President Nangolo Mbumba reflects on his tenure at final Cabinet meeting

President Nangolo Mbumba at the last Cabinet meeting of his Presidency, State House, Windhoek, 18 March 2025.

Good morning to all and welcome to the final Cabinet meeting of this Presidency. 

That day has arrived and the time has come for me and other members of this Cabinet to conclude one of the most eventful chapters in the history of our young democracy.

Although moments such as this are often permeated by an air of melancholy, I must admit that I am filled with a feeling of pride, joy and great honour, for I am reminded by the saying: “Every farewell is a sunset that always awaits the sunrise.” 

So while the sun may be setting on this Presidency, we all await, with bated breath and hope, the imminent sunrise that will usher in tomorrow with the belief that only greater things lie ahead for the Republic of Namibia and its citizens.

I will be the first to admit that the past 13 months have not been easy by any stretch of the imagination. However, from the very first minute after I unexpectedly ascended to the helm of the Presidency, I was encouraged by the overwhelming and unwavering support that I received from each and every one of you, fellow Cabinet members.

Amid the grief and the tears experienced as the result of the passing of our third president, Hage Geingob, you did not miss a beat in carrying out your duties of administering and executing the executive functions of government with diligence and dedication.

This not only speaks to the robust functioning of our democracy and our sound governance architecture but also speaks to your character, as members of Cabinet and as dedicated and faithful Namibians, who have remained steadfast and committed to ensuring that under all circumstances, government will remain responsive to the needs of the Namibian people.

While we have been seized with mitigating the devastating effects of one of the most severe drought periods in our recorded history, we have also been dealt a double blow. Firstly, last year, we lost a sitting president in the person of my brother, president Hage Geingob, and secondly, this year, 12 months later, we lost our founding president and leader of the Namibian revolution, Sam ‘Shafiishuna’ Nujoma. 

May their brave souls rest in eternal peace.

Despite these traumatic events, every time a question has been asked of this Cabinet, you have delivered the answer. As the nucleus of Namibia’s political leadership, you have remained resolute in the eye of the storm at each time of calling, and for that, I would like to express my most sincere appreciation and gratitude.

I am pleased to note that even though we have faced overwhelming headwinds over the past several months, we have maintained our focus on driving the government’s developmental agenda and ensuring that we improve the standard of living and the quality of life of the Namibian people. We have taken concrete decisions in Cabinet in the interest of advancing economic growth, employment creation, and poverty eradication for all our citizens. We have also been able to implement those decisions.

Nearly a decade ago, when president Geingob opened the first Cabinet meeting of his tenure, he stated: “The focus of this administration is therefore to address the prevailing inequalities in the socio-economic architecture. This will involve looking at a range of choices of how to go about redressing a myriad of imbalances which exist due to the policies of past systems which promoted racial exclusion.”

Today, I can proudly state that indeed, this administration has made several inroads aimed at addressing inequalities, as well as ensuring greater inclusion of previously disadvantaged groups within Namibia’s economy.

The economic outlook remains positive with the discoveries of oil and gas, discoveries of mineral resources and the vigorous promotion of green industrialisation and the blue economy. This administration’s efforts at promoting investment and economic growth over the past years have ensured that there are a number of green shoots on the horizon. As our economic performance continues to rebound from the effects of Covid-19, we can look forward to the potential of green hydrogen and oil and gas discoveries, transforming our economy into a new era of prosperity for the Namibian people.

Furthermore, I am buoyed by the forward-looking Swapo manifesto, which will form the basis of the agenda for the incoming administration of our president-elect, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. As a tried and tested leader, I have no doubt that she will continue consolidating the peace and unity we have enjoyed for 35 years and will usher in a new era defined by economic growth and opportunities for all Namibians.

In Nandi-Ndaitwah, we have a superb runner who is ready to take over the baton of leadership and commence her race. And I must say, I am proud of her and cannot wait to hand over the baton of administration to her this Friday, knowing full well that she will excel in taking Namibia and its people towards the destiny of shared prosperity, the maintenance of unity, peace and stability.

As I draw near to the end of my statement, I wish to share with you the wise words of Coretta Scott King, the wife of the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr, who said: “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won. You earn it and win it in every generation.”

Certainly, the struggle never ends. With the passing of two of our iconic leaders in the space of 12 months, we are witnessing the passing of an era. What was the struggle for independence is now becoming the struggle for economic emancipation of Namibians. 

In a few days’ time, Namibia will welcome the new torchbearers for this modern-day struggle. I am proud that we have laid a solid foundation on which they will continue to build, so that our nation will maintain its reputation as a haven of peace, democracy, unity and development.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you to deliver on the crucial mandate of the executive pillar of government and serve the Namibian people. 

I want to thank each and every one of you for your commitment and consistent support.

Vice president and president-elect, prime minister, deputy prime minister, ministers, secretary general, secretary to Cabinet and your secretariat, fellow Namibians, it has truly been an honour to chair these Cabinet meetings as president of the Republic of Namibia. 

It has been an honour to serve the Namibian people. 

It is an honour which I shall carry with me for the rest of my life. 

So while the sun sets on this session of Cabinet, we await the sunrise of the next one.

Thank you and God bless the Republic of Namibia.