Windhoek, February 2 – President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah officially opened the first Cabinet meeting of 2026 on Monday, calling for heightened discipline, unity, and bold action to deliver on national promises amid rising global uncertainties.
Addressing ministers, the Vice President, Prime Minister, and media at State House in Windhoek, the President welcomed the Eighth Administration’s renewed focus after the festive break. She emphasized that with only four years left in the five-year mandate, “every day, every hour, and every decision must count” to advance the SWAPO Party’s 2025-2030 Election Manifesto and National Development Plan 6 (NDP6).
Nandi-Ndaitwah commended progress in the first year of her administration, including the rollout of a new Subsidized Tertiary Education Funding Model. “I congratulate the Ministers of Education and Finance… the system has started and by and large, the people are satisfied,” she said, acknowledging teething challenges but praising the task force’s round-the-clock efforts.
Education remained a priority, with the President thanking stakeholders for Grade 11 and 12 results showing improvement, though far from the 90% pass rate goal. “We must redouble our efforts,” she urged, highlighting the sector’s role in realizing long-term educational aspirations.
Turning to the global landscape, Nandi-Ndaitwah warned of “shifting alliances, economic instability, conflicts, and selective enforcement of global standards.” Namibia, she affirmed, will uphold sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality among nations, and peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and international law. This “evolving geopolitics” demands “Business Unusual” – a mindset shift in thinking, planning, and acting, already underway worldwide.
The President stressed leadership by example, empathy for citizens’ realities, and adherence to her five core principles: Pragmatism, Integrity, Accountability, Meritocracy, and Inclusivity. “We cannot and must not fail our people,” she declared, invoking Namibia’s history of overcoming adversity through firm resolve.
Cabinet was tasked with accelerating NDP6 across its four pillars for measurable, results-based service delivery, ensuring every Namibian enjoys a “dignified and meaningful life.”
