Justicia Shipena
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has launched three national task forces to speed up economic recovery, improve the health system and expand access to housing and serviced land.
She announced the teams on Monday, saying Namibia continues to face rising living costs, slow job creation, uneven service delivery, housing shortages and pressure on the health system.
She said the private sector is also struggling with global uncertainty and domestic barriers.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia can no longer work in isolation if it wants to move faster.
She said the country needs a space where government, business, labour, civil society, communities, academia and faith leaders can work together on solutions.
This thinking led to the establishment of the Namibia Public Private Forum, which aims to foster open dialogue and collaborative action.
“The Forum was meant to be a turning point. It showed that Namibia has talent and capacity. What we need is alignment and unity of purpose.”
She said the three task forces on economic recovery, health and housing and land are a direct commitment made during the forum.
The teams include experts from government, business and civil society.
She said some people questioned whether the task forces would lead to action.
“Today we stand here as proof that the eighth administration is serious about service delivery. We are demonstrating urgency and commitment.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah told members to expect disagreements because they come from different sectors, but she said these disagreements should make policy ideas stronger.
“We cannot solve today’s challenges with yesterday’s mindset. We must be brave, honest and innovative. The canoe does not move forward if everyone is paddling their own way,” she said.
The Economic Recovery Task Force will focus on growth, investment, innovation and youth opportunities, guided by the post-Covid-19 recovery plan.
The membership document lists 18 members from finance, banking, business and the private sector, including Titus Nampala, Rolie Venter, Tjiuna Daringo, Jesaya Hano-Oshike, Sven Thieme, Vetumbuavi Mungunda, Titus Ndove, Ebson Uanguta and Mercia Geises.
The Health Task Force will work to improve service delivery and strengthen the health system.
Its work will rely heavily on the 2013 national health report. Members include specialists such as Dr Linda Nangombe, Dr Tshali Iithete, Dr Christo Burger, Dr John Keiseb, Dr Anna Hangula, Dr Melody Lyn Chipeio, Dr Theo-Ben Kandetu, Dr Edward Fynn, Dr Monika Pendukeni and Dr Jacobus Angara Sheehama.
The Housing and Land Task Force will help expand access to serviced land and improve housing delivery.
The membership list shows 19 members, including Jacob Nghifindaka, Heinrich Amushila, David Nuyoma, Fanuel Maanda, Rebecca Anne Shilengudwa, Keith Handura, Bruce Stewart, Reverend Maureen Dausas, Johannes Niikondo, Erastus Nikodemus, Kadiva D. Hamutumwa and Julius Nyerere Namoloh.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the composition of the teams raises concerns about inclusivity.
“When a task force is dominated by urban elites, there’s a real risk that decisions will be made far from the people who live these problems every day. If communities are not represented, the solutions may look good on paper but fail in practice,” he said.
He also notes a gap between the complexity of issues such as land redistribution, housing justice and economic marginalisation and the skills represented in the task forces.
He argues that solving inequality requires input from people who understand poverty, land dispossession and community-driven development.
Kamwanyah said Namibia has seen similar initiatives before that struggled to turn ideas into action.
“The question many Namibians are asking is simple: how will this be different from previous task forces that never reached the ground?” he said.
