EDITORIAL
Last week, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed seven deputy ministers, a Minister in the Presidency, and an advisor to the minister of defence.
This comes after she began her term with a strong push for a leaner, more efficient administration focused on cost containment and improved delivery. Her record over the past year has earned praise for financial prudency — from cutting middlemen in the health system, which saved over N$200 million, to reinvesting those funds into pressing national needs. This approach stood out in Africa as a break from the politics of patronage that dominate many governments.
By contrast, her predecessor, Hage Geingob, ran a bloated executive that included personal advisors on top of the usual ministers and deputies. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s initial promise was a smaller Cabinet capable of doing more with less.
The somersault of last week raises pressing questions. Is the president still committed to a lean, high-performing team? Has the focus on efficiency and cost savings given way to the default African model of large, expensive executives with limited results? Only time will tell.
While the argument that ministers need support is valid, this should have been communicated from the outset. Reversing the course a year into her term gives the impression that the more things change, the more they remain the same.
Critics have long questioned the value of deputy ministers, often seeing them as “lame ducks” who wait to step in for ceremonial duties that could easily be handled by senior civil servants.
Going forward, it is imperative for the President to clearly explain the rationale behind this shift, and how it aligns with her stated goals of efficiency, delivery, and fiscal responsibility.
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