First Cabinet meeting at New State House

CABINET held its first meeting in the Cabinet Chamber of the new State House yesterday.

The chamber is so big that President Hifikepunye Pohamba was concerned whether the Ministers sitting at the bottom end of the two oval tables would be able to hear what is discussed. “At the time when Founding President Sam Nujoma mooted the idea of a new State House, we endured condemnation by those who objected to Namibia building a decent and practical State House,” President Pohamba said.The complex cost taxpayers almost one billion Namibia dollars, according to construction experts.Government maintains it “only” costs about N$500 million.Although the complex was inaugurated on March 21 this year, coinciding with Independence Day, the presidential residence is still incomplete and State House officials and the Cabinet Secretariat have to shuttle between the old and new State House daily at great cost due to high fuel prices.According to President Pohamba, the new Cabinet Chambers provide state-of-the-art facilities and thus a “conducive environment for us to put our minds to the tasks at hand to serve our fellow citizens”.The construction of the new State House should not be seen in isolation, the Head of State emphasised, but as part of “our Swapo Party Government’s strategy to build and expand physical and communication infrastructure in all parts of the country”.”At the time when Founding President Sam Nujoma mooted the idea of a new State House, we endured condemnation by those who objected to Namibia building a decent and practical State House,” President Pohamba said.The complex cost taxpayers almost one billion Namibia dollars, according to construction experts.Government maintains it “only” costs about N$500 million.Although the complex was inaugurated on March 21 this year, coinciding with Independence Day, the presidential residence is still incomplete and State House officials and the Cabinet Secretariat have to shuttle between the old and new State House daily at great cost due to high fuel prices.According to President Pohamba, the new Cabinet Chambers provide state-of-the-art facilities and thus a “conducive environment for us to put our minds to the tasks at hand to serve our fellow citizens”.The construction of the new State House should not be seen in isolation, the Head of State emphasised, but as part of “our Swapo Party Government’s strategy to build and expand physical and communication infrastructure in all parts of the country”.

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