Winners and losers of 2023

WinnersYvonne Dausab, justice ministerShe has the potential to reform our laws, but does not have the political backing. Yvonne Dausab&#039;s ministry has been able to pass 13 bills this year – no small feat. Her highly-secret same-sex union has been used to sideline her, but she is one of the best legal minds and one can only hope that the next administration will not get rid of her.Calle Schlettwein, agriculture ministerBesides his protectionist approach to keeping the red line alive and well, Oom Kalli&#039;s ministry has made significant progress in providing water to many communities. This has been his most significant achievement. His decision to break ranks with fellow Swapo members on the same-sex marriage debacle also showed that he is an independent thinker, a rare breed in our country.Johan Potgieter and Annette Seiler, same-sex spousesSame-sex couples took on the might of government and public opinion to successfully challenge the country&#039;s immigration laws, and make Namibia a little more equal and tolerant. As Namibian Sun reported this year, many couples in same-sex marriages have since received domicile and work permits as a result of the landmark court ruling in favour of their brave challenge.Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Swapo vice-presidentThe Swapo vice-president has faced many hurdles, particularly in the ruling party itself, where questions linger over her candidacy in the 2024 presidential election. She has embraced those who went up against her at the party congress in late 2022 and taken their hands, instead of repeating her predecessors&#039; old tradition of rejecting - or even dismissing - those who stood against them. Nandi-Ndaitwah has remained calm in the face of adversity from the likes of Jerry Ekandjo, and even Hage Geingob.Inna Hengari, PDM lawmakerShe has cemented herself as a true representative of young people in parliament. She continues to use her voice to speak on key issues. She went to prison for demanding opportunities for young people, and she also initiated a motion on youth unemployment in parliament. The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker was one of the few youth leaders to publicly question the controversial trip undertaken by the presidential couple’s children to Dubai.LosersDr Job Amupanda, activistHis self-centred leadership approach led to some core Affirmative Repositioning (AR) stalwarts and co-founders leaving the movement, most notably Dimbulukeni Nauyoma. If Job Amupanda continues to prioritise and focus on himself, there will be no future for AR. As matters stand, he is AR and AR is him. He needs to decentralise and listen to others. He was part of the opposition crew that let Swapo take back control of the City of Windhoek. While his exposé of higher education minister Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi was commendable, the defamation lawsuit against him by deputy finance minister Maureen Hinda-Mbuende has not augured well for his stuttering presidential ambitions.Erastus Uutoni, urban and rural development ministerErastus Uutoni’s oversight over traditional authorities has divided communities. As a government representative, he is supposed to remain neutral at all material times, and enable and empower communities to dictate who should lead them. Instead, he has politicised the process. He also failed miserably on urban land.Barry Rukoro, former NFA secretary-generalFor his unprovoked attack on Namibian Premier League newcomers Eeshoke Chula Chula, exposing himself as a thoroughbred tribalist. This is sad for a former chief administrator of the national football association. Calling a newly-promoted team a ‘Wambo project’ designed to end the hegemony of his tribe in Namibian football says a lot about Barry Rukoro as a person, and the company he keeps.Nangula Geingos, president’s daughterFor being a Marie Antoinette with her comments, which are tantamount to “let them eat cake” in Dubai. Nangula Geingos and her siblings had no business being on a government trip to the United Arab Emirates, let alone being accredited for COP28. She said a lot in that Facebook post, except producing proof that their trip was paid for by their parents. But even if this was so, their inclusion can never be justified.Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi, higher education ministerThe minister’s rather embarrassing borrowing spree of travel allowances from parastatals, in order to globetrot, has dominated this year. She has borrowed money from the University of Namibia, the Namibia University of Science and Technology, the Namibia Training Authority and the Namibia National Commission for Unesco, all falling under ministry. Itah Kandjii-Murangi is now under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission for her insatiable lust for borrowing, which is not backed by any law, including the Public Enterprises Governance Act.

Winners and losers of 2023

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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Winners and losers of 2023

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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