NEWLY appointed Namibian ambassadors and high commissioners have promised to sell the country’s development agenda as well as enhance trade and investment with their host countries.
President Hage Geingob appointed 14 new high commissioners and ambassadors-designate to represent the country abroad.
Former Namibia Airports Company chief executive officer Albertus !Aochamub, who was appointed as ambassador to France, promised to elevate the relations between the two countries to enrich and grow the Namibian manufacturing and value addition initiatives.
!Aochamub will also be responsible for Portugal, Spain and Italy as well as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
He said he would push Namibia’s agenda on climate change and conservation, as well as try to get funding for climate change projects.
Apart from that, !Aochamub stated that the overarching agenda of his stay in France would be focused on the agenda around economic diplomacy.
“We live in a country where climate change has an impact on all our communities in fundamental ways. Therefore, we should do whatever we can bilaterally to push that agenda,” he added.
Linda Scott, who previously served on the permanent mission to the United Nations, was appointed as the new ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
In an interview with yesterday, Scott said her priority as Namibia’s representative to the UK would be to focus on Brexit to prevent any negative impact on Namibia and southern Africa.
She added that she would also present Namibia’s development agenda at the Commonwealth to “see how we can be more involved with the Commonwealth, and how we can benefit more regarding technical assistance”.
“London is one of the economic hubs, and we are looking at how we can continue to benefit from that, and we will also try and find ways on how our goods can enter that market. We have been sending our beef and grapes to the UK, so we are going to see how we can continue to send those products.
“I believe Brexit will not have that much of an impact on our access to the market. The Sacu region has been negotiating with Britain to make sure that once they are out of the EU, we don’t lose anything,” she said.
Home affairs permanent secretary Patrick Nandago, who has been assigned to Angola, said he would build on the success of his predecessor to ensure that “we enhance those bilateral relations regarding promoting trade and investment”.
“We have a lot of bilateral programmes, some are ongoing, and some are still in the pipeline. We have been discussing the construction of the hydropower station, it is an ongoing project, and there are other projects where we have partnered. It is just a question of mobilising resources,” he noted.
Former National Council chairperson Asser Kapere, who has been posted to Botswana, said the focus of his five-years stay in that country will be to promote tourism and the integration of the transport sector.
Kapere said his vast experience will stand him in good stead, compared to many younger people.
“I am a long-standing cadre, who served the nation for a long time before and after independence, so my experience will be useful at this point better than those who seem to be younger than myself,” he added.
Other new ambassadors announced yesterday are Oshana governor Clemens Kashuupulwa, who goes to Russia; former State House permanent secretary Samuel /Goagoseb, who was sent to Cuba; and former Namibian high commissioner to Britain, George Liswaniso, who has been assigned to Sweden.
Nada Kruger is the new ambassador to Austria, while the trade ministry’s permanent secretary, Gabriel Sinimbo, is the new high commissioner to India.
Former high commissioner to South Africa, Morven Luswenyo, has been posted to Japan.
Meanwhile, secretary to the National Council, Emilia Mkusa, has been appointed the permanent representative to the African Union; Penda Naanda takes up responsibility at the United Nations; while Simon Ulenga was posted to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Haindongo Siyave is Namibia’s new high commissioner to Zambia.
During the announcement, Geingob encouraged the new ambassadors to enhance Namibia’s relations with their host countries.
The president also urged the diplomats to be mindful of the socio-economic challenges faced by Namibia, and of measures the government has taken in trying to address those challenges.
“You are well aware of the interests between Namibia and your host countries, and I believe that you share my desire to preserve and enhance these relations. I expect you to inform your host countries truthfully and regularly about economic opportunities and other developments,” Geingob said.
The diplomats were also told to familiarise themselves with the country’s statistics, and to be reliable and precise in their reporting.
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