Deputy finance minister on Namibia’s top ‘incorruptible workaholic’

Kelvin Chiringa (KC) sat down with deputy finance minister Maureen Hinda-Mbuende (MHM) as she reflected on her journey with president-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

KC: Take us through the early days when you met Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

MHM: I first encountered her as a leader, initially from a distance, and I developed a strong admiration for her leadership and charisma. I began working more closely with her on various occasions, such as during her leadership of the delegation to the Beijing Conference.

I also met Nandi-Ndaitwah in a more personal capacity as the deputy chairperson of the Pan-African Center of Namibia (Pacon). As you may know, Pacon focuses on advocacy for pan-Africanism and African solidarity, and its international relations nature gave me the opportunity to engage with her when she was serving as minister of foreign affairs, which later became the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.

As a Pacon member, I also participated in several election observer missions, which gave me further opportunities to engage with Nandi-Ndaitwah. However, I grew particularly fond of her leadership during my time as deputy minister when I worked directly under her.

As I mentioned earlier, she is a workaholic, someone who is very consistent, driven by results, and focused on the impact of her work.

I have always enjoyed her leadership style. She is participatory, involving those around her and valuing their input. Netumbo has the remarkable ability to lead through consultation, while also taking decisions and responsibility for them.

KC: One of Netumbo’s defining qualities is her reputation of being incorruptible. What is your take on this?

MHM: During the highly contested internal elections for the position of vice president in Swapo, the mantra was ethical leadership, and this perfectly describes Nandi-Ndaitwah’s stance. I actually avoid using the word ‘incorruptible’, because ethics encompass far more than simply being free of corruption. It is a value-based leadership style that reflects consistency, integrity, and principle.

For Nandi-Ndaitwah, ethical leadership means addressing any behaviour that contradicts those values. What stands out to me is that her leadership style sets a clear expectation: Those who work with her must reflect and uphold the same values.

This approach should be evident in all aspects of governance, from recruitment to procurement and service delivery. One of our biggest challenges in the public service is inconsistency, particularly in hiring the most qualified individuals for roles. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s leadership represents transformative change, leadership that fosters camaraderie, nationhood and effective service delivery. I am excited to witness the impact of her presidency and the success story it promises.

KC: Are you aware of Nandi-Ndaitwah’s personal thoughts on the major corruption scandals Namibia has faced in recent years, such as the SME Bank collapse and the Fishrot scandal?

MHM: Nandi-Ndaitwah is very consistent, what she says in private, she will say publicly. I’ve been present in meetings where she has expressed her discomfort. I recall, during my time at the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, her saying something along the lines of “I won’t dig up graves, but from the moment I step into office, anything that happens under my watch will not be tolerated”.

This speaks to her commitment to value-based leadership. It’s not something new; it’s a principle that has always guided her. Publicly, she has often reiterated her desire to see a united Namibian House, as envisioned by former president Hage Geingob – a Namibia free of tribalism, class, and other divisions. She believes everyone should be treated as equal citizens of Namibia.

KC: You were one of the very first politicians to publicly support Nandi-Ndaitwah’s candidacy ahead of Swapo’s congress. Take us through that time: Did you face any challenges or friction, considering there were other candidates in the race?

MHM: Yes, someone recently reminded me that I was the first sitting parliamentarian to publicly support Nandi-Ndaitwah. I tend to agree. It was a natural decision for me. At that time, as the sitting vice president, she was set to contest for the position again. I supported her candidacy long before it became clear who the other contenders would be. My decision was not based on comparing her to other candidates, it was based on the leadership she had consistently demonstrated.

Was it easy? Yes, it was spontaneous. I remember the first time I joined her on the campaign trail. I told my colleague, Natalia Goagoses: “That’s our candidate. We can’t let her travel alone. We need to accompany her.”

At the time, she was set to address a support rally at Opuwo in the Kunene region.

People were hesitant to show their support openly, but for me, it was only natural. I told my colleague: “We need to cover her back. She can’t be alone.”

I also participated in strategic meetings where we developed plans and strategies. It was during these discussions that the ethical leadership mantra was born, a reflection of Nandi-Ndaitwah’s personality, history, and values. I think we are moving into an era where consistency, equal opportunities, equity, and equality will be highly valued and reflected in leadership. Anything contrary to that will need to be addressed.

KC: So, you’re saying it didn’t really bother her that the president expressed neutrality?

MHM: Yes, that’s right. I also want to address the misconception that the president was against her. Some people believe that the late president had his preferred candidate, but when Netumbo emerged as the successful candidate, he pledged his support.

If he expressed anything in private, it is no longer relevant. We are now entering the Netumbo era. Her success will be Namibia’s success, it will be a success for the Swapo government. Equally, her failure, if any, will be our collective failure.

Namibians need to understand that we are all in the same boat. If we choose to rock that boat, it will tip, and we will all go down with it. Let us work constructively to support the leadership of the day, regardless of who we supported yesterday.

KC: What were her concerns when people said she is too old to lead?

MHM: One thing we must clarify, and media houses have an obligation to do so, is that at no point did Nandi-Ndaitwah ever faint or fall. That narrative was a myth created during the campaign, often fuelled by misinformation and manipulated visuals, likely through artificial intelligence.

It is criminal to spread such falsehoods. In fact, Namibia may need to start defining such deliberate misinformation as treasonous. It goes beyond simple dishonesty; it undermines the integrity of our country and our leadership.

I can tell you, from being close to her, that such an incident never happened. People who believe or spread these rumours must understand they are advancing a false narrative, and it’s irresponsible to do so.

KC: What was it like when it finally dawned on you and the entire camp that the Presidency was coming to Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah? What happened that night and the night after?

MHM: Personally, I took a quiet night for myself. I didn’t go out to celebrate. I stayed in my room, reflecting and thanking God that the elections had ended peacefully, with no fatalities, accidents, or violence. That’s something we as Namibians can be very proud of. Despite a few hiccups, the process was concluded successfully.

Her victory, in my opinion, was evident throughout the campaign. When you’re in Namibia, you can sense the atmosphere. You can tell when momentum is building.

Of course, there were external forces determined to unseat her within Swapo, but their efforts ultimately failed.

Her victory is a collective victory for Namibia.

Regardless of political affiliation, we proved to the international community that Namibians cannot be manipulated, not by external forces, not by anyone.

• Maureen Hinda-Mbuende