Omaheke Region, 8 October 2026.
Remarks by Her Excellency Lucia Witbooi, Vice President of the Republic of Namibia, at the handover ceremony of donated school and hostel equipment to Mokganedi Tlhabanello High School and Goeie Hoop Primary School.
Director of Ceremonies, Mr Pecka Semba,
Honourable Pijoo Nganate, Regional Governor of the Omaheke Region,
Honourable Borry Katjiuanjo, Regional Councillor of the Kalahari Constituency, and other regional councillors present,
Ms Constance Wantenaar, Director of Education for the Omaheke Region,
Mr Joshua Kaitungwa, Chief Executive Officer of NAM-MIC Holdings,
Mr Johannes Ndeutepo, Chief Executive Officer Designate of NAM-MIC Holdings,
Mr Matengu Mathews Matengu, School Principal of Mokganedi Tlhabanello High School and our host for today,
Ms Kremecia Shipena, School Principal of Goeie Hoop Primary School,
Distinguished members of the School Board, esteemed teachers and support staff,
Dear parents,
Most importantly, dear learners,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.
It is a great honour and privilege to stand before you today here at Mokganedi Tlhabanello High School, in the Omaheke Region. I am truly honoured to be back at this school, named in honour of a Namibian liberation-struggle hero and community leader who made a meaningful contribution to our country’s liberation struggle.
Today, we are privileged to witness the handover of essential items to Mokganedi Tlhabanello High School and Goeie Hoop Primary School, made possible through the generous support of NAM-MIC Holdings, with a total value of more than N$260,000.
This handover is particularly meaningful to me because it is a direct follow-up to my visit to these schools in January this year, during my community engagement programme in the region. During that visit, I had the opportunity to interact with the school communities, listen to their concerns and, most importantly, see first-hand some of the challenges affecting the learning environment.
Among the needs presented were shortages of essential school and hostel equipment, including hostel bed mattresses, chairs, classroom desks and dining tables. These may appear to be basic items, but in the daily life of a learner, they are fundamental to creating an environment in which teaching can take place effectively and learners can learn with dignity and concentration.
Many of the learners attending these schools come from marginalised communities. Supporting their educational needs therefore speaks directly to the mandate of the Office of the Vice President, which includes advancing the wellbeing, inclusion and development of marginalised communities across the country.
Director of Ceremonies,
Following my visit here in January this year, I approached NAM-MIC Holdings to explore how they could assist in addressing some of these identified needs.
I am pleased that this engagement has resulted in a practical and meaningful contribution to our schools.
I therefore wish to express my sincere appreciation to NAM-MIC Holdings for answering this call. Your contribution demonstrates that corporate responsibility is most meaningful when it reaches communities directly and responds to needs that people experience every day. You have not simply donated school and hostel equipment; you have contributed to the dignity, comfort and educational development of our children.
This is precisely the kind of partnership we need as a nation. The Government cannot and should not work alone. The Government carries the primary responsibility for providing public services, including education, but the development of our country requires a whole-of-society approach.
I therefore encourage businesses, companies, development partners and other institutions across Namibia to continue working alongside the Government. Where Government identifies challenges, the private sector can help us find practical solutions.
Where communities have needs, partnerships can help us respond faster and more effectively.
The message is simple: when Government and the private sector work together with a shared commitment to our people, the greatest beneficiaries are our communities and, most importantly, our children.
I also wish to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment in which such partnerships can flourish. We will continue engaging communities, listening to their concerns and identifying practical interventions that improve people’s lives. We will also continue encouraging partnerships that support the Government’s efforts and advance our national development priorities.
Director of Ceremonies,
As we celebrate this contribution, I also wish to place a responsibility on those who will use these items.
To the teachers, school management and support staff, I urge you to ensure that these resources are properly cared for and used responsibly. These resources belong to the school community, and their value must be protected.
To our learners, I say: look after what has been entrusted to you. Use the desks, chairs and mattresses responsibly. Respect your school property. Remember that these items were provided because people believe in your potential and want you to have a better environment in which to learn and grow.
I want you to understand that this contribution is not only about what you have received today. It is a message to you that you matter, your education matters, and your future matters. The people and institutions that have contributed to your schools are investing in the future of Namibia through you.
I further encourage you to use these facilities in such a way that they will remain available not only for you, but also for the learners who will come after you. Let today’s beneficiaries become tomorrow’s custodians.
If you take good care of these items, the next generation of learners will also be able to benefit from them.
As I conclude, let me once again extend my sincere appreciation to NAM-MIC Holdings for responding positively to this call for partnership. Your contribution is a practical demonstration that the private sector can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our people.
Let this handover serve as an example of what can be achieved when we listen to our communities, identify their needs and work together to address them. A better Namibia is built through partnerships, through responsibility and through our collective investment in the next generation.
May this school and hostel equipment serve our learners well, may it contribute to a better learning environment, and may it remain a lasting symbol of what we can achieve when we work together in the interest of our children and our nation.
I thank you.
