Renthia Kaimbi
International relations and trade minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi says senior diplomats will mentor younger officers as part of internal reforms to professionalise Namibia’s foreign service.
The minister made the remarks during her ministry’s first general staff meeting of the year on Tuesday.
She said the changes will include staff rotations to build capacity and a partnership with the Namibian Association of Former Heads of Mission to mentor younger officers.
She told staff that the ministry must adapt to a world marked by rising geopolitical competition, weakened respect for international law and strained global cooperation.
She said Namibia’s national interest must remain central and diplomacy must deliver real economic value.
Ashipala-Musavyi asserted that economic and security interests, as much as politics, shape international relations today.
“This decision is strategic and speaks to our national realities, that diplomacy today must deliver tangible economic value for our people. It is a strong endorsement of our economic diplomacy, as outlined in our policy on international relations and cooperation, and it requires us to plan and work differently while measuring the tangible impact on the lives of our people much more seriously than before,” she said.
She also identified climate diplomacy as a priority for Namibia, calling for continued advocacy around the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the 2011 Namib Declaration.
On trade, she said the African Continental Free Trade Area offers opportunities to diversify markets, with a focus on sectors where Namibia has an advantage, including agriculture, mining, renewable energy and tourism.
She welcomed the return of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board to the ministry, saying the move is intended to ensure that every diplomatic mission supports growth at home.
She added that the government has finalised the Trade Management Bill and is advancing the Investment Promotion and Facilitation Bills to remove barriers and support job creation.
“We are the projection of Namibia’s image and the first line of defence for our sovereignty,” Ashipala-Musavyi said, urging staff to carry out their duties with strong analysis and a shared commitment to excellence.
