More diplomatic faces emerge
A mix of youth and experience
The president plans to wrap up all ambassadorial appointments before the year ends.
Former presidential press secretary Dr Alfredo Hengari has emerged as Namibia’s next ambassador to Brussels, while several senior officials in the ministry of international relations have been deployed as counsellors and minister counsellors to Namibian missions across the world.
The counsellors and minister counsellors will serve as the second-in-command at the country’s diplomatic missions abroad.
Their appointments, by international relations minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, reflect a deliberate effort to infuse the foreign service with a mix of experience and youthful energy, as government seeks to build a new generation of diplomats for the future.
Hengari’s appointment, which is yet to be formally announced, places him at one of Namibia’s most strategic diplomatic missions, where he will represent the country in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the European Union as a multilateral body.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has so far officially announced 11 new heads of mission, with further ambassadorial postings expected in the coming weeks.
International reservations
According to information obtained by Namibian Sun, delays in finalising the remaining appointments are largely due to lengthy due diligence processes by host countries. Among those still awaiting confirmation is Gabriel Sinimbo, who sources say is destined for Tanzania.
“There is also a process of decommissioning the incumbents, which in itself is a tardy process,” a senior government official explained.
Sources also indicated that certain host countries have expressed reservations about specific nominees, questioning the suitability of some proposed candidates.
Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo said the next wave of ambassador appointments will be announced soon.
“Definitely before the end of the year. The president’s schedule has just been really tight,” he said from Belém, Brazil, where Nandi-Ndaitwah is attending the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).
New generation
Minister Ashipala-Musavyi’s appointments of counsellor and minister counsellors include a mix of seasoned and younger professionals, many of whom are being groomed for higher responsibilities in the foreign service.
Among the new appointees is Mario Munwela, a chief foreign relations officer who will serve as counsellor in Paris, France. Eldo Kaiyamo, son of former ambassador to China Elia Kaiyamo, has been appointed minister counsellor to Washington, US, following his previous posting in Angola.
Bertha Amakali, director of information and research, will take up the position of minister counsellor in China, while Marbeline Sabatha, a deputy director in the same division, heads to Congo-Brazzaville.
Career diplomat Tania Tait will serve as minister counsellor in London, and Veendapi Kamupingene, from the ministry’s multilateral relations division, has been assigned to Ethiopia as counsellor.
Wide global representation
Emily Shifula, deputy director for administration and human resources, has been appointed counsellor to Finland, while Avril Coetzee, from the state protocol division, will be posted to Germany. Esther Mwoombola will serve in Russia, and Aino Humphrey will take up a similar position in Pretoria, South Africa.
In other postings, Kanaki Tjejamba, deputy chief of protocol, will be minister counsellor to Algeria, while Absalom Nghifitikeko assumes the same role in New York. Bertha Tjahikika, former executive secretary to the late President Hage Geingob, will serve as counsellor in Geneva, and Tuhafeni Modesto will be stationed in Sweden.
Further appointments include Rebecca Iyambo as minister counsellor to Japan, Immanuel Amunyela as counsellor to Ghana, and Nomsa Uushona as counsellor to Zambia.
Building future leadership
Within the ministry, minister counsellor roles correspond to director-level positions, while counsellor posts are typically held by deputy directors. The latest appointments have been praised for their youthful composition, signalling the government’s view on succession planning and skills transfer in the diplomatic corps.
“There were many questions about the ages of the recently appointed ambassadors,” a senior government insider said. “But with this new batch of counsellors and minister counsellors, there is now a healthy mix of experience and new blood that will benefit from mentorship and continuity in Namibia’s foreign service.”
The counsellors and minister counsellors will serve as the second-in-command at the country’s diplomatic missions abroad.
Their appointments, by international relations minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, reflect a deliberate effort to infuse the foreign service with a mix of experience and youthful energy, as government seeks to build a new generation of diplomats for the future.
Hengari’s appointment, which is yet to be formally announced, places him at one of Namibia’s most strategic diplomatic missions, where he will represent the country in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the European Union as a multilateral body.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has so far officially announced 11 new heads of mission, with further ambassadorial postings expected in the coming weeks.
International reservations
According to information obtained by Namibian Sun, delays in finalising the remaining appointments are largely due to lengthy due diligence processes by host countries. Among those still awaiting confirmation is Gabriel Sinimbo, who sources say is destined for Tanzania.
“There is also a process of decommissioning the incumbents, which in itself is a tardy process,” a senior government official explained.
Sources also indicated that certain host countries have expressed reservations about specific nominees, questioning the suitability of some proposed candidates.
Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo said the next wave of ambassador appointments will be announced soon.
“Definitely before the end of the year. The president’s schedule has just been really tight,” he said from Belém, Brazil, where Nandi-Ndaitwah is attending the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).
New generation
Minister Ashipala-Musavyi’s appointments of counsellor and minister counsellors include a mix of seasoned and younger professionals, many of whom are being groomed for higher responsibilities in the foreign service.
Among the new appointees is Mario Munwela, a chief foreign relations officer who will serve as counsellor in Paris, France. Eldo Kaiyamo, son of former ambassador to China Elia Kaiyamo, has been appointed minister counsellor to Washington, US, following his previous posting in Angola.
Bertha Amakali, director of information and research, will take up the position of minister counsellor in China, while Marbeline Sabatha, a deputy director in the same division, heads to Congo-Brazzaville.
Career diplomat Tania Tait will serve as minister counsellor in London, and Veendapi Kamupingene, from the ministry’s multilateral relations division, has been assigned to Ethiopia as counsellor.
Wide global representation
Emily Shifula, deputy director for administration and human resources, has been appointed counsellor to Finland, while Avril Coetzee, from the state protocol division, will be posted to Germany. Esther Mwoombola will serve in Russia, and Aino Humphrey will take up a similar position in Pretoria, South Africa.
In other postings, Kanaki Tjejamba, deputy chief of protocol, will be minister counsellor to Algeria, while Absalom Nghifitikeko assumes the same role in New York. Bertha Tjahikika, former executive secretary to the late President Hage Geingob, will serve as counsellor in Geneva, and Tuhafeni Modesto will be stationed in Sweden.
Further appointments include Rebecca Iyambo as minister counsellor to Japan, Immanuel Amunyela as counsellor to Ghana, and Nomsa Uushona as counsellor to Zambia.
Building future leadership
Within the ministry, minister counsellor roles correspond to director-level positions, while counsellor posts are typically held by deputy directors. The latest appointments have been praised for their youthful composition, signalling the government’s view on succession planning and skills transfer in the diplomatic corps.
“There were many questions about the ages of the recently appointed ambassadors,” a senior government insider said. “But with this new batch of counsellors and minister counsellors, there is now a healthy mix of experience and new blood that will benefit from mentorship and continuity in Namibia’s foreign service.”
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