P T SHIPALE
The Confidante newspaper of 03 March 2025, aptly described this moment as a dawns of a new era on the SWAPO Party, signalling a shift in leadership paradigm under the first female elected leader in the region, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and the end of an old era which coincides with the passing of Africa’s last liberation icon, Dr. Sam Nujoma. Similarly, the editorial of the Namibian Sun Newspaper of Tuesday, 11 March 2025, properly described the moment as President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah’s defining test as she finalizes her Cabinet. This time, the stakes could not be higher.
The editorial further noted that reports of Nandi-Ndaitwah considering technocrats and fresh faces from outside the current parliamentary list were a breath of fresh air. This suggests that she recognizes the urgency of the moment – this is no time for rewarding old comrades with nostalgia-laden appointments. Namibians are not merely curious; they are anxious. For many, this Cabinet represents the last realistic opportunity to revive a nation clinging to its final hopes.
As the editorial rightly pointed out, the world has moved on and so must Namibia. War credentials and liberation struggle narratives, which have long defined Cabinet appointments, have become relics of a past that no longer addresses the country’s pressing needs. Therefore, the decision to include technocrats signals a crucial shift and suggests that Nandi-Ndaitwah understands that competence, transparency and hard work- not political patronage- must define her administration. This should not merely be another chapter of recycled promises; it must be the dawn of a new era.
Reports indicate that Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi is likely to be appointed as Namibia’s next Prime Minister, replacing Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who is being considered for the role of speaker of the National Assembly. Meanwhile, sources suggest that Shiimi’s position at the Ministry of Finance will be filled by Ester Kaali, the CEO of Letshego Namibia and a Veteran Banker with a 27 year career at FNB Namibia.
The resignation of Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) CEO John Steytler came as little surprise to those familiar with internal political movements in the corridors of power. Though he dismissed claims of living under duress, reports indicate that he is among the eight presidential appointees and is expected to assume a ministerial position. Steyler’s extensive background, including his tenure as Namibia’s first Statistician-General, and his role as a presidential economic advisor, positions him as a key player in the incoming administration.
Additionally, Fluksman Samuehl, CEO of the Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company, is rumored to become the new Secretary to Cabinet, succeeding George Simataa, who has reached retirement age. In an unexpected twist, former Lands Minister Alpheus !Naruseb is being considered for the role of Vice-President. Meanwhile, senior ministers who failed to secure parliamentary seats are reportedly being lined up for ambassadorial appointments.
It is not my intention to regurgitate on and recycle old reports but offer my humble views on the current affairs in the country. In my view, the appointment of a Secretary to Cabinet and a Vice-President reflects a strategic move by the President-elect, signalling a balance between competence, experience and party unity. However, regarding the appointment of technocrats, one may have reservations because despite their experiences and skills, they sometimes only rely on theory based solutions and that is why they sometimes run good initiatives to the ground. Suffice to look at Air Namibia, some of the green schemes and some other institutions which were successful but are now dormant.
A report titled “The ties that bind” in Confidante (03 March 2025) highlighted a significant shift within the ruling SWAPO Party. The return of former members, once estranged from the party, marks a new leadership paradigm under Namibia’s first female president. Former SWAPO Party Central Committee member Jeremiah Nambinga, who had defected to the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), asked about a potential return to serve under the new administration, Nambinga responded ambiguously: “we will cross that bridge when we get there”. Similarly, Libolly Haufiku expressed willingness to serve, stating “I will be honoured.” He noted that Nandi-Ndaitwah has brought renewed optimism and a fresh outlook to SWAPO, following years of internal struggles. However, concerns remain regarding the true intentions behind the reintegration of former members. Some critics argue that their return may be politically motivated rather than driven by genuine ideological alignment.
Young politicians such as Knowledge Ndunge Ipinge, a former independent candidate, have also re-joined the party. However, he was quick to dismiss claims that his return was due to personal ambition, insisting that it was motivated by desire to contribute to national development. Others include Dimbulukweni Nauyoma, Hennie Seibeb and Vipua Muharukua. In light of these developments, it would be in the ruling party’s best interest for the President-elect to appoint some of these younger politicians as governors in key regions such as Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Kavango West and Hardap as the former governors of those regions are on the ruling party’s parliamentary list and will now form part of the next National Assembly, namely; James Uerikua, April Solomon, Sirkka Ausiku and Marius Sheya.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised over SWAPO’s decision to leave the Vice-President position vacant until 2027. This suggests a missed opportunity to set a tone of a unifier and a democrat above board as opposed to what some analysts called “a mishandling of SWAPO’s VP succession”. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah warned that this move could fuel succession battles behind the scene. Others have criticise the decision calling it unconstitutional. They argue that the party constitution requires elections for leadership positions and that no position should be filled by automatic promotion or acclamation.
A report in the same newspaper of 5 February 2025 under the title, “Insiders claim SWAPO congress will block NNN’s challengers”, said that SWAPO’s planned extraordinary congress that just took place on the weekend of the 07 to 08 March 2025, was allegedly designed to prevent current ministers who might not make it to parliament from contesting president-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for the presidency of the party. On that occasion, a SWAPO insider told The Namibian newspaper that the party plans to have another extraordinary congress to elect the vice president.
If indeed that was the rationale behind that move, it is ill-advised and a bad move that will in the long run portray the first female elected President in the SADC region as an autocrat who tampers with the appropriate procedures to fill positions. SWAPO needs to go forward with a clean slate. I therefore agree with the political analysts when they said SWAPO is on the verge of losing all credibility with parts of its membership when it seeks what they call ‘pseudo-solutions’ which are seemingly helpful but ultimately ineffective to a problem. Yes, the candidacy of the President-elect was already confirmed and she is now the President of the party, albeit through ‘acclamation’ or ‘endorsement’, whichever way one would see that, but the question is; why freeze the VP position?
In an article by The Africa Report of February 5, 2011 titled “Namibia’s SWAPO has forfeited the moral high ground”, as it was said by political analysts when they offered a frank assessment of the party’s moral shortcomings, internal divisions, and eagerness to trade on its liberation legacy. According to those analysts, the new law, which empowers the president to appoint local ‘governors’ (who, strictly speaking, are not governors, but are rather the elected executive members of the regional councillors) is in breach of the original constitutional provision which stipulates that these ‘governors’ are elected by and from the group of regional councillors, who in turn were elected by the voters.
This would allow for a truly regional representation. The ‘governor’ is acting in direct responsibility to the appointing president and can come from any region or political party. He or she is therefore no longer necessarily a representative of the factual political situation on the ground in the region, but is de facto a representative of the head of state. This is toxic for democracy and is another step towards a kind of ‘democratic centralism’ that has as much to do with democracy as torture does with human rights, Melber said. Against this background, it is my considered view that President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah should truly strive to unite, not only the country at large, but also the SWAPO Party in general. SWAPO’s internal struggles must not be allowed to degenerate into destructive factionalism based on tribal or regional divisions. We must avoid returning to past narratives of factionalism, such as the so-called ‘Omusati clique’ vs ‘the kwanyama mafia’.
Lest we forget, the Secretary General position in the SWAPO Party is the very important position in the SWAPO structures despite a lacklustre interest in the secretary general position then the positions of president and vice president of the party. Indeed, in many parties the world over, an SG is considered as one of the most important and powerful posts to be held, with large influence over party internal matters. However, a SWAPO SG has not the necessary authority to take meaningful party-internal initiatives. It remains largely an administrative office, but not one of political influence. I therefore agree with political analysts when they said “this is not in the best interest of the party, since the party needs to constantly monitor and test its political meaning and programme. Instead, it remains formed by different factional interests without a captain at the steering wheel who has the authority of initiating reforms from a commanding height in addition to the president.”
Sometimes, an SG would be the one who is responsible for a change of the course of the party and with the task to advise pro-actively, initiate meaningful party-internal debates and encourage policy debates which influence the political programme of the party. But as long as the SG remains more a token position than one of influence, people will remain more interested in their personal career elsewhere, at the expense of the party, which misses an opportunity to adapt to new realities. In that case you need a strong individual, a person who will be able to move with force and call the cadres to order, a person who will be an embodiment of those types of qualities that voters who have been ostracised, ridiculed and those many who have resorted to joining other political parties back.
Thus, the driving force of any political party is the SG and a vibrant youth, not to mention the women element, particularly in this day and age. Let therefore the SWAPO Party have a strong SG who does not have ambitions to become the party’s President, in the likes of Walter Sisulu of the ANC, Alfred Nzo who served as the longest-standing Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC) between 1969 and 1991, including people such as Moses ǁGaroëb, David Meroro, who served as National Chairman of SWAPO from 1962 to 1991 and Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo who served 18 years on Robben Island and was released in 1984 and re-joined SWAPO as Secretary General in exile.
To foster unity, the President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah should not only consider appointing veterans politicians, including those who opposed her nomination, as Special Advisors to key ministries but also appoint the right political advisors who are neither tribalists nor regionalists but have the best interest of the party and the image of the President-elect at heart. Likewise, senior ministers who did not secure parliamentary seats should be considered for ambassadorial roles. This would ensure that their institutional knowledge and experience are not lost. In sum, as the first female President of both the SWAPO Party and Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has a unique opportunity to demonstrate her leadership as a unifier, embracing all factions under a common vision for national progress. Thus, she dare not fail to show her motherly instinct and nurturing character embracing all her children under her protective wings. I just wish that she can start her term of office on a good note setting the tone of a new dawn under a female President. Thus, the expectations and the hopes of the people in the country and beyond have been placed on her. I wish her success in her new endeavour. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of my employer and this newspaper but solely my personal views as a citizen.
