Renthia Kaimbi
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened the 2026 Cabinet year with a call for decisive action, saying the current global climate demands a clear break from routine governance.
Speaking to ministers and senior officials yesterday, she emphasised that reverting to the status quo was not a viable option.
She urged Cabinet to adopt a “business unusual” mindset to respond to the country’s most urgent needs.
She said the administration has limited time to deliver on its mandate, with only four years left to advance Namibia’s Vision 2030.
“Time is therefore not on our side. Every day, every hour, and every decision must count,” she said, stressing the need for focused and results-based service delivery.
Nandi-Ndaitwah placed her message in the context of a changing global order, marked by shifting alliances, economic uncertainty, and uneven application of international rules.
“What seems normal now could become unacceptable in the future,” she said, adding that these changes necessitate a shift to unconventional business practices.
“Our ways of thinking, planning, and acting can no longer stay the same,” she said, while reaffirming Namibia’s commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
She outlined five pillars guiding her leadership: pragmatism, integrity, accountability, meritocracy, and inclusivity.
She said these principles must shape the work of Cabinet and ensure leaders remain connected to the daily realities of citizens.
“We must maintain a listening ear and a watchful eye,” she told ministers, saying responsibility for improving living standards rests with those in leadership.
Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged public anticipation around Grade 11 and 12 examination results.
She thanked teachers and parents for progress made but said more work is needed to reach a 90% pass rate.
She highlighted the early rollout of the new Subsidised Tertiary Education Funding Model as a key achievement and praised the task force for sustained efforts in implementing it.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said challenges will arise but insisted they can be overcome.
“We are a people who have confronted far greater odds and prevailed, not because the road was smooth, but because the cause was just and the resolve was firm,” she said.
