No need for bloated executive – Kavekotora

Rally for Democracy Party (RDP) president Mike Kavekotora has commended president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (NNN) for reducing the number of ministries in the Cabinet.

This comes after the president wasted no time exercising her authority and reduced the number of ministries from 21 to 14, to avoid the duplication of mandates.

Kavekotora told The Namibian this week that NNN’s decision is commendable.

He said the RDP will bring a motion to parliament to reduce the legislature as well.

AMBITIOUS REFORMS

Public policy analyst Marius Kudumo says it was evident that the president would reduce ministries as per media reports.

“We need to wait and see the configuration at ministry levels for some of us to comment from informed positions,” he says.

Political analyst Henning Melber notes that NNN’s ambitious Cabinet reforms, including reducing the number of deputy ministers, are a strong indication that she is serious when it comes to institutional governance adjustments.

“This combination had existed initially.

The new minister personifies competence based on her previous career as a senior official. While this was a rather easy choice, the merger of other ministries or parts of these will also require staff adjustments,” Melber says.

Many portfolios, he notes, are headed by ministers without experience in those positions, which might require an initial period of re-orientation and familiarisation that could create further inefficiencies.

He also questioned whether the combined portfolios would reduce the number of civil servants, or if they would be integrated into the expanded ministries

For example, combining fisheries with agriculture will require considerable internal adjustments unless the ministries simply continue to operate side by side in separate entities under the same label, he says.

“What is somewhat puzzling is the decision to relocate oil and gas to the Office of the Presidency, while notably making no reference to green hydrogen. Whether this enhances transparency and accountability, remains to be seen,” he said.

The analyst indicated that the reduction of ministries signals a strategic shift and needs to be closely followed.

According to him, the shift will require significant refinement to minimise inefficiency, resulting in institutional adjustments which also affect public sector employment.

PROMISES MADE

NNN says, as elected leaders, Cabinet members have the responsibility to ensure they consolidate democracy, peace, stability and good governance in the country, as well as to expedite the delivery of quality public services to all Namibians.

“I have decided to establish, abolish some and make several alignments in various government offices, ministries and agencies in order to eradicate duplications, cutting on expenditures,” she says.

Political analyst Sacky Johannes says he was surprised by the decision but noted that some of the ministries were unnecessary and wasted funds.

The surprise appointments, he says, are Elijah Ngurare as prime minister and Natangwe Ithete’s as deputy prime minister.

“These are people from the [Swapo Party] Youth League, meaning she is sending out a clear message that she is already preparing for the future generation and leaders of the party,” he says.