Jooste resigns from Swapo central committee too

Public enterprises minister Leon Jooste, who the presidency confirmed has resigned from Cabinet and Parliament, is also vacating his seat in the Swapo central committee.

The central committee is Swapo’s highest decision-making body between congresses and serves as a platform for key events in the party, such as nominating its presidential candidates.

Although 53-year-old Jooste is not considered a powerhouse in the party, his resignation ahead of the watershed congress slated for later this year is a big development, at least symbolically.

The outgoing minister yesterday poured cold water over the significance of his resignation, telling Namibian Sun: “Yes, I am resigning as [a central committee] member but will 100% remain an active ordinary member”.

No public announcement has been made on Jooste’s resignation from the Swapo central committee, with the presidency yesterday confining itself to his resignation from his government roles.

“Honourable Leon Jooste informed the president [Hage Geingob] about his decision to resign as member of Cabinet, with effect from 31 March,” press secretary in the presidency, Alfredo Hengari, announced.

“Minister Jooste further informed that he would also tender his resignation as a member of Parliament the same day.”

Bumpy ride

Jooste endured a turbulent time at the public enterprises ministry, punctuated by the successful liquidation of Air Namibia – which government considered a bottomless pit that gobbled up nearly N$10 billion in state subsidies.

While government’s conscience remains clear on the national airline’s liquidation, many Namibians have thrown shade on the decision, with Jooste often being singled out for blame. The minister has always maintained it was a collective Cabinet decision.

Another wasteful public entity culled under Jooste’s term was Agricultural Business Development (Agribusdev), which Cabinet has also decided to dissolve in due course.

The parastatal, whose employee salaries are currently paid by the ministry of agriculture, has failed to successfully run the government green schemes, which are now up for grabs by private investors.

Geingob yesterday lauded Jooste “for his determination in ensuring reforms of public enterprises through the enactment of the Public Enterprises Governance Act of 2019, including the successful conclusion of the mission of the ministry”.

Meanwhile, Namibian Sun has it on good authority that the ministry of finance will now have three deputy executive directors as a result of absorbing the public enterprises function.

Public enterprises acting executive director Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati is expected to return to the ministry of trade from where she was seconded.

Happy to serve

When asked last November about his time as minister of public enterprises, Jooste said he had been happy to serve.

“I came to do just that, and I did that to the best of my ability. I will also continue to serve; we do not all need to be ministers to serve our country. It was never about Leon, a title or a salary, and it will never be,” Jooste said.

He added that he had no qualms about handing over his responsibilities as public enterprises minister to the minister of finance.

“This is in the best interest of the rest of the process and I am proud to hand the keys to the minister of finance. These have been the most difficult but best years of my life and I don’t have a single regret,” he said.

Commenting on the new structure, Jooste said oversight will continue and the finance minister will now have the ability to use budgets to ensure compliance and performance.

“This should therefore bring further improvement. The ministry of finance will now have direct insight into public entities.”