President’s first year in office marked by unrealistic promises – Asoli president Kauandenge

Asoli Progressive Party president Josef Kauandenge has criticised president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s first year in office, describing her key policy promises as unrealistic political statements.

Nandi-Ndaitwah was inaugurated as Namibia’s first woman president on 21 March 2025, and this past Saturday’s Independence Day marked her first year in office.

During the past year, she made several commitments, such as towards free tertiary education and getting rid of middlemen in the procurement process, among others.

Nandi-Ndaitwah directed that all senior government officials, including parliamentarians and herself, will be using public healthcare facilities as of 1 April.

She also announced the rebuilding of national stadiums and a project to revamp the national airline.

Asoli Progressive Party president Josef Kauandenge on Monday said promises made were unlikely to be realised in the long run.

“The Office of the President must come out and address these concerns as it seems they have been mere political statements aimed at making sure Swapo won the last local authority elections, riding on promises that seemed well intended, but never practically possible to deliver in the long run,” he said.

Kauandenge said the president made policy pronouncements without following them up with implementation timelines.

“Sadly, a year into her presidency, there seems to be major cracks and shortcomings when it comes to the implementation of the said policies,” he said.

He said promises were made without due diligence to ascertain projects’ feasibility.

Kauandenge wanted to know who was advising the president and whether she was really in charge of the country.

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