IN a long awaited Cabinet reshuffle, President Hifikepunye Pohamba yesterday announced what he described as a “winning team”, with security supremo Peter Tsheehama the most notable absentee in the line-up.
Namibia’s first Prime Minister, Hage Geingob, makes an expected comeback – as Trade and Industry Minister, while Peter Katjavivi is recalled from diplomatic service to head the National Planning Commission. Tsheehama, who served as the first head of the National Intelligence Service and then moved on as Minister of Safety and Security in 2005, is now effectively out of active Government service because of ill health.There was no word from the President about his omission from the executive.He is replaced by Dr Nickey Iyambo, who is moved from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.Geingob returns to Cabinet after a close to six-year absence.In 2002, he was demoted by former president Sam Nujoma to head the Ministry of Local, Regional Government and Housing, a position he turned down.Katjavivi has spent almost five years in Europe’s diplomatic circles – first as Ambassador to the European Union (EU) and most recently in Germany.Previously he was Vice Chancellor at the University of Namibia when, a year before his term was set to end, Nujoma posted him abroad in July 2003.While the shake-up had been expected for a long time, it offers no surprises.”It is a typical Pohamba move.No political motivations behind it.It is interesting in the sense that positions were determined by a need,” said a close aide of the President shortly after the announcement at the new State House.Another said Pohamba was “building a winning team” and had decided not to touch several key ministries such as finance and health while moving others into key positions.John Mutorwa replaces Iyambo, Namibia’s first Health Minister who later became Minister of Local Government, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry until yesterday.Mutorwa’s position will be filled by Willem Konjore, whose post at Environment and Tourism will fall under the stewardship of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.Pohamba has moved the Communication Department out of the Ministry of Works and into the Information Ministry.Information has been renamed the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology and will now be headed by Joel Kaapanda, who joined the Cabinet in 2002 as Minister of Local Government before he went to Works.Pohamba said he moved Communication out of Works after several people pleaded with him to house information and communication technology under one roof.”I am advised that this is an international trend so that those who seek to invest in this sector can deal with one central authority,” he said.Helmut Angula, outgoing Director General of the National Planning Commission (NPC), will take over at the Ministry of Works.The Ministry of Local Government also has a new leader.Jerry Ekandjo has gone back to the Ministry where he started way back in 1990 when he deputised Dr Libertina Amathila.”I have a bit of background about what is happening there.It will be interesting to go back and see how far the plans have gone which we started,” Ekandjo said yesterday.He was replaced by Alpheus !Naruseb at the Ministry of Lands while Immanuel Ngatjizeko has moved to Labour.Sources said Pohamba had some honest discussions with several ministers who he wants to be the “spine of his Government for the next few years”.Names mentioned as key to the Pohamba regime included Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Fisheries’ Dr Abraham Iyambo, Health’s Dr Richard Kamwi, Alpheus !Naruseb at Lands, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana at Justice and Geingob.Another source said Pohamba had some serious consideration before making the moves, which were delayed from last year but now necessitated by the death of John Pandeni and the illness of Tsheehama.The reshuffle also sees some movement among deputy ministers.Bernhard Esau leaves Trade for Mines while Theopolina Mushelenga of Home Affairs takes up the position left vacant by the departure of Esau at Trade.Mushelenga’s position is taken by Stephanus Mogotsi, who was previously at Works.His vacant seat now belongs to Paul Smit.Isak Katali becomes the new Deputy Minister of Agriculture while Henock ya Kasita has taken his former position at Lands.Tsheehama, who served as the first head of the National Intelligence Service and then moved on as Minister of Safety and Security in 2005, is now effectively out of active Government service because of ill health.There was no word from the President about his omission from the executive.He is replaced by Dr Nickey Iyambo, who is moved from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.Geingob returns to Cabinet after a close to six-year absence.In 2002, he was demoted by former president Sam Nujoma to head the Ministry of Local, Regional Government and Housing, a position he turned down.Katjavivi has spent almost five years in Europe’s diplomatic circles – first as Ambassador to the European Union (EU) and most recently in Germany.Previously he was Vice Chancellor at the University of Namibia when, a year before his term was set to end, Nujoma posted him abroad in July 2003. While the shake-up had been expected for a long time, it offers no surprises.”It is a typical Pohamba move.No political motivations behind it.It is interesting in the sense that positions were determined by a need,” said a close aide of the President shortly after the announcement at the new State House. Another said Pohamba was “building a winning team” and had decided not to touch several key ministries such as finance and health while moving others into key positions.John Mutorwa replaces Iyambo, Namibia’s first Health Minister who later became Minister of Local Government, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry until yesterday.Mutorwa’s position will be filled by Willem Konjore, whose post at Environment and Tourism will fall under the stewardship of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.Pohamba has moved the Communication Department out of the Ministry of Works and into the Information Ministry.Information has been renamed the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology and will now be headed by Joel Kaapanda, who joined the Cabinet in 2002 as Minister of Local Government before he went to Works.Pohamba said he moved Communication out of Works after several people pleaded with him to house information and communication technology under one roof.”I am advised that this is an international trend so that those who seek to invest in this sector can deal with one central authority,” he said.Helmut Angula, outgoing Director General of the National Planning Commission (NPC), will take over at the Ministry of Works.The Ministry of Local Government also has a new leader.Jerry Ekandjo has gone back to the Ministry where he started way back in 1990 when he deputised Dr Libertina Amathila.”I have a bit of background about what is happening there.It will be interesting to go back and see how far the plans have gone which we started,” Ekandjo said yesterday.He was replaced by Alpheus !Naruseb at the Ministry of Lands while Immanuel Ngatjizeko has moved to Labour.Sources said Pohamba had some honest discussions with several ministers who he wants to be the “spine of his Government for the next few years”.Names mentioned as key to the Pohamba regime included Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Fisheries’ Dr Abraham Iyambo, Health’s Dr Richard Kamwi, Alpheus !Naruseb at Lands, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana at Justice and Geingob.Another source said Pohamba had some serious consideration before making the moves, which were delayed from last year but now necessitated by the death of John Pandeni and the illness of Tsheehama.The reshuffle also sees some movement among deputy ministers.Bernhard Esau leaves Trade for Mines while Theopolina Mushelenga of Home Affairs takes up the position left vacant by the departure of Esau at Trade.Mushelenga’s position is taken by Stephanus Mogotsi, who was previously at Works.His vacant seat now belongs to Paul Smit.Isak Katali becomes the new Deputy Minister of Agriculture while Henock ya Kasita has taken his former position at Lands.
