Doctors challenge new health minister’s appointment, cite misconduct

Three Namibian medical professionals have alerted president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of newly appointed health and social services minister Esperance Luvindao’s controversial professional history.

This includes allegations of professional misconduct that prompted a formal complaint.

The complaint regarding the minister’s conduct was allegedly lodged by Windhoek-based doctors who wrote to the president this week.

Sources familiar with this matter say the submission of the doctors’ request for an investigation into the minister’s conduct happened prior to her appointment.

Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed Luvindao (31) as minister of health and social services last Saturday.

Sources say Luvindao’s former employer filed a formal complaint about questionable operation records that never took place. The minister did not answer calls and text messages sent to her at the time of going to print.

Luvindao’s sudden rise to power to run the N$12.3-billion health ministry has attracted public debate since last Saturday.

She reportedly had a plan to study at Harvard. Some speculate that she might eventually be pushed out by pursuing her dream to study at the university.

The Namibian reported on Monday that Nandi-Ndaitwah was reportedly reviewing the appointment of Luvindao.

Some have questioned why Luvindao was appointed in the role, and The Namibian understands Nandi-Ndaitwah has asked her team to look into the concerns about the appointment.

“She works on evidence. She requested the team to gather evidence,” a source said, adding that the president might only withdraw the appointment “after evidence proves otherwise”.

Luvindao has been under fire for what some in the industry term as “self-aggrandisement” by promoting herself on social media.

This includes the delivering of free online consultations to more than 44 000 patients from Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria and Rwanda since 2019.

In 2022, Luvindao was honoured by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth the second with a Commonwealth Points of Light award for delivering free online consultations.

According to the Points of Light website, Luvindao started offering the sessions after working in northern Namibia and noticing the difficulties underprivileged citizens experienced accessing healthcare, with many patients having to travel long distances of over 50km and waiting up to 10 hours to see a doctor.

Former first lady Monica Geingos had to dismiss allegations that she influenced Luvindao’s appointment.

Geingos refuted any involvement, stating that she only became aware of Luvindao’s appointment when it was publicly announced.

“I have never spoken to any leader regarding the appointment of any individual, nor have I directly or indirectly recommended or influenced any ministerial appointment.

“The suggestion that I would influence appointments for personal gain is patently malicious, offensive and contrary to what I stand for,” she stated.

Geingos further added: “The appointment of ministers is the prerogative of the president and I am surprised that there is an attempt to blame some of us who are peripheral to that process.”