By Burnett Munthali
On Saturday, newly sworn-in President Nandi-Ndaitwah announced a significant reduction in the size of Namibia’s cabinet.
She named Ericah Shafudah as finance minister and Lucia Witbooi as vice president, among other appointments.
This announcement came just one day after Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as the country’s first female president, following her SWAPO party’s victory in the November elections.
In addition to the appointments of Shafudah and Witbooi, Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed Natangwe Ithete as the minister of mines and energy, and Selma Ashipala-Musavyi as the new foreign affairs and trade minister.
Shafudah’s appointment is particularly notable given her extensive background in Namibia’s finance sector.
She worked in the finance ministry for over two decades, with her last role being the executive director of finance.
In 2021, she resigned from the ministry to join the World Food Programme as the deputy country director.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, in her effort to streamline the government, reduced the number of cabinet ministers from 21 to 14, while the number of deputy ministers was also cut from 21 to 7.
This reshuffling was part of a broader effort to increase government efficiency and reduce costs.
In a televised speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah explained that merging certain offices and reallocating responsibilities among ministers was aimed at eliminating redundancies and ensuring the smooth execution of the government’s development programs.
Another key aspect of Nandi-Ndaitwah’s cabinet restructuring is the management of Namibia’s emerging oil and gas industries.
The president announced that these industries would now fall under the direct oversight of the president’s office, a move that signals the critical importance of these sectors to the country’s future economic growth.
The 72-year-old president also used the occasion to outline her broader vision for Namibia’s economic future.
One of her primary goals is to increase investment in the agricultural sector, which she sees as essential for reducing unemployment and diversifying the nation’s economy, which has traditionally been heavily reliant on natural resources.
Addressing high unemployment rates will be one of the biggest challenges for Nandi-Ndaitwah’s administration.
However, she remains optimistic that with strategic investments and reforms, Namibia can transition to a more diversified and sustainable economy.
This reshuffle signals Nandi-Ndaitwah’s commitment to both addressing current economic challenges and positioning Namibia for long-term prosperity.
Through her leadership, she hopes to create a more efficient government that can meet the needs of all Namibians while fostering economic growth.
The reduced cabinet, along with her focus on strategic industries like agriculture, oil, and gas, reflects Nandi-Ndaitwah’s vision of a modernized, diversified, and forward-looking Namibia.
Her leadership promises a new era for the country, one marked by economic resilience and social inclusion.
