Welfare, attracting public debate.
Former Health Minister Bernard Haufik said he was not approaching the position over the weekend.
“The audio is a response to a viral clip that I refused an offer from the new administration, and that’s not true. I’m never approached and there’s no bad blood between the new administration and myself,” he told Namibian yesterday.
Wise Immanuel, who hosted the SWAPO election last year, has been appointed Minister of Law and Labor Relations.
Sanet Steenkamp has been promoted from executive director to Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture. Dino Borotti is her vice-versa.
Emma Kantema has moved from being a vice minister of sports to becoming the new minister of gender equality and child welfare.
James Sankwasa is serving as Minister of Urban and Rural Development on the task of building 50,000 homes by 2029.
Mac Hengari has been appointed Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform.
Indireni Daniel is the new minister of the environment and tourism.
Kaire Mbuende, former SWAPO campaign manager at Nandi-Ndaitwah, was given the Director of the National Planning Commission.
“You have to help me give this team the opportunity to do their job. The important thing is who is there for me, who should not be for you. For you… wait for the service to deliver.”
