By Trophy Shapange
As an accountant and auditor by qualification and training, and an investment professional by practice, my identity is firmly rooted in the disciplines of finance, economics, and capital markets, fields that are often seen as distant from the political arena.
Yet, the intersection between politics and economics is where national destiny is shaped. Political decisions influence fiscal policy, regulatory frameworks, investor confidence, and the overall direction of economic growth.
Therefore, while I may not be a politician, I am deeply vested in the outcomes of political leadership, because these outcomes determine the environment in which businesses thrive or collapse, in which citizens prosper or fall into poverty.
It is within this context that I offer my reflections, not as a political commentator, but as an economic observer and investment practitioner. Just over 30 days into the new administration of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, we find ourselves at a pivotal crossroads.
After decades of economic stagnation, persistent youth unemployment, rising poverty, and declining public trust in state institutions, many are wondering whether this new presidency represents a genuine turning point.
As Namibia stands at the threshold of potential transformation, we must ask: is she the economic reformer, the stabilizing force, the long-awaited leader to steer us out of stagnation and into sustainable prosperity?
In March 2025, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, affectionately referred to as “NNN” by the public, assumed office as Namibia’s first female president. Her rise to the highest office in the land marked a turning point not just in the political history of Namibia, but also in the collective hope of a nation that has endured economic stagnation, deepening poverty, and high youth unemployment.
Many have asked both skeptically and hopefully whether she is the long-awaited messiah who will redeem Namibia’s unfulfilled potential.
To assess if President Nandi-Ndaitwah is the transformative leader Namibia has been yearning for, one must look at her legacy in public service over the past 35 years. Her political career dates back to the days of exile during Namibia’s liberation struggle.
As a seasoned diplomat and long-time cabinet member, Nandi-Ndaitwah has held key portfolios, including the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and, more notably, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, where she served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for nearly a decade.
Throughout her career, she has championed gender equity, environmental protection, and international diplomacy. Under her leadership, Namibia
strengthened its global partnerships and improved its diplomatic standing.
Her ability to navigate complex international relations with calm resolve has earned her respect both locally and globally.
When she assumed office in 2025, her tone was unmistakably different from her predecessors. She spoke not as a political strongman, but as a mother of the nation. Her inaugural speech set the tone for a leadership style that blends empathy with firm resolve. “We will move forward, not with grandstanding, but with grit,” she said. That single sentence captured both her humility and her intent.
In an era dominated by populist rhetoric, blame-shifting and superficial promises, her tone has been refreshingly measured. She speaks less of miracles and more of work. Her leadership style is grounded in realism and guided by the principles of inclusion and integrity.
This was echoed during her Maiden State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on April 24, 2025, where she reaffirmed: “We are too few to be poor,” a powerful
statement that spoke to Namibia’s unrealized economic potential and the urgency for national transformation.
She pledged a results-oriented approach guided by seven priority sectors and eight economic enablers aimed at youth employment, natural resource beneficiation, and sustainable development.
The new administration’s first month in office has focused heavily on setting the tone for institutional renewal and economic recovery. President Nandi-Ndaitwah has emphasized nation-building over factionalism, calling for partnerships across the political divide.
Her willingness to engage with opposition parties has shown a maturity and pragmatism rarely seen in post-independence Namibian politics. This inclusive approach could be a key ingredient in unlocking policy consensus and reducing the political noise that has, at times, hindered progress.
On the economic front, the early indicators of her priorities are promising. Her administration’s 2025-2028 fiscal framework focuses on debt reduction and
macroeconomic stability, supported by tax reforms to ease burdens on SMEs and improve Namibia’s competitiveness. “We must all fight the evil of corruption,” she declared, invoking President Julius Nyerere’s quote that “corruption is an act of treason.”
Her address outlined measures to stimulate growth, including a Youth Fund with a seed allocation of N$257 million, public-private partnerships in infrastructure and manufacturing, a sovereign wealth fund that grew to N$450 million, and tax reliefs such as corporate tax reduction to 28% by 2026.
Plans for oil and gas beneficiation, industrialization, housing, agriculture, and special economic zones show a comprehensive economic vision.
Since taking office, President Nandi-Ndaitwah has emphasized economic renewal and institutional accountability as her top priorities. Her administration’s first budget placed increased focus on industrialization, public-private partnerships, and infrastructure development.
In a bold move, she announced a targeted youth employment initiative focused on unlocking opportunities in agriculture, tourism,fisheries, energy, etc, sectors identified for their high growth and job creation potential.
She also initiated an aggressive anti-corruption campaign, vowing to “clean house from within.” This highlights the entrenched problems she has inherited.
Namibia’s post-independence economic history is a mixed bag. While the country has maintained political stability and peace, economic growth has been painfully slow, erratic, and often disconnected from the lived realities of ordinary Namibians.
A few key mistakes over the past three and a half decades have contributed to the current economic malaise:
- Overreliance on Extractives: Namibia’s economy has been overly dependent on mining and natural resources. Little effort was made in earlier decades to diversify the economy or develop value chains in agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing.
- Youth Neglect: Policies aimed at youth empowerment were often cosmetic. The education system failed to match market needs, leading to a generation of graduates with degrees but no job prospects.
- Corruption and Governance Failures: Scandals like the Fishrot debacle exposed how deep corruption had become within state institutions, eroding public trust and investor confidence.
- State Inefficiencies: A bloated public sector with inefficient service delivery has drained state resources. Instead of fostering entrepreneurship, red tape and poor policy implementation have discouraged it.
- Land and Inequality: Despite land being a core issue in the liberation struggle, land reform has been slow and often cosmetic. Namibia remains one of the most unequal countries in the world.
What makes Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presidency different is not merely her experience, but her authenticity and clarity of purpose. She speaks the language of the people and understands the pain of poverty and joblessness not as a statistic but as a lived reality.
Unlike past administrations that favored loyalty over performance, her early appointments signal a shift towards meritocracy and accountability. She appears committed to restoring public institutions as instruments of development, rather than political patronage.
In the investment world, sentiment matters. Investors respond not just to hard numbers, but to leadership signals, policy consistency, and institutional credibility. In just a month, NNN has begun to restore hope that Namibia may finally be entering an era of principled leadership, where economic priorities trump political
gamesmanship.
Is NNN the Messiah Namibia has been waiting for? Messiah is a heavy word. It implies salvation, hope, and a fundamental shift in fortunes. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is no miracle worker, and she has made no such claims.
She has not promised miracles. What she brings to the table is a rare blend of experience, credibility, and a willingness to confront hard truths. She is not here to dazzle; she is here to do the work.
If Namibia is looking for a leader who can clean up the house, restore institutional credibility, and rebuild the economy from the bottom up, then yes, perhaps President Netumbo is the leader we have been waiting for. But she cannot do it alone. Success will depend on the integrity of her team, the cooperation of the
private sector, and the collective will of a nation ready to break from the past.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah may not fit the messianic mould of dramatic reformers or charismatic populists, but she brings something arguably more
important: credibility, consistency, and calm leadership. She has begun to set the country on a path of renewal. Whether or not she will be remembered as the messiah Namibia has been waiting for depends on what happens next and on how well Namibians rise to the occasion alongside her.
*Trophy Shapange is the Managing Director of Lebela Fund Managers.
Opinion expressed in this piece is of the writer and not of his employer.
