Swapo’s win a call for accountability and better service – president

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called Swapo’s regional and local authority victory a renewed mandate that demands greater accountability and improved service delivery from both political leaders and civil servants.Nandi-Ndaitwah told the first two-day Cabinet retreat of the eighth administration yesterday that leaders should not take the result for granted.She emphasised that the election outcome represents a fresh call from the Namibian people to those in positions of responsibility to work with greater urgency and effectiveness in addressing national needs.Swapo secured a decisive victory in the local authority elections, winning more than 52% of seats nationwide, a jump of almost 40% from 2020.This, however, occurred against the backdrop of a low voter turnout of fewer than 40% of registered voters.Strong foundations Nandi-Ndaitwah said the Cabinet retreat provides a strategic platform to sharpen focus, strengthen cohesion and recommit to delivering the priorities articulated in the Swapo Party Election Manifesto, now operationalised through NDP6.She added that the success of her administration depends on the ability to work together, act decisively and deliver on the promises made to the Namibian people.“Let us use this retreat as a turning point for enhanced performance and strengthened commitment to service,” she said.She encouraged Cabinet members to share their insights on issues central to strengthening governance and improving service delivery, “aimed at improving the quality of life and livelihoods of all Namibians”.Discussions will cover both the political and administrative interface between political heads and all other sectors, she said, aiming to enrich their collective understanding and provide a strong foundation for a common approach to reach their goals in the service of Namibians. Nandi-Ndaitwah further described the retreat theme, ‘Enhancing Policy Coordination, Governance and Service Delivery for Accelerated National Development’, as both timely and instructive.“This reminds us of our collective responsibility to initiate policies that respond to the needs of all Namibians, while reviewing laws, policies and regulations that hamper the effective implementation of plans and programmes,” she added.Tangible outcomesThe head of state said the theme also calls for strengthened decision-making alignment across government, improved coordination among offices, ministries and agencies, refined governance structures and a sustained effort to ensure that policy development and service delivery move together to produce tangible, equitable outcomes countrywide.The president underlined that implementation requires effective execution and must be the "heartbeat of the eighth administration"."Good policies without implementation are just as good as nothing, as they do not change people’s lives. It is therefore my considered opinion that from this retreat we will be more sharpened to move with urgency, beyond planning into action, delivering practical results that citizens can feel and see,” she said.Nandi-Ndaitwah further stressed that the meeting must reinforce collaboration and joint planning where responsibilities overlap.“As we may all know, a united, coordinated approach will always yield better outcomes,” she said. The president said the retreat comes at a critical time, when economic transformation is essential and job creation, particularly for the youth, must be prioritised.“Therefore, from this retreat, we must be able to identify all challenges further and turn them into opportunities to meet the promises we made to our people, including job creation," she said.Nandi-Ndaitwah added that it is essential to underscore that national unity and social cohesion remain the foundation of our country’s stability.Public trustShe also said Cabinet members must continue to promote unity, respect and cooperation across all sectors of society."Our tone, our decisions and our public engagements shape the national atmosphere," she said. "Ethical leadership is non-negotiable. Corruption, in all its forms, undermines public trust and diverts resources meant for development. As leaders, we must demonstrate integrity, transparency and moral clarity," she said.The president said examples set by Cabinet members, deputy ministers, governors and senior civil servants must inspire confidence throughout the public service.

Swapo’s win a call for accountability and better service – president

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-26

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Swapo’s win a call for accountability and better service – president

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-26

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