Keynote Address by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the Opening of the First Cabinet Retreat of the Eighth Administration 

Namibian Institute of Public Administration and Management campus, Windhoek, 4 December 2025

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It has been eight months since we were sworn in as members of the Cabinet and governors for the eighth administration, where it is ‘business unusual’. I want to thank all of you for your hard work, collectively and individually. Clearly, your efforts have not gone unnoticed by our people, as demonstrated by the resounding victory gained by the Swapo Party in the recent regional and local authority elections. I sincerely thank you for a job well done. However, such a victory must not be taken for granted; it is a further call by our people for all of us in positions of responsibility, both political office bearers and civil servants, to make extra efforts to bring about quality service delivery.

On this occasion, we step back, reflect, and realign our collective efforts. This retreat provides a strategic platform to sharpen our focus, strengthen cohesion, and recommit ourselves to the priorities that matter most to the Namibian nation, as articulated in the Swapo Party Election Manifesto and operationalised in the Sixth National Development Plan.

Against that backdrop, I urge you all to share insights on issues central to strengthening governance and improving service delivery, aimed at enhancing the quality of life and livelihoods of all Namibians. The agenda before us covers both the political and administrative interface between political heads and all other sectors, aiming to enrich our collective understanding and provide a strong foundation for our common approach as we work to serve our people.

The theme: ‘Enhancing Policy Coordination, Governance and Service Delivery for Accelerated National Development’, is timely and instructive. It reminds us of our collective responsibility to initiate policies that respond to the needs of all Namibians, while reviewing laws, policies, and regulations that hamper the effective implementation of plans and programmes.

Equally, the theme calls on us to strengthen alignment in decision-making, improve coordination across offices, ministries and agencies, refine governance structures, and ensure that policy development and service delivery move in unison to produce tangible outcomes for people in informal settlements, villages, towns, and municipalities across Namibia. I have no doubt that presenters will expand on these subjects to support informed decision-making that can be translated into effective implementation.

Implementation requires effective execution and must be the heartbeat of the eighth administration. Good policies without implementation are as good as nothing, as they do not change people’s lives. It is my expectation that this retreat will sharpen our resolve to move with urgency beyond planning into action, delivering practical results that citizens can feel and see.

I also hope that our discussions over these two days will lead to a renewed appreciation for inter-ministerial collaboration and the need for joint planning where responsibilities overlap. A united and coordinated approach will always yield better outcomes.

We meet at a time when economic transformation is essential and job creation, particularly for young people, must remain at the forefront. From this retreat, we must further identify challenges and turn them into opportunities to meet the promises we made to our people, including job creation.

As we begin this retreat, it is important to underscore that national unity and social cohesion remain the foundation of our country’s stability. The Cabinet must continue to promote unity, respect, and cooperation across all sectors of society. Our tone, our decisions, and our public engagements shape the national atmosphere. Let us continue upholding Namibia’s values of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect.

Ethical leadership is non-negotiable. Corruption, in all its forms, undermines public trust and diverts resources meant for development. As leaders, we must demonstrate integrity, transparency, and moral clarity. Every public resource must be managed with care, and every decision must reflect fairness and accountability. Our example as Cabinet members, deputy ministers, governors and senior civil servants must inspire confidence throughout the public service.

The work we do today is not for ourselves, but for future generations. I expect each of us to lead with purpose, guided by the belief that a stronger Namibia is possible through collective effort.

As I conclude, I call upon all of you to approach these two days with renewed energy, focus, and unity of purpose. Our takeaways from this gathering will guide our mindset as we proceed into the 2026 Cabinet year to ensure continuous improvement in service delivery.

The success of the eighth administration depends on our ability to work together, act decisively, and deliver on the promises we made to the Namibian people through the Swapo Party Election Manifesto and its implementation plan, which has been translated into the Sixth National Development Plan. Let us use this retreat as a turning point for enhanced performance and strengthened commitment to service.

I thank all our presenters and our facilitators for supporting us through this programme. Your service and commitment to the wellbeing of our people are highly appreciated.

I now declare the 2025 Cabinet retreat officially open.I thank you.

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