Netumbo leads, women dominate Cabinet

Clad in sky blue African attire, reminiscent of her usual style, president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah arrives at State House on Friday to take her oath as Namibia’s first woman president in 35 years.

She is accompanied by her husband, retired general Denga Ndaitwah.

The who’s who of African politics see persistent rains falling over Windhoek – seen as a blessing by some – on what is a historical day for Namibia.

At 72, Nandi-Ndaitwah will be Namibia’s fifth president and the country’s first woman president, joining a few women leaders on the African continent.

When she emerges from behind closed doors at State House, a crowd cheers her on as she walks towards her designated seat in the company of Namibia’s inaugural first gentleman.

The event is attended by various heads of state from several African countries, including Angola, South Africa and Tanzania.

Before Nandi-Ndaitwah takes her oath, former president Nangolo Mbumba takes to the podium to deliver his final speech.

With tearing eyes and a shaky voice, he says it has not been easy, “but Namibians kept the faith”.

An emotional Mbumba says: “It has been a long time coming, it has been a long journey filled with trials and tribulations, but just as our struggle for independence, spearheaded by the gallant sons and daughters of Namibia, has paid dividends, likewise the struggle for gender justice, spearheaded by the brave women of Namibia and their allies across the international community . . . “

Chief justice Peter Shivute, who presides over the swearing-in ceremony, calls the new president to the podium and asks her to read her oath, raise her right hand, and affirm.

He then declares Nandi-Ndaitwah as the president of Namibia and asks the outgoing president to hand over the instruments of power as Nandi-Ndaitwah takes her presidential seat.

The crowd starts chanting her name.

In her moment of joy she gets a kiss from her husband, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

She walks towards the podium to deliver her first speech, in which she boldly says her administration will shun corruption.

With determination etched onto her face, Nandi-Ndaitwah says her ascendance to the highest office in the land is the culmination of years of struggle by generations of Namibians, men and women, for the political, social and economic liberation of the country’s people.

Loud applause and ululation erupts.

She promises a land of milk and honey, but stresses it will take a lot more work.

WOMEN DOMINATE CABINET

Gender and social activist Rosa Namises says having many women in key government positions does not guarantee change, and they would need to prove themselves.

“It should be about the impact these women will have in those roles. We need to see change,” she said yesterday.
Namises said the new ministers must not collect salaries only.

She was reacting to president Nandi-Ndaitwah appointing eight women as heads of ministries, of which there are 14, with Lucia Witbooi as her second in command, bringing the number to nine women Cabinet members.

Namises applauded the president for appointing new education minister Sanet Steenkamp, whom she said has demonstrated passion and dedication to Namibian children through her role as executive director of education, arts and culture.

“That was a good choice, and we hope to see the other women showing the same dedication,” she said.

Namises said she is not impressed by numbers as far as women are concerned, but about the quality they bring to the table.

“We have the numbers in ministerial positions, we must use it positively. These women must now support each other and the men who will be working alongside them to ensure they all deliver,” she said.

Namises recommended that the position of the vice president, which is now occupied by Witbooi, to be reviewed and clearly defined.

“Currently, this is a dormant position. The vice president’s office needs to be reviewed to see how it can best support the Office of the President in terms of strategy and decision-making, in addition to standing in for the president in her absence,” she said.

GUESTS TURNED AWAY

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology on Thursday announced the cancellation of Independence Day celebrations at Independence Stadium on Friday.

The event would be hosted at State House, with only a few invited guests able to attend, the ministry said.

Some Havana informal settlement residents were left disheartened with the government’s decision.

The cancellation of the event was due to heavy rains continuing over central Namibia.

“Due to limited space and the high number of international guests, the public will not be able to attend the 35th Independence Day celebrations and the inauguration of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as Namibia’s fifth president as expected,” the ministry announced.

Modestus Jacob (26) who was standing at a bus stop in Havana hoping to catch the bus to the stadium on Friday said he was not aware of the new arrangements.

“We did not know there was a change of plans, because we do not have televisions or smartphones to hear or read the news,” he said.

Jacob asked what the government would do with the food intended to be distributed at Independence Stadium.

Karin Matheus (45) said it was disappointing that the government was not prepared for the heavy rains.

“We wanted to see our president inaugurated. This is history for Namibia, and we are not going to witness any of that because we do not have televisions or smart devices to be updated,” she said.

Meanwhile, a scuffle broke out at State House after some people were denied entry due to limited space.