President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed ambassador Penda Naanda as Namibia’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations with immediate effect.
She made this announcement on Friday.
Ambassador Naanda takes over from ambassador Neville Gertze, who now serves as the executive director in the private office of the president.
Since 2021, Naanda has served as executive director in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, which has recently been renamed the Ministry of International Relations and Trade. He previously represented Namibia as ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and permanent representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva from 2018 to 2020.
“Ambassador Naanda has vast experience in international relations and diplomacy, having previously served as first secretary for economics to the high commission of Namibia in Pretoria,” she said.
Naanda also served as as the first secretary to the Namibian mission in Vienna and deputy permanent representative of Namibia to the United Nations in New York, where he is now headed as permanent representative.
Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed confidence in Naanda’s ability to advance Namibia’s diplomatic priorities on the global stage. She extended best wishes as he assumes his new responsibility.
The president is yet to announce the date of appointment for ambassadors after the previous terms expired on 22 August. Only those who have served less than a five-year term are still remaining as ambassadors.
