Namibia has made history by swearing in Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as its first female president. The event took place on March 21, 2025, coinciding with the country’s 35th Independence Day celebrations. At 72 years old, President Nandi-Ndaitwah is one of the few female leaders in Africa, following in the footsteps of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Samia Suluhu Hassan.
In her first speech as president, she promised to create more job opportunities and support economic growth. She highlighted the need to invest in agriculture to improve food production and ensure that Namibians benefit more from the country’s natural resources. Her government also plans to focus on reducing unemployment, especially among young people.
A New Cabinet for a New Term
To improve government efficiency, President Nandi-Ndaitwah has introduced a smaller cabinet with 14 ministers and seven deputies. Here is the full list of Namibia’s leaders for the 2025-2029 term:
- Vice President – Lucia Witbooi
- Prime Minister – Elijah Ngurare
- Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Industrialization, Mines, and Energy – Natangwe Ithete
- Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs – Frans Kapofi; Deputy Minister Dr. Charles Mubita
- Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security – Lucia Iipumbu
- Minister of International Relations and Trade – Selma Ashipala-Musavyi; Deputy Minister Jenelly Matundu
- Minister of Finance and Social Grants Management – Ericah Shafudah
- Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform – Dr. Albert Hengari
- Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts, and Culture – Sanet Steenkamp; Deputy Minister Dino Ballotti
- Minister of Health and Social Services – Dr. Esperance Luvindao
- Minister of Environment and Tourism – Indileni Daniel
- Minister of Information and Communication Technology – Emma Theofelus
- Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare – Dr. Emma Kantema; Deputy Minister Linda Bayoli
- Minister of Works and Transport – Veikko Nekundi
- Minister of Urban and Rural Development – James Sankwasa; Deputy Minister Eveline Nawases Taeyele
- Minister of Justice and Labour Relations – Fillemon Wise Emmanuel
- Attorney General – Festus Mbandeka
- National Planning Commission – Dr. Kaire Mbuende
Key Priorities of the New Government
President Nandi-Ndaitwah has vowed to tackle corruption and improve how government projects are handled. She also wants to ensure that new industries, such as oil and gas, are managed carefully so that Namibians can benefit from them. Some government offices have been merged to cut costs and improve service delivery.
Namibia faces serious challenges, including a high level of income inequality. The country ranks second in the world in this regard, according to the World Bank. The new administration hopes that by creating more jobs and diversifying the economy, they can help reduce this gap.
The inauguration was attended by many African leaders, showing Namibia’s commitment to working together with other countries in the region. With a new government in place, Namibians are looking forward to changes that will improve their daily lives.
