PRIME Minister and President-elect Hage Geingob this morning made the third and final announcement on his Cabinet before his inauguration on Saturday.
Geingob announced many changes to ministerial portfolios and the people who will occupy those positions.
One of the biggest changes comes at education. Geingob split the ministry into two. He said: “I have looked at our education system. All of us are complaining. Something is wrong.”
Geingob said, “Four ladies are going to be responsible for our education. Its a revolution!”
He created the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation and the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture.
Geingob said even though he announced some. deputy ministers have not been informed and are not “cut in stone”.
About the new emphasis on the arts he said, “there are many of our artists who don’t get support, [who are] struggling. Arts is important. It means culture and arts must enjoy attention.”
Other new portfolios are the Ministry of State Owned Enterprises and the Ministry of Poverty Eradication.
The trade ministry will now be known as Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development.
The local government ministry was renamed to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
He joked that he was looking for Job Amupanda, recently suspended from Swapo because of land activism, to work as the Minister of Land Reform.
“But he is not in Parliament,” said Geingob.
The Ministry of Labour becomes Labour, Industrial Relations and Job Creation. Geingob asked the media to contradict him in his belief that unemployed people do not have degrees and skills training.
Namibia will now have a ministry of land reform.
The arts portfolio was taken from the youth ministry and added to one of the education ministries. The ministry will now be known as the Ministry of Sport, National Services and Youth.
The President-elect further announced that the newly established Office of the Vice President will deal with veterans and issues concerning marginalised people. The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, who will handle the matters of physically challenged people, is Alexia Manombe-Ncube.
Minister in the Presidency in charge of economic planning: Tom Alweendo deputised by Lucia Ipumbu.
Minister of Presidential Affairs: Frans Kapofi.
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation plus Deputy Prime Minister: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Peya Mushelenga remains deputy Minister of International Relations.
Minister of Finance: Calle Schlettwein, deputised by Natangwe Ithete.
Minister of Defence: Penda Ya Nangolo.
Home Affairs: Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, deputy Erastus Uutoni.
Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation: Itah Kandji Murangi deputised by Becky Ndjoze-Ojo.
Minister of Education, Arts and Culture: Katrina Hanse-Himarwa deputised by Anna Nghipondoka.
Minister of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development: Immanuel Ngatjizeko.
Minister of Poverty Eradication: Bishop Zephania Kameeta.
Minister of Health and Social Services: Dr Bernard Haufiku. Juliet Kavetuna to be his deputy.
Minister of Public Enterprises: Leon Jooste.
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