First 100 days: Early Cabinet pace-setters revealed

Urban and rural development minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa, his works and transport counterpart Veikko Nekundi, and Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare have emerged as standout performers in their first 100 days in office, political analysts and commentators have said.During her first Cabinet meeting in March, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that ministers would be evaluated quarterly based on the key performance indicators outlined in their terms of reference.“Your performances will be evaluated regularly – starting with the next three months,” she said at the time. She further instructed ministers to begin implementing key legislative reforms outlined in the Swapo Party manifesto by May to improve service delivery.Sankwasa has earned praise for taking a hard stance against corruption at local and regional authority levels. Among his early interventions was exposing how the Katima Mulilo Town Council traded prime land for vehicles and laptops.He also cracked down on the Kunene Regional Council, where officials had claimed subsistence and travel allowances for trips they never undertook.More recently, Sankwasa held the Omuthiya Town Council to account after it allowed former mayor Johannes Ndeutepo to continue in his role while employed full-time in Windhoek. The minister demanded Ndeutepo pay back the allowances received during that period.Tackling transport injusticeNekundi, meanwhile, hit the ground running by addressing discriminatory transport and traffic laws, including the long-standing issue of denying permits to seven-seater operators.He also intervened in Kavango West, where he instructed a contractor to comply with newly gazetted minimum wage requirements for security guards or risk having the tender cancelled.Veteran politician and former prime minister Nahas Angula acknowledged the work of some new Cabinet members but urged them to act within the framework of collective governance.“I know Sankwasa and if he keeps up this tempo, he might bring some change,” Angula said. “I also know the Prime Minister is doing his best to attend public events and assist where he can. But the rest, I don’t really know.”He advised Nekundi to transition fully into his ministerial role: “My advice is that he must first read the laws and act like a minister, not an activist. When you're in Cabinet, you carry the collective voice of government. Don’t just speak off the cuff in Parliament - develop proper policies and allow those to speak for themselves.”Symbolism vs substancePolitical analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah expressed concern over a lack of due process and evidence-based decision-making.“None of the ministers stood out for me. I haven’t observed anything new or business unusual,” Kamwanyah said. “While many are impressed with Sankwasa and Nekundi’s proactive approaches, decisions must follow due process, not just ministerial instinct.”He criticised the first 100 days of the new Cabinet as “mostly symbolic, filled with rhetoric rather than substance.”“There’s no clear policy direction. Contributions have mostly been limited to answering questions in Parliament, often without backing them up with evidence,” he added.Kamwanyah called on ministers to shift from symbolism to action, develop clear policy frameworks, and ensure their pronouncements are supported by data.University of Namibia lecturer and social activist Sinvula Mudabeti echoed the sentiment, singling out Sankwasa, Nekundi and Ngurare as the most active cabinet members so far.He commended Sankwasa for responding to public outcries and demonstrating commitment to accountability.Luvindao corruption efforts noticedNational Council member Paulus Mbangu also mentioned health minister Esperance Luvindao as showing promise but acknowledged the immense challenges she faces.“She is doing a good job, but I still don’t know what her actual plan is. She seems overwhelmed. Corruption runs deep in that ministry, and she’s struggling to get it right,” he said.Luvindao has earned praise for her stance against corruption within her ministry, including recently reporting several incidents to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

First 100 days: Early Cabinet pace-setters revealed

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-15

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First 100 days: Early Cabinet pace-setters revealed

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-15

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