Nandi-Ndaitwah to treat corruption like ‘treason’

In her inaugural speech on Friday, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said corruption equals treason and should be treated accordingly.She said corruption angers citizens and poses a serious threat to governments. Nandi-Ndaitwah was speaking at State House moments after being sworn in as Namibia’s fifth president – the first woman to ascend to the highest office in the land.“Corruption in all its manifestations should be avoided at all costs,” she said, to a loud round of applause.“As a student of [former Tanzanian president] Mwalimu Nyerere, he taught me, and he said it in one of his writings, that corruption must be treated as treason. And I agree. Because through corruption citizens can be frustrated and, in the process, overthrow governments," the president said. Her inauguration as Namibia&#039;s fifth president – and first woman – on 21 March marked a historic moment for the country.The inauguration ceremony, which saw a large number of international representatives in attendance, reflected the ongoing solidarity of Namibia&#039;s global allies, many of whom played a vital role in the nation’s path to independence.Solid foundation In her inaugural address as president, Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed her gratitude to the Namibian people for placing their trust in her, promising to build on the solid foundations laid by her predecessors."I stand before you today with profound gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility towards the people of Namibia, who placed their trust in me by electing me as the fifth president of the Republic of Namibia to lead this great nation for the next five years," she said.Paying tribute to the nation&#039;s founding president, Sam Nujoma, she acknowledged the sacrifices made by generations of Namibians who fought for independence. She said Nujoma, who led the liberation struggle, laid a solid foundation for peace, political stability, democracy and social and economic development. The president also paid tribute to former presidents Hifikepunye Pohamba and Hage Geingob for their roles in nation-building, vowing to continue their work. "My ascendance to the highest office in the land is the culmination of years of struggle by generations of Namibians, men and women, for the political, social and economic liberation of our people," Nandi-Ndaitwah said.On the agenda In her address, the new president outlined her administration’s vision of the way forward. “The task facing me as the fifth president of the Republic of Namibia is to preserve the gains of our independence on all fronts and to ensure that the unfinished agenda of economic and social advancement of our people is carried forward with vigour and determination to bring about shared balanced prosperity for all."Central to her agenda will be economic diversification, she said."We pledged to the people of Namibia to diversify our economy for our people to derive maximum benefits from our country’s natural resources through value addition," Nandi-Ndaitwah affirmed.She also committed to promoting infrastructure development, particularly in urban areas facing growing populations, while also investing in rural development to counter rural-urban migration.On the topic of gender equality, President Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed her long-standing commitment to empowering women."The Swapo Party congress of 2002 took a bold decision to amend the party’s constitution to provide for 50/50 representation in leadership in all party structures," she said. She acknowledged that while progress has been made, “equality between women and men and the empowerment of women is work in progress all over the world. However, in Namibia, we have made good progress, but still, a lot remains to be done."She added: “I was not elected because I am a woman but because I am capable. That is to say, as women, we should not ask to be elected to positions of responsibility because we are women, but because we are capable members of our societies to hold those positions.”Youth empowerment and educationThe president also highlighted the need for continued investment in education and training as key drivers for the country’s future. “The development of any country depends on the quality of its human resources,” she said, emphasising the importance of developing skilled human resources to meet labour market demands. She also promised to prioritise education across all levels, from pre-primary to vocational training.Nandi-Ndaitwah assured that her administration would ensure universal access to healthcare as a fundamental right for all Namibians. “Access to quality health care is a right that all Namibian people should enjoy, irrespective of their economic and social status,” she said.Moreover, the president vowed to create more job opportunities for young people. “Opportunities will be created for the effective participation of the youth in the various sectors of our economy through targeted financing, training, mentorship and internship programmes," she said, underlining a particular focus on sports and creative industries as avenues for youth empowerment.Good governance Good governance was a recurring theme throughout Nandi-Ndaitwah’s debut address as president. She stressed the importance of maintaining high ethical standards within public service, promising to lead an accountable administration that will promote transparency and trust in state institutions."We will promote good governance with predictable, rule-based systems that instil confidence in our institutions," she said.Concluding her speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah called on all Namibians, regardless of their background or political affiliation, to unite for a better future. "I implore every citizen, regardless of your background or political affiliation, to join me on this journey of nation-building," she urged.

Nandi-Ndaitwah to treat corruption like ‘treason’

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-26

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Nandi-Ndaitwah to treat corruption like ‘treason’

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-26

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