Allexer Namundjembo
Regional governors will now need approval from the Office of the President to be able to travel to attend official events across the country.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced the directive at State House during the appointment of seven new regional governors yesterday.
She said the move aims to curb the unnecessary use of state resources on events that do not benefit the public.
“I have observed governors travelling and officiating events that do not benefit the people of their regions. From now on, their approvals will come from my office. I have already sent a memo to all government entities and ministries, instructing them to send invitations through my office for consideration,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
In recent years, former regional governors have frequently attended both local and national events.
These included the Cross-Border Governors’ Forum held in Eenhana, which brought together governors from Omusati, Oshana, Kunene, Ohangwena, Kavango East, Kavango West, and Zambezi, alongside their Angolan counterparts.
Former Ohangwena governor Sebastian Ndeitunga was elected chairperson of the Namibian delegation, with former Omusati governor Erginus Endjala as his deputy.
Ndeitunga also participated in a strategic planning workshop in Windhoek during the March 2025 Independence Day celebrations.
In the south of the country, former ||Karas Governor Aletha Frederick led the launch of the Karas Governor’s Cup.
Many governors were also present at the 2024 Omagongo Festival, a national cultural event attended by senior leaders.
While such events aimed to promote unity and development, they also raised questions about the cost and value of official travel.
Government officials’ travel habits, including those of ministers, deputies, and governors, have long drawn public criticism.
Allegations of excessive trips and misuse of travel allowances have been recurring.
Former public enterprises minister Leon Jooste once described the practice of parastatals covering politicians’ S&T expenses as inappropriate and unsustainable.
In court testimony, former fisheries minister and fishrot accused Bernhard Esau admitted that S&T allowances became a source of personal gain, with daily rates ranging from US$500 to US$1,500.
The government has previously tried to address the issue. In 2018, the late president Hage Geingob imposed a travel ban on ministers and deputy ministers, restricting both domestic and international trips.
He also introduced controls on official vehicle use and public spending.
Despite this, reports later showed that even the Office of the President exceeded its travel budget.
Opposition leaders, especially from the Popular Democratic Movement, have been critical.
Former MP Nico Smit condemned the government’s decision to send a large delegation to the Dubai Expo in 2021, which cost N$20 million.
He called it a “glorified holiday”.
The new directive by Nandi-Ndaitwah appears to respond to public concerns and signals a stricter approach to government travel.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the aim is to ensure that such trips serve the public interest, not personal agendas.
