Paul Shipale
The editorial in the Sunday Newspaper of 11 December 2024 titled; “Time for Netumbo to preach unity” says that since Namibians have bestowed the highest honour available on Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to take over as head of state for the next five years, “her rhetoric since being announced as president-elect has been lacking that ‘mother to all’ ingredient” the editorial said and questioned “…where’s that message of unity?”
Indeed, elections are over and the President-elect is now the leader of even her fiercest critics. I agree with the editor when he said the acceptance speech by the President-elect including her press briefing and the ruling party’s victory celebration events presented the best opportunity to showcase that we have voted a unifier into office, especially given the polarising post-election period. Little wonder why the editor was puzzled saying “Instead, we were served with a cocktail of bashing the NBC journalist…” and asked where’s the reconciliatory tone of the new head of the proverbial Namibian House?
Comparatively speaking, I concur that the acceptance speech by the President-elect including her press briefing and the ruling party’s victory celebration events are missed opportunities where the President-elect was supposed to set the tone for her Presidency in line with the SWAPO Party’s election manifesto themed; “Unity in Diversity: Natural Resources Beneficiation and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development” in which the party promised inclusive development and shared prosperity signalling a renewed commitment to the nation’s development and unity as the President-elect highlighted that the manifesto represented the party’s social contract with the people of Namibia, outlining its vision and ideals for the country’s future.
If one look at the arguments advanced by Ghanaian President-elect John Dramani Mahama in his victory speech under the theme “Our best days are ahead of us” and attempt to analyse the rhetorical techniques he used, one can see that his address sets the tone for his administration, emphasising collaboration, accountability, and a shared vision for a prosperous Ghana.
Lest we forget, like Presidents Pohamba, Geingob and Mbumba, President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah follows in the footsteps of her predecessors who are all male. In this regard, both her acceptance and victory speeches were arguably supposed to be one of her most crucial speeches as there are questions as to whether her presidency would continue with her predecessors’ nation-building and/or reconciliatory tone or whether her speeches would mark a departure from these and, if so, what this meant for the country, especially, in terms of its global ranking, as far as media freedom and other freedoms are concerned.
In my last opinion piece on the election of our newly President-elect I said ‘she is widely viewed as a steady hand, a seasoned diplomat not tainted by the corruption scandals that had engulfed others’. I was and I am still of the opinion that her rise to the highest office in Namibia will contribute to the erosion of gender stereotypes and could be a catalyst for a significant change in political culture in the entire SADC region, if not in Africa as a whole, where males have dominated the echelons of power since independence. That is why her victory will serve as a measuring or yardstick, if not a standard, on how women’s rise to the highest office will be used to gauge how competitive a female electoral candidate would fare against a traditionally male list of political opponents.
Surely President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah will be determined to make a name for herself, not only as a ‘female leader’ but also based on her personal qualities and leadership abilities and not just based on her gender.
We have seen this when the late President Geingob took over the reins of state power. Indeed, following in the footsteps of both the Founding President Nujoma and Former President Pohamba — who are revered as Statesmen and liberation icons, especially Founding President Nujoma on whom the status of Founding Father of the Namibian Nation and Leader of the Namibian Revolution had been conferred and bestowed, respectively — would have been an almost insurmountable task for anyone. However, in an attempt to shake off the shadow of his predecessors, Late President Geingob chose the “Harambee Prosperity Plan” and fervently advocated for his mantra of “The Namibian House in which no one should feel left out”.
In this regard, I would love to find out, which rhetorical techniques and or arguments, following a theme, President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah will use in her inaugural speech on the 21st March 2025. Will she reiterate her rallying point of rooting out corruption and call for unity? Will she able to move out ahead of the flock in a new direction, including taking unpopular decisions, if any, confident that she is leading the nation the right way in the interests of all its people? I just hope she will use the rhetorical techniques and devices to craft a memorable inaugural speech that will go down in history as delivered by the first woman President in Namibia and the second elected female Head of State in Africa.
On the other hand, a report by Aletta Shikololo titled; “NNN’s executive puzzle …” that appeared in the New Era Newspaper on Friday, 06 December 2024 says “As President-Elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah prepares to ascend to the highest office in the land, the air of anticipation surrounding what her Cabinet will look like has gone into overdrive. However, the seasoned politician and diplomat has played her cards close to the chest”.
As the country waits with bated breath, political analysts have weighed in on the key considerations for assembling a competent and effective team to address Namibia’s pressing challenges. For instance, Marius Kudumo asked; “How does she want her government ministries to look [like]? Which functions does she want to put where? That is the first issue,” Kudumo explained. Adding to this analysis, political scientist Rui Tyitende also dwelt on competence in the selection process. “Do these people possess the necessary qualifications, skills, and expertise to perform in certain critical ministries, for example, finance?” he asked.
On his part, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) President McHenry Venaani promised that if elected as President of Namibia, his government would only consist of 15 ministers and four deputy ministers, Venaani said, adding that only four areas will have deputy ministers as they are very important, once elected to lead the country. These include education, health, national planning and housing, he noted. Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula said if elected into power his party would save the country N$31,2 billion allegedly paid to ministers and their deputies in monthly salaries. “We will reduce the Cabinet from 33 to 13 ministers and we are sure we will be saving N$31,2 billion getting rid of so-called deputy ministers,” he said.
On 21 March 2020, several deputy minister positions have been disestablished as a cost-cutting measure. For instance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has been merged with the Ministry of Land Reform, and the Ministry of Veteran Affairs is now part of Defence. In line with the SWAPO Party 2025-2030 Election Manifesto, I suggest that we rename some ministries to fulfil the election promises.
For instance, we can rename the Ministry of Higher Education as the Ministry of Higher Education, Vocational Training, Innovation and Preparation for the IV Industrial Revolution. The Ministry of Sports should be renamed as the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and National Service. There should also be a Ministry of Urban-Rural Development and Traditional Authorities; the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Development; Transport, Highways and Port Hub. The Ministry of Mineral Resources Beneficiation, Energy and Green Hydrogen Project. The Ministry of Marine Resources and Development of a logistical hub and gateway for SADC landlocked countries.
Indeed, the interest that has gripped many is who Nandi-Ndaitwah could pick in key portfolios such as Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Vice President, and other key ministries. When asked about the issue, President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah deemed it “premature” to divulge details. President-elect NNN assured the nation saying “It’s not going to be business as usual”. President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah identified agriculture, housing, health, education, land reform, and good labour relations, among others, as key areas that need attention, if one also considers the SWAPO Party Election Manifesto themed; “Unity in Diversity: Natural Resources Beneficiation and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Develop
As the nation speculates on her top picks, several senior Cabinet members have emerged as potential contenders for key positions. Among the names thrown around is Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. Whispers in the corridors are that Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who by March next year would have spent a decade at OPM, could be making her way to the National Assembly as Speaker. This is indeed a promotion in terms of the hierarchy in government’s structures and architecture as it happened before when the Late Theo-Ben Gurirab became a Speaker after serving as Prime Minister. Nevertheless, the issue is; will she be able to handle the restive younger parliamentarians with the opposition having obtained 45 seats in the National Assembly? In my honest opinion, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, if she cannot take the position of Speaker, let her become the Minister of International Relations with her salary as PM, if Peya Mushelenga is not part of the eight non-voting nominees by the President-elect.
Others are saying former SWAPO Party Youth League secretary Elijah Ngurare has also been rumoured to be Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s potential replacement, if not lined up for a full ministerial portfolio. I concur that Dr Ngurare, the Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, should be given that ministry in line with what the President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah identified as one of her key areas. Others who are tipped to get top appointments include Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi. I agree that if Kuugongelwa-Amadhila becomes the Speaker, Iipumbu Shiimi should be appointed as Prime Minister to follow in the footsteps of Kuugongelwa-Amadhila herself who spent 10 years in charge of the finance ministry before she went to OPM. Tom Alweendo, like Iipumbu Shiimi, was also the Governor of the Bank of Namibia before he became a Cabinet Minister. So, he can be a potential replacement to Iipumbu Shiimi at Finance, if not lined up for another ministerial portfolio.
Trade and industrialisation, Tyitende said, is another portfolio Nandi-Ndaitwah should consider carefully but I beg to differ with him as Lucia Iipumbu is an economist and could be assisted by Dino Ballotti, former FNB Namibia Head of Business & Public Sector Banking, when he joined FNB from NIPDB, where he worked as Executive Director of MSME Innovation & Acceleration. Ballotti holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from UNAM, a Master’s in Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation from Wits, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies. As such, he can complement Lucia Iipumbu at the Trade ministry if she is not given a new portfolio as Director General of the National Planning Commission to replace Obeth Kandjoze, who might go to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, replacing Alweendo, that is, if both are considered by the President-elect as part of her eight non-voting nominees.
Tjitende also highlighted the importance of evaluating potential candidates for positions such as Minister of Justice and of Defence. I argue that we amalgamate the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General and appoint the current AG Festus Mbandeka to head that ministry or else give it to Pohamba Shifeta and move him from Tourism. As far as the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs is concerned, I am sure that President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah might consider Dr Charles Mubita to that portfolio, even as a Deputy Minister, as he came to Parliament on the ticket of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle. I also suggest that she picks both Evaristus Kaaronda of SWANU and Justina Jonas for the portfolio of labour as they come from the labour unions’ background and President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah identified good labour relations, among others, as one of the critical and grey areas that need attention. In conclusion, I wish to convey compliments of the season and a prosperous 2025 to President-el
ect Nandi-Ndaitwah as she ponders on the above during her holiday retreat. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of my employer and this newspaper and are not in any way connected to my position but merely reflect my personal opinion as a citizen.
