Newly inaugurated President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has outlined her administration’s priorities, pledging to drive economic diversification, infrastructure development, and social progress.
Speaking during her inaugural address on the country’s 35th Independence anniversary, Nandi-Ndaitwah underscored the critical role of education in national development and committed to strengthening key economic sectors.
“The development of any country depends on the quality of its human resources. To this end, education and training will continue to be a priority to ensure that we develop technical and managerial skills and work ethics that are required in the labour market,” she said on Friday.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also reaffirmed her government’s commitment to universal healthcare, vowing to implement a Comprehensive Universal Health Coverage policy.
“Access to quality health care is a right that all Namibian people should enjoy, irrespective of their economic and social status. We will ensure the implementation of the Comprehensive Universal Health Coverage to serve all Namibians in all parts of our country,” she said.
Amid growing urbanization, the President announced increased investment in infrastructure, housing, and sanitation to address the housing deficit and improve living conditions.
“We will therefore upscale investment in urban land development and delivery to facilitate access to decent housing by the majority of our people,” she said.
Rural development and agricultural investment were also highlighted as key to curbing rural-to-urban migration.
Economic diversification is set to be a cornerstone of her administration’s growth strategy.
“We pledge to the people of Namibia to diversify our economy for our people to derive maximum benefits from our country’s natural resources, through value addition. The diversification of our economy will generate additional revenue to finance development and to enhance and expand social safety nets,” she said.
With youth unemployment remaining a pressing issue, the President pledged targeted support through financing, training, and mentorship programs.
“Opportunities will be created for the effective participation of the youth in the various sectors of our economy through targeted financing, training, mentorship and internship programs,” she said.
On governance and accountability, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, stressing the need for ethical leadership.
“The attainment of sustainable socio-economic development can only be realized through an accountable administration. Corruption in all its manifestations should be avoided at all cost,” she said.
She also reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to regional and continental economic integration, particularly through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“We commit ourselves to deepen regional integration through SADC as a building block for Africa continental integration through the African Union,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s inauguration marks a historic moment, as she becomes Namibia’s first female head of state.
