Netumbo shakes country and Swapo with Cabinet overhaul
Only three Cabinet ministers left standing
After weeks of suspense, the president has left many Swapo comrades licking their wounds following a radical Cabinet overhaul.
A staggering 86% of the Cabinet that existed before the November general election is now gone, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah retaining only three out of 21 of the former executive.
Analysts view this as a clear message from the new president that she is unafraid to disrupt political norms in favour of a more results-driven administration.
As part of her groundbreaking restructuring, ministries have been reduced from 21 to 14, with six of them assigned deputy ministers.
In a significant appointment, Lucia Witbooi, who previously served as deputy minister of home affairs, has now been named vice-president.
The role of prime minister has been handed to Dr Elijah Ngurare, a former deputy executive director in the ministry of agriculture and long-time Swapo Party Youth League secretary. Meanwhile, Natangwe Ithete, a Swapo backbencher in the National Assembly, has been appointed as deputy prime minister and minister of industrialisation, mines and energy.
After weeks of speculation, only Emma Theofelus (information), Frans Kapofi (defence) and Lucia Iipumbu (who was shifted from trade to home affairs) have been retained from the previous Cabinet.
Reports had previously suggested that Nandi-Ndaitwah was dissatisfied with the quality of Swapo’s parliamentary list, which limited her selection options. In response, on Saturday, she appointed eight additional non-voting members of parliament, all of whom were given ministerial positions.
Among the new appointments, only Kapofi has prior Cabinet experience, but even he had failed to secure a seat in parliament through his own campaign.
New beginnings
Among the fresh ministerial faces are James Sankwasa (urban and rural development), Sanet Steenkamp (a former education ministry executive director, now minister of education), Selma Ashipala-Musavyi (former diplomat, now international relations minister), Fillemon Wise Immanuel (justice and labour minister), Ericah Shafudah (former ministry of finance executive director, now finance minister), Dr Mac Albert Hengari (agriculture minister), and Dr Esperance Luvindao (a 31-year-old medical doctor and the surprise pick for health minister).
In a dramatic shift, nine ministers who failed to make it onto Swapo’s list of 51 parliamentary members were not reappointed.
These include Dr Peya Mushelenga (international relations), Tom Alweendo (mines and energy), Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi (higher education), Yvonne Dausab (justice), Utoni Nujoma (labour), Christine //Hoebes (presidential affairs), Erastus Uutoni (urban and rural development), Obeth Kandjoze (national planning) and Anna Nghipondoka (basic education).
Surprisingly, finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi was among those elected to parliament but did not make the Cabinet cut. He was joined by Pohamba Shifeta (tourism) and Derek Klazen (fisheries), both of whom were also left out.
The departures were not solely due to exclusion, as six ministers retired voluntarily, making way for new appointees. Those who stepped down include Kalumbi Shangula (health), John Mutorwa (works and deputy prime minister), Doreen Sioka (gender), Albert Kawana (home affairs), Agnes Tjongarero (sport) and Calle Schlettwein (agriculture).
The new deputy ministers appointed to assist in various portfolios include Gaudentia Krohne (mines), Charles Mubita (defence), Dino Ballotti (education and sport), Eveline Nawases-Taeyele (urban and rural development), Jenelly Matundu (international relations) and Linda Bayoli (gender equality).
In her bold restructuring, President Nandi-Ndaitwah has merged several ministries to improve efficiency. She explained her decision on Saturday, saying: “I have decided to establish, abolish some and make several alignments in various government offices, ministries and agencies in order to eradicate duplications, cut expenditures and to ensure smooth and effective implementation of our development programmes.”
The new ministries are:
1. Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs
2. Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security
3. Ministry of International Relations and Trade
4. Ministry of Finance and Social Grants Management
5. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform
6. Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture
7. Ministry of Health and Social Services
8. Ministry of Industrialisation, Mines and Energy
9. Ministry of Environment and Tourism
10. Ministry of Information and Communication Technology
11. Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare
12. Ministry of Works and Transport
13. Ministry of Urban and Rural Development
14. Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations
Analysts view this as a clear message from the new president that she is unafraid to disrupt political norms in favour of a more results-driven administration.
As part of her groundbreaking restructuring, ministries have been reduced from 21 to 14, with six of them assigned deputy ministers.
In a significant appointment, Lucia Witbooi, who previously served as deputy minister of home affairs, has now been named vice-president.
The role of prime minister has been handed to Dr Elijah Ngurare, a former deputy executive director in the ministry of agriculture and long-time Swapo Party Youth League secretary. Meanwhile, Natangwe Ithete, a Swapo backbencher in the National Assembly, has been appointed as deputy prime minister and minister of industrialisation, mines and energy.
After weeks of speculation, only Emma Theofelus (information), Frans Kapofi (defence) and Lucia Iipumbu (who was shifted from trade to home affairs) have been retained from the previous Cabinet.
Reports had previously suggested that Nandi-Ndaitwah was dissatisfied with the quality of Swapo’s parliamentary list, which limited her selection options. In response, on Saturday, she appointed eight additional non-voting members of parliament, all of whom were given ministerial positions.
Among the new appointments, only Kapofi has prior Cabinet experience, but even he had failed to secure a seat in parliament through his own campaign.
New beginnings
Among the fresh ministerial faces are James Sankwasa (urban and rural development), Sanet Steenkamp (a former education ministry executive director, now minister of education), Selma Ashipala-Musavyi (former diplomat, now international relations minister), Fillemon Wise Immanuel (justice and labour minister), Ericah Shafudah (former ministry of finance executive director, now finance minister), Dr Mac Albert Hengari (agriculture minister), and Dr Esperance Luvindao (a 31-year-old medical doctor and the surprise pick for health minister).
In a dramatic shift, nine ministers who failed to make it onto Swapo’s list of 51 parliamentary members were not reappointed.
These include Dr Peya Mushelenga (international relations), Tom Alweendo (mines and energy), Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi (higher education), Yvonne Dausab (justice), Utoni Nujoma (labour), Christine //Hoebes (presidential affairs), Erastus Uutoni (urban and rural development), Obeth Kandjoze (national planning) and Anna Nghipondoka (basic education).
Surprisingly, finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi was among those elected to parliament but did not make the Cabinet cut. He was joined by Pohamba Shifeta (tourism) and Derek Klazen (fisheries), both of whom were also left out.
The departures were not solely due to exclusion, as six ministers retired voluntarily, making way for new appointees. Those who stepped down include Kalumbi Shangula (health), John Mutorwa (works and deputy prime minister), Doreen Sioka (gender), Albert Kawana (home affairs), Agnes Tjongarero (sport) and Calle Schlettwein (agriculture).
The new deputy ministers appointed to assist in various portfolios include Gaudentia Krohne (mines), Charles Mubita (defence), Dino Ballotti (education and sport), Eveline Nawases-Taeyele (urban and rural development), Jenelly Matundu (international relations) and Linda Bayoli (gender equality).
In her bold restructuring, President Nandi-Ndaitwah has merged several ministries to improve efficiency. She explained her decision on Saturday, saying: “I have decided to establish, abolish some and make several alignments in various government offices, ministries and agencies in order to eradicate duplications, cut expenditures and to ensure smooth and effective implementation of our development programmes.”
The new ministries are:
1. Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs
2. Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security
3. Ministry of International Relations and Trade
4. Ministry of Finance and Social Grants Management
5. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform
6. Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture
7. Ministry of Health and Social Services
8. Ministry of Industrialisation, Mines and Energy
9. Ministry of Environment and Tourism
10. Ministry of Information and Communication Technology
11. Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare
12. Ministry of Works and Transport
13. Ministry of Urban and Rural Development
14. Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations
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