IMELDA AMBONDO
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has warned Cabinet that time is running out for Namibia to realise Vision 2030, urging ministers to fast-track the implementation of government programmes and accelerate public service delivery.
Addressing the first Cabinet meeting of the year on Monday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the country has only four years remaining under the current administration to deliver on the national development blueprint.
She told the ministers that the new year must not mark a return to routine but a renewed call to duty, as expectations from Namibians remain high and every decision must contribute meaningfully to Vision 2030 goals.
“Time is therefore not on our side. Every day, every hour, and every decision must count,” the President said. Nandi-Ndaitwah called on ministers to prioritise results-based service delivery through decisive implementation of Cabinet resolutions.
While acknowledging progress made during the first year of the administration, she said restoring and strengthening public confidence in 2026 would require greater focus, discipline and unity of purpose, including faster implementation of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) across its four pillars.
On education, Nandi-Ndaitwah welcomed improvements in Grade 11 and 12 results but cautioned that the country remains far from its targets, calling for intensified efforts towards achieving a 90% pass rate in the future.
She also welcomed the rollout of the Subsidised Tertiary Education Funding Model, commending the ministries of education and finance ministry for its implementation, while noting that initial challenges would be addressed as the system matures.
Turning to the global environment, the President warned of increasing geopolitical uncertainty, shifting alliances and selective enforcement of global standards, reaffirming Namibia’s commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality of nations and peaceful conflict resolution through diplomacy and international law.
Within this context, she said the call for “Business Unusual” was no longer optional but urgent, as traditional ways of thinking and planning may no longer be sufficient in a rapidly changing world.
Nandi-Ndaitwah urged leaders to govern with empathy and remain closely connected to the realities facing citizens, reminding Cabinet members and public servants that failure was not an option.
“The duty to effectively deliver services and fulfil the promises to improve the living standards and quality of life of our people rests on our shoulders. We therefore cannot and must not fail our people,” she said.
She reaffirmed her leadership philosophy of pragmatism, integrity, accountability, meritocracy and inclusivity.
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