DAILY OBSERVER | Let Netumbo Be Netumbo
In Namibia, politics is as much a national pastime as it is the engine of governance. The moment a new president assumes office, our collective curiosity shifts into high gear. Who will be appointed to Cabinet? Which familiar faces will be retained, and which newcomers will find themselves elevated to positions of influence? For weeks, conversations across dinner tables, taxis, shebeens, and WhatsApp groups circle around the same subject: who’s next? Who are the new ambassadors?
This chatter is not unique to Namibia. In every democracy, the arrival of a new leader generates speculation, innuendo, and even misinformation. But in our case, the speculation has taken on an added dimension. For the first time in our history, Namibia has a female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. That milestone has created a sense of heightened scrutiny, as if her every move must be analyzed not only politically but also through the lens of gender.
The truth, however, is that the process of presidential appointments is neither mysterious nor accidental. Presidents make appointments based on their own political preferences, their assessment of competence, and the agenda they want to drive. That is the very authority we grant them when we elect them into office. It is not a right seized, but a responsibility conferred by the people. And it follows that those who accept appointments must remember they serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
Too often, once ministers or board members are sworn in, they begin to cultivate a sense of entitlement, as though the office is theirs by divine right rather than by presidential trust. But the truth is that an appointment is not ownership. It is stewardship, temporary and conditional. Appointees are there to advance the president’s vision and, by extension, the national agenda. The day they forget that, they risk falling out of step with the very authority that placed them there.
It is also worth noting that not everyone will be satisfied with the president’s choices. Politics is a game of competing loyalties and divergent interests. Those on the “winning” side of appointments will cheer, while those left out will grumble and spin tales of betrayal. This cycle is as predictable as the sunrise. Yet the dissatisfaction of individuals or factions should never obscure the bigger picture: the president must be given the space to craft a team she believes can deliver.
Lessons from History
Namibians need only glance back at our own political history to see that every president faced similar scrutiny. When Sam Nujoma appointed his first Cabinet in 1990, many were quick to question why liberation stalwarts were rewarded over technocrats. Yet, over time, his choices built the foundation of a functioning state from the ashes of colonialism.
When Hifikepunye Pohamba took over in 2005, his quiet and deliberate leadership style was mocked by some as indecisive. Critics whispered that he was merely keeping the chair warm. But as the years passed, Pohamba carved his own identity, earning respect at home and abroad—so much so that he won the Mo Ibrahim Prize for African Leadership in 2015.
Hage Geingob, too, entered State House in 2015 with bold promises and an ambitious Harambee Prosperity Plan. His initial Cabinet appointments sparked debate about size, cost, and loyalty. Detractors said he was bloating government with allies. Supporters argued he was expanding inclusion. In time, his leadership was defined less by the appointments themselves and more by the storms—economic downturns, a global pandemic—that he and his team had to weather.
The lesson in all this is clear: the early noise around presidential appointments eventually fades. What endures is the record of delivery. Nujoma is remembered for building a nation, Pohamba for steady stewardship, and Geingob for navigating turbulence. Their appointments were scrutinized, yes, but ultimately it was their leadership, not the gossip, that defined them.
Finding Her Rhythm
President Nandi-Ndaitwah now faces her own moment of reckoning. She carries the weight of history as the first woman to hold the highest office. Every decision she makes will be measured twice: once by the usual yardstick of politics, and again by a gendered lens that asks whether she is “strong enough,” “bold enough,” or “independent enough.”
But let us pause. A presidency, like a symphony, requires time to find its rhythm. No conductor walks into the pit and produces harmony on the first beat. There is always a process of testing, adjusting, listening, and blending. So it should be with President Nandi-Ndaitwah. She deserves the courtesy of time, time to assess the landscape, to weigh the competing demands of party and nation, and to place the right people in the right roles.
Leadership styles differ. Some presidents thrive on continuity, retaining trusted allies from the past. Others prefer to make bold changes early on, setting a clear new direction. Still others strike a balance, introducing fresh faces while keeping experienced hands to steady the ship. There is no single formula. And to insist that President Nandi-Ndaitwah should govern according to anyone else’s blueprint is to deny her the opportunity to be her own leader.
The Real Test
Let Netumbo be Netumbo. Let her learn, adapt, and decide on her own terms. History will not judge her for the gossip that circulates in the early days of her presidency. It will judge her for whether she built a capable team, inspired confidence, and delivered results for Namibians.
We must also remind ourselves that appointments are not the end of the story. The real test lies in performance. A minister’s surname, region, or party faction matters far less than whether they can improve healthcare, expand education, fix infrastructure, or create jobs.
Criticism is part of democracy. Citizens must always hold their leaders accountable. But criticism should be constructive, measured, and fair. To second-guess every appointment before the appointee has even warmed the chair is not accountability, it is impatience.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah has stepped into office at a moment of both hope and uncertainty. Namibians are looking for stability, opportunity, and vision. She cannot meet those expectations overnight. But she has the right, indeed the duty, to surround herself with people she trusts to help chart the way forward. Some choices will please us; others will disappoint. That is the nature of politics.
In the end, it is not about whether individuals feel rewarded or sidelined. It is about whether Namibia moves forward. That should be the measure of success, not the noise of rumor or the bitterness of exclusion.
So let us, as a nation, exercise patience. Let us give the president the room to find her rhythm, to build her team, and to lead in the way only she can. History has placed Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the helm. The least we can do is let her steer.
