State House, Windhoek, 2 October 2026.
Charge by H.E. Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, at the commissioning ceremony of the Ambassador-Designate to the Swiss Confederation.
His Worship Peter Shivute, Chief Justice;
Honourable Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and Trade and other Ministers present;
Your Excellency Lauria Ngayino Nguele-Makouelet, Ambassador of the Republic of Congo and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps;
Ambassador-Designate;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Ambassador Emilia Mkusa, Secretary to Cabinet;
Service Chiefs;
Senior Government Officials;
Distinguished family members;
Members of the media;
Ladies and gentlemen.
Good morning,
I welcome you all to State House as we are preparing to send one of our distinguished nationals to represent the Republic of Namibia abroad. As our representative, she has to advance, protect and safeguard our national interests within the framework of our Constitution, laws and other related national instruments and programmes.
The Namibian Constitution, Article 32(3)(c), empowers the President as Head of State and Government to “appoint ambassadors, plenipotentiaries and other diplomatic representatives” to represent Namibia abroad.
In exercising this constitutional responsibility, I commission you, Ms Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, as Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia to the Swiss Confederation and Permanent Representative of Namibia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
This appointment carries the confidence of the Namibian people. In discharging this mandate, we expect you to do so faithfully, guided at all times by the Constitution, the laws of Namibia, Cabinet decisions and the national interests of our people.
As Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation, your mandate is bilateral. You will represent Namibia in its relations with the Government and people of Switzerland. Our relationship with Switzerland carries a meaningful history.
During Namibia’s transition to independence, Switzerland hosted the 1981 pre-implementation talks in Geneva, under the auspices of the United Nations, and other related negotiation meetings on Namibia’s independence.
Switzerland also contributed a medical unit to the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), leading to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 435 on Namibia and eventually Namibia’s independence.
Today, that history provides a strong foundation for further cooperation in trade and investment, tourism, education, research and innovation. Namibia and Switzerland have strengthened their economic and people-to-people ties through existing frameworks and improved connectivity.
Namibia’s membership of SACU provides an important economic link with Switzerland through the SACU–EFTA framework, which offers a foundation for expanding trade and economic cooperation. This relationship has been further enhanced by the commencement of the Zurich–Windhoek air service, which began in June 2026, providing greater convenience for travellers, supporting tourism and business exchanges, and creating new opportunities to strengthen people-to-people and commercial ties between our two countries.
I expect you to build upon this history of friendship and solidarity and to translate it into practical opportunities that contribute to Namibia’s development and prosperity.
Your responsibility is to strengthen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Namibia and Switzerland, and to advance our political, economic, commercial and developmental interests. You must identify opportunities that contribute meaningfully to the development of our country and translate the relationship into tangible cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, technology, knowledge transfer and development.
Ambassador-Designate,
Your diplomatic engagement must align with Namibia’s development agenda, as articulated in the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), with its overarching focus on fostering economic growth, inclusiveness and resilience for sustainable development. Its objectives include wealth creation, improved equality and employment creation.
Our seven key priority areas are: agriculture; sports; youth empowerment; quality education and training; creative industries; quality health and social welfare; and land, housing and sanitation. Supported by the economic enablers of mining, energy, oil and gas, tourism, agriculture, water, fisheries, and transport and logistics, these should always be at the back of your mind in your diplomatic engagement.
As Permanent Representative in Geneva, your mandate is multilateral, and it carries a distinct responsibility. Namibia’s commitment to multilateralism is rooted in our own history. Our independence was achieved through international solidarity and the collective efforts of the United Nations and the international community. We therefore understand that a rules-based multilateral system remains essential to a just, peaceful and cooperative international order.
You must therefore uphold and strengthen Namibia’s commitment to multilateralism. In Geneva, ensure that Namibia participates actively, constructively and with purpose in the United Nations system, the WTO, WHO, the Human Rights Council and other Geneva-based institutions, while safeguarding and advancing our national interests.
Ensure that Namibia’s voice is constructive, principled and clearly heard, and that our participation in the multilateral system creates opportunities for partnerships, technical cooperation, investment, knowledge and support for our national development priorities.
In both your bilateral and multilateral responsibilities, maintain close coordination with the Ministry of International Relations and Trade and with the relevant Offices, Ministries and Agencies (O/M/As). I also expect our institutions to provide the Mission with timely information, clear policy guidance and coordinated national positions.
Our diplomatic missions can only be effective when Government speaks with clarity, consistency and a shared national purpose.
Let me also recognise the family of the Ambassador-Designate’s presence at this commissioning ceremony and caution them that diplomatic service places demands on both the diplomat and those close to them. The family’s support, understanding and sacrifice will be an important part of her ability to serve effectively.
I therefore encourage the family to remain a source of strength and stability, to support her through the demands of her diplomatic life, and to uphold the values of dignity, nationalism, respect and service that should characterise Namibia’s representation abroad.
Ambassador-Designate,
Today, I place this responsibility in your hands with confidence in your ability to discharge it with distinction: to strengthen our bilateral relations and secure tangible opportunities for Namibia in Switzerland; to advance Namibia’s national interests within the multilateral system; and to ensure that our voice is heard with clarity, dignity and purpose in Geneva.
In all that you do, remain guided by the Constitution, the laws of Namibia, the national interest, and the policies and decisions of the Government of the Republic of Namibia.
You carry with you the hopes and aspirations of the Namibian people.
I therefore charge you to serve with wisdom, courage, humility, integrity and discipline. I urge you to engage constructively, negotiate firmly where Namibia’s interests are at stake, and seize every opportunity to advance the development and prosperity of our country.
You must respect the sovereignty and laws of Switzerland, uphold the principles of diplomatic practice, maintain constructive relations with the host Government and other diplomatic missions, and engage international organisations and stakeholders with professionalism and respect.
On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Namibia, I congratulate you on your appointment and wish you every success in your tour of duty.
Go forth and serve Namibia faithfully; uphold the dignity and standing of the Land of the Brave at all times.
I thank you!
