EDITORIAL: Kuugongelwa-Amadhila – A loss for cabinet?

It is all but certain that Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila will assume the role of speaker of the National Assembly. While this is a prestigious appointment on paper, it raises an important question: Is Namibia gaining a strong parliamentary leader at the cost of a weakened executive?Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is no ordinary politician. She was once the architect of a rare budget surplus as finance minister and has been a key player in government since her rise to prominence as a 26-year-old in the 1990s. Her move to parliament feels like robbing Peter to pay Paul – strengthening the legislature at the cost of weakening the executive.For incoming president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, this decision was anything but simple. She could have promoted, demoted or retained Kuugongelwa-Amadhila as prime minister. While the speaker’s position carries weight, it removes her from the centre of executive decision-making, leaving a void that will not be easily filled.For some, this move appears to be more than a reshuffling – it feels like a strategic calculation to neutralise Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s future presidential ambitions. If that is the case, it reflects a short-sighted factional manoeuvre that prioritises internal party politics over national interest.If Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is as committed to service as she has often claimed, a ministerial role in finance or trade would have allowed her to contribute more directly to Namibia’s economic recovery. After all, both Hage Geingob and Nahas Angula were once moved from the prime minister’s office without political turmoil.Ultimately, the decision has been made. Whether it strengthens parliament or weakens Cabinet, only time will tell. What is certain, however, is that Namibia cannot always afford leadership decisions driven by personal political survival rather than national progress.

EDITORIAL: Kuugongelwa-Amadhila – A loss for cabinet?

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-14

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EDITORIAL: Kuugongelwa-Amadhila – A loss for cabinet?

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-14

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