Presidency keeps 3 deputies

THE latest appointments have resolved the issue of two deputy ministers per ministry, except in the Office of the President, where three are still assigned.

President Hage Geingob on Monday appointed two new deputy ministers and reshuffled eight others, a few days after he had reshuffled his Cabinet.

In 2015, Geingob assigned two deputies to the works, agriculture, international relations and poverty eradication ministries as well as the Prime Minister’s office.

Monday’s changes did not affect the three deputy ministers in the Presidency – Hilma Nicanor (Veterans’ Affairs), Alexia Manombe-Ncube (Disability Affairs) and Royal /Ui/o/oo (Marginalised Communities).

The executive director in Geingob’s private office, Etienne Maritz clarified to The Namibian yesterday that the three deputy ministers will remain in the Office of the Vice President, which is part of the Presidency.

Asked what prompted the President to make a U-turn on his previous controversial appointment of two deputy ministers per ministry, Maritz said the move was taken to cut costs.

“I confirm that it is for cost-saving purposes, as well as to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the respective institutions, particularly in improving service delivery,” he said.

The Presidency said Geingob reversed the decision because he realised that it was not the correct decision to make three years ago.

Some saw Geingob’s decision to appoint many deputy ministers in 2015 as a way of repaying politicians who had supported him, or those who could support him for the ruling party leadership.

State House said 17 out of 28 deputy ministers are women.

Geingob appointed member of parliament Veikko Nekundi as the new public enterprises deputy minister, and lawmaker Bernadette Jagger as deputy minister at the environment ministry.

Nekundi, who served as Swapo Youth League deputy secretary and later as acting secretary, has been accused by youth leaders in the party of ignoring the party constitution to help Geingob win the Swapo presidency last year.

Jagger replaces former environment deputy minister Tommy Nambahu, who has been moved to be the deputy minister at the labour ministry.

Former fisheries deputy minister chief Samuel Ankama is now a deputy minister in the Office of the Prime Minister.

He was among the politicians who supported Team Swapo – a camp in the ruling party which challenged Geingob’s team at the Swapo congress.

Ankama replaces Christine //Hoëbes, who is promoted to deputy minister at the international relations ministry.

//Hoëbes replaced former international relations deputy minister Maureen Hinda, who is the new home affairs deputy minister.

Former trade deputy minister Pieter van der Walt has been demoted to the economic planning ministry. It is unclear why Van der Walt has been demoted, but Geingob publicly grilled him in 2016 during a meeting with deputy ministers.

Geingob was not impressed at the lack of progress with the equipment aid scheme at the trade ministry.

Van der Walt was replaced by Lucia Ipumbu, the former deputy economic planning minister. Ipumbu has experience in finance, having worked as head of benefits processing at the Government Institutions Pension Fund from 2007 to 2015.

Engel Nawatiseb, who served as deputy minister in the public enterprises ministry, has been shifted to the information ministry as deputy minister. Nawatiseb is a former journalist at New Era, and also served as mayor of Tsumeb.

Former urban development deputy minister Sylvia Makgone is the new deputy minister at the fisheries ministry.

The State House statement said five out of 25 ministries previously had two deputies each.

“There is no longer any ministry served by two deputy ministers,” the Presidency stressed.

He further said he “thinks that a reshuffle is not meant to hurt the feelings of politicians because it is not about us in the first place – it is about what is best for our country and our people,” adding that he believed a political leader’s relevance should not be tied to a specific portfolio as leaders need to effect change wherever they are assigned.

New fisheries deputy minister Sylvia Makgone said the realignment came as a surprise, but she will take up the new assignment with vigour, delivering what is expected of her.