PERFORMANCE OF NAMIBIAN CABINET MEMBERS 2024-2025

Nangolo Mbumba, PresidentSCORE 6/10As acting president (a title he reportedly loathed), Mbumba’s job was less about charting new waters and more about keeping the Namibian ship steady on its existing course. Tasked with executing the policies and programmes set in motion by his late boss, he had neither the time nor the political runway to launch a fresh development agenda. Instead, his brief tenure was defined by continuity, stability and the sombre duty of leading the nation through the farewell of two statesmen who helped secure Namibia’s political liberation. A caretaker, a custodian – but certainly not a disruptor.Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice-President SCORE 4/10The VP position is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Since her election as Swapo vice-president in 2022, she’s been less of a national VP and more of a party power player, laser-focused on greasing the wheels for her transition to the presidency in March 2025. Governing? Not so much. Her real job has been managing Swapo’s internal politics rather than the country&#039;s affairs – because, let’s be honest, that’s where the real game is played.Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Prime Minister SCORE 5/10Despite her efforts to reform the public service, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s impact was about as effective as a bandage on a bullet wound. Systemic inefficiencies and corruption within government institutions remained stubbornly intact, proving that some things resist change more than a politician dodging accountability. Reform? More like a well-intentioned memo that never left the inbox.Peya Mushelenga, International AffairsSCORE 4/10Mushelenga’s impact on foreign policy is about as clear as a foggy morning in Swakopmund – hard to see and even harder to define. With little visible progress to his name, his tenure felt more like an extended study break than a strategic diplomatic push. Juggling ministerial duties, academia and religious commitments, he seemed more preoccupied with sermons and scholarly papers than with steering Namibia’s global interests.Albert Kawana, Home AffairsSCORE 4/10Kawana’s tenure was marked by criticism for failing to fix the ministry’s tangled bureaucracy, but his real claim to fame? Immigration policies that raised more eyebrows, including whispers of ‘golden visas’ for the rich. And when it came to human rights, particularly for sexual minorities, his record reads more like a cautionary tale than a legacy of progress. If equality was a train, he was the guy pulling the emergency brake.Tom Alweendo, Mines & EnergySCORE 4/10His tenure was a whirlwind of boardroom musical chairs, with mining commissioners, Namcor executives, and board chairs coming and going like guests at a revolving-door party – some leaving under a cloud of corruption and illegal mining scandals. Add in the slashing of mining royalties, and his image took a violent beating. The discovery of oil, followed by the now-legendary “it’s not our oil” blunder, shook Namibian’s faith in him.Obeth Kandjoze, National Planning Commission DG SCORE 3/10Between the census disaster, empty National Development Plans (NDPs), and the widely held belief that he kept his job only because Geingob couldn’t sack him, Kandjoze’s tenure was less about impact and more about endurance. A prime candidate for further investigation.John Mutorwa, Works and Transport & Deputy PMSCORE 6/10The teacher-turned-politician has never been one for shaking things up – more a steady pair of hands, perfectly suited for any Swapo president in need of a loyal placeholder. Well-liked and uncontroversial, he glided through his tenure without making waves. But when it came to fixing the disaster that is GRN properties and the GRN garage, his hands were less safe and more tied. The mess remains, parked exactly where he found it.Calle Schlettwein, Agriculture and WaterSCORE 4/10His legacy? Defending the colonial relic – the red line – with everything he had. On land reform and food security, his impact has been as dry as the Namibian desert. If progress were crops, his fields would be barren. Ironically, the one department running smoothly under his watch – water – was thanks to Elijah Ngurare, not him.Frans Kapofi, DefenceSCORE 4/10Aside from his brief flirtation with running for president and the embarrassing exit from that race, Kapofi’s time in defence was marked by persistent corruption allegations, particularly around the shady dealings of the August 26 company and some rather creative financial mismanagement. The country’s war veterans remain unhappy with many unkept promises.Anna Nghipondoka, Education, Arts and Culture SCORE 3/10Easily the worst and most incompetent minister of education since independence – an achievement in itself. Under her leadership, the education system has crumbled faster than a soggy biscuit. The current curriculum has all but buried quality education, with student failure rates soaring as if flunking were the latest trend. If education were a relay race, she’s the one who dropped the baton, tripped over it, and then blamed the track.Christine //Hoebes, Presidential AffairsSCORE 3/10While //Hoebes managed to get through her responsibilities without causing major controversy, her portfolio’s support for marginalised communities and persons with disabilities was about as underwhelming as a &#039;Best of&#039; album with just one track. When it came to inclusivity, her efforts barely made a ripple, leaving many to wonder if she even noticed they were there.Pohamba Shifeta, Environment and Tourism SCORE 5/10Shifeta’s approach to poaching and conservation has been a bit of a mixed bag – like trying to juggle endangered species and a few too many controversial policies. While concerns over illegal hunting and the rumoured privatisation of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) continue to grow, his attempt to sell the ivory stockpile rather than torch it was a valiant effort.Ipumbu Shiimi, Finance SCORE 7/10Shiimi emerged as one of the best-performing ministers – if you’re talking numbers. He strengthened government revenue collection, made state-owned enterprises act a little less wildly with their finances, and even managed to trim national debt. He’s your quintessential finance manager: grey suit, dry jokes, and an uncanny ability to balance the books. The blemish on his record? Banks continue to rake in billion-dollar after-tax profits annually, all while barely investing in their facilities, staff or the people they suck dry.Derek Klazen, Fisheries SCORE 4/10One of those dime-a-dozen comrades you could toss under any bush and no one would notice. He’s shown zero understanding of the mess the fisheries sector is in – a mess that’s been decades in the making thanks to comrades with a knack for leeching resources. No solutions offered, no grasp of the science behind it, and thousands of fishermen who dubiously lost their jobs at Walvis Bay remain on the streets in protest.Doreen Sioka, Gender Equality SCORE 3/10If "How does she still have a job?" were a person, this would be her. The ministry’s running on autopilot – coasting along with little direction or purpose. She is leaving Cabinet this week and no one is likely to miss her.Kalumbi Shangula, HealthSCORE 5/10Gone fishing after doing a good job of steering the country through the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite a few small wins, the public health sector continues to struggle with medicine shortages, neglected infrastructure and rampant corruption in procurement. He must enjoy his well-deserved retirement as he exits the stage this week.Itah Kandjii-Murangi, Higher EducationSCORE 2/10During her tenure, she seemed far more passionate about racking up travel allowances than about ensuring universities had the funds to conduct meaningful research. While institutions struggled to keep the lights on, she was busy collecting per diems like they were loyalty points. If only national development aligned with her travel itinerary, we might have gotten somewhere.Yvonne Dausab, JusticeSCORE 6/10Her legacy should’ve been defined by her tireless work to professionalise the ministry, her efforts to open up the judiciary, and her unshakable humanity. Not to mention, she took on Israel with gusto. But instead, she’ll likely be remembered as the target of the rising conservative camp in her party, who’ve painted her as just another "gay forcing her lifestyle" on others. It’s a shame, really – because her true achievements got buried under the weight of political labels.Emma Theofelus, ICT/InternationalSCORE 5/10The poster child for a premature appointment – picked too early and with little understanding of how the media works. Under her watch, senior officials in the ministry trampled all over rules and regulations like they were speed bumps. The Nampa/New Era co-opted managing editor? A blunder that’ll follow her around like a bad smell. She struggled to offer any real policy direction, especially when it came to media regulation and the sky-high cost of telecommunications.Festus Mbandeka, Attorney-GeneralSCORE 4/10Mbandeka has been widely criticised for his weak legal stances, setting troubling precedents in government litigation. His most memorable moment? Not a victory, but his loss in the sodomy court case – a defeat that will likely define his legacy more than any of his rare wins. By the way, what advice did he give ECN regarding dual candidacy in general elections and why is it a state secret?Utoni Nujoma, LabourSCORE 2/10A walking disaster. Just take a look at the state of the Labour Commissioner’s office – it’s more like a storage closet for paperwork than an active department. With the highest unemployment in the world, his track record is a masterclass in how not to handle a country’s workforce. If unemployment were a sport, Namibia would be taking home the gold.Agnes Tjongarero, Youth and SportSCORE 2/10A national embarrassment of colossal proportions. Under her watch, our football team became international nomads, forced to play "home" games in foreign stadiums because ours were about as match-ready as a cow pasture. Meanwhile, chaos at the National Youth Council unfolded like a bad soap opera – one fuelled by her lack of leadership. The damage done to sports under her tenure isn’t just a setback; it’s a full-blown crisis that will take a miracle (or at least competent leadership) to fix. Goodbye!Erastus Uutoni, Urban and Rural DevelopmentSCORE 3/10He made a half-hearted attempt at holding local authorities accountable, but his interventions often felt like they were more politically motivated than effective. Overall, his performance was like a half-baked plan – could’ve been good but just wasn’t. Should have stayed mayor of Ongwediva. Lucky if reappointed this week.

PERFORMANCE OF NAMIBIAN CABINET MEMBERS 2024-2025

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-03-21

Please login to leave a comment

PERFORMANCE OF NAMIBIAN CABINET MEMBERS 2024-2025

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-03-21

Please login to leave a comment

Login