Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah,Vice-President; Honourable Peya Mushelenga, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
State House, Windhoek, Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Ladies and Gentlemen: Good morning.
1. I have the honour to welcome you all to this first Cabinet Meeting of 2024, which is taking place against the backdrop of the passing of our beloved President, H.E Dr. Hage G. Geingob. Our country has lost a visionary and revolutionary leader, whose footprints will remain indelible in the annals of our country’s history. As members of Cabinet, let us pick up where he left and take our country forward. This is a difficult and sad time for the widow and children, and our thoughts are with them. It is also a difficult time for you, as Cabinet Members and the entire nation, but we must be strong and forge ahead without faltering. That is what our President Dr Geingob would have wanted us to do!
2. This year is the Year of Expectations; the Year of Elections, in which the citizens of the Namibian House will elect the next leadership to lead the nation for the next five years. As we navigate through the challenges of this year, our citizens have higher and clearer expectations of us. We have to implement Government plans and programs to deliver quality public services to our people.
3. As we commence with the work of Cabinet, we should be mindful that the people of Namibia have entrusted us with the mandate, to grow the economy, to improve their livelihoods and enhance inclusive prosperity for all our citizens in the Namibian House, irrespective of their ethnic origin, race and gender. I encourage all Namibians to hold hands and pull together in the same direction towards national unity, peace and stability which are the prerequisites for meaningful socio-economic development.
4. Over the past few years, our country has faced unprecedented challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and devastating droughts which negatively affected the growth of our economy, thereby constraining our national budget. However, I must also indicate that our collective efforts, as a nation, during the past years aimed at achieving economic recovery, inclusive growth and shared prosperity under the Harambee Prosperity Plan I and II, have born the desired results. Our country is back on the positive trajectory of economic recovery in various sectors, particularly agriculture, mining, fisheries, tourism, oil and gas and green energy.
5. I am therefore urging the responsible Government Ministries in the sectors that I have just mentioned to start implementing all pending programmes to fast-track economic development and create employment opportunities for our people, particularly the youth.
Your Excellency, Comrade Vice President; Right Honourable Prime Minister; Honourable Cabinet Members:
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Following the passing of the third President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Hage G. Geingob, and the appointment of H.E. Dr. Nangolo Mbumba as the Fourth President, including the appointment of a new Vice President, H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah by the President, a vacancy has occurred in the Cabinet. In order to ensure the effective delivery of services to the Namibian people, President Nangolo Mbumba has effected today 9 February 2024 adjustments to the Cabinet and Executive in the Namibian Government.
In terms of Article 32 (3) (i) (dd) of the Namibian Constitution, President Nangolo Mbumba hereby appointed today 9 February 2024, Honorable Modestus Amutse as Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology.
In terms of Article 32 (3) (i) (dd) of the Namibian Constitution, President Nangolo Mbumba appointed today 9 February 2024, Honorable Emma Theofelus as Minister of Information and Communication Technology.
In terms of Article 32 (3) (i) (cc) and (dd) of the Namibian Constitution, President Nangolo Mbumba appointed today 9 February 2024, Honorable Peya Mushelenga as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
In terms of Article 32 (3) (i) (cc) and (dd) of the Namibian Constitution, the President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E Dr. Nangolo Mbumba appointed today, 9 February 2024 Honorable John Mutorwa as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Afternoon.
I am honoured to join you at the official opening of the 9th Session of the 7th Parliament, in accordance with the longstanding practice established since independence.
The assumption of this legislative year is taking place at the time of the loss of our President, H.E Dr Hage G. Geingob on 4 February. He is one of the Founders of the Namibian Constitution, having chaired the Constituent Assembly which drafted our Constitution. He served, as the First Prime Minister and Third President of our Republic. Our country has therefore lost a national icon, a Hero, a committed and dedicated leader who did not only contribute to the building of the modern Namibian nation, but has made durable footprints in Namibia, the African continent and globally in all the spheres of human endeavour. May his soul rest in eternal peace. (Let us please observe a minute of silence).
As Namibians, we should therefore pick up from where he left and re-dedicate ourselves to the noble ideas of unity and inclusivity for all our citizens in the Namibian House.
Following the sudden passing of the late Dr Hage G. Geingob, former President of the Republic of Namibia, on Sunday, 4 February 2024, in terms of Article 29 (4)(a) read together with Article 34 (I) of the Namibian Constitution, H.E. Dr. Nangolo Mbumba was sworn in today, Sunday, 4 February 2024, as the President of the Republic of Namibia. On the same occasion, H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was appointed and sworn in as Vice President of the Republic of Namibia.
The Presidency would like to congratulate Dr. Mbumba on his appointment as President of the Republic of Namibia and H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on her appointment and swearing in as Vice President of the Republic of Namibia.
In the same vein, with a heavy heart, the Presidency would like to sincerely convey its heartfelt condolences to the entire bereaved Dr. Hage G. Geingob family and the people of Namibia following the passing of Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the former President of the Republic of Namibia.
May Dr. Hage Geingob's soul rest in eternal peace.
Acceptance Speech by His Excellency President Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, 4 February 2024
Fellow Namibians.
I accept with humility, the noble assignment bestowed upon me, that of appointment as the President of the Republic of Namibia, in accordance with Article 29 read together with Article 34 of the Namibian Constitution. I take on this heavy mantle, cognisant of the weight of this responsibility, to serve all the People of the Republic of Namibia with utmost dedication and commitment, in the service of all citizens of the Namibian House.
I undertake to continue building on the excellent foundation established by the Founding Father, Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, the Former President Dr.Hifikepunye Pohamba, and our beloved President, Dr. Hage G. Geingob – May His Soul Rest in Peace. [Let us please observe a minute of silence in his Honour].
The Legacy Continues.
Read more...Fellow Namibians,
It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia has passed on today, Sunday 4 February 2024 at around 00h04 at Lady Pohamba Hospital where he was receiving medical treatment from his medical team. At his side, was his dear wife Madame Monica Geingos and his children.
His medical team, as I informed the nation only yesterday has been trying its utmost best to ensure that our President recovers. Regrettably, notwithstanding the team’s spirited effort to save his life, sadly, fellow Namibians, President Geingob passed on.
Fellow Namibians,
The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house. At this moment of deepest sorrow, I appeal to the nation to remain calm and collected while the Government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols. Further announcements in this regard will be made.
While keeping the President’s bereaved family, and you, dear fellow Namibians, in our thoughts and prayers, Cabinet will convene with immediate effect in order to make the necessary state arrangements in this regard.
May the Soul of our beloved Dr Hage G. Geingob Rest in Eternal Peace.
H.E. DR NANGOLO MBUMBA
ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA.