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PROGRESS: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Photo contributed
PROGRESS: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Photo contributed

President appoints three task forces to drive economic, health and housing goals

Nikanor Nangolo
Nikanor NangoloWindhoek



President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed 54 individuals to three national task forces aimed at fast-tracking Namibia’s economic recovery, strengthening the health system and ensuring access to dignified housing and serviced land.The teams will draw on key reference reports, including the post-Covid-19 Economic Recovery Report and the 2013 Health Report, as they tackle some of the country’s most pressing economic and social challenges.



The economic task force will comprise 18 members, the health task force 17 members, and the housing task force 19 members.



Speaking at the launch on Monday, the president said the economic recovery task force will work to unlock growth, boost investment, support innovation and expand opportunities for young people. She added that the post-Covid-19 Economic Recovery Report will serve as a key reference for the team’s work.



The health task force, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, “will assist us in building a stronger, more responsive health system that serves the needs of all Namibians. The report of 2013 on health, commissioned by His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, should be the most crucial reference document for the task force on health.”



Addressing one of the country’s most pressing social challenges, the president said the task force on housing and land will ensure that families across Namibia gain access to dignified housing and properly serviced land.



Nandi-Ndaitwah underscored that the new administration’s focus is not on criticising past governments but on building upon their foundations.



“Every era has its own responsibilities and its own rhythm. Our task at this moment is to take what we have inherited, strengthen it, and move Namibia forward with the urgency our people expect.”



Under NDP6, she noted, government has a clear roadmap, and the newly formed task forces will serve as the instruments to accelerate its implementation.



Join forces



The head of state underlined the growing pressures that have tested the country’s resilience, from rising living costs and job creation constraints to uneven service delivery and a health system burdened by multiple challenges.



“At the same time, our private sector has had to navigate a complex economic environment marked by global uncertainties and domestic bottlenecks that have inhibited growth,” she said.



Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised that progress can no longer be achieved in silos.



“We needed a unified platform where concerns could be raised openly, where solutions could be shaped constructively, and where the voices of government, business, labour, communities, civil society, academia and faith leaders could meet on equal footing. This is the rationale that led to the establishment of the Namibia Public-Private Forum,” she explained.



The forum, she added, was never meant to be “just another meeting” but rather “a turning point”, a platform for Namibians to confront shared challenges and work together “with honesty and clarity”.



Serious goals



The president said these actions are proof that the 8th administration is serious about service delivery.



“We are demonstrating urgency. We are demonstrating commitment. We are demonstrating that our approach is one of business unusual, because the challenges we face demand nothing less.”



Addressing members of the task forces directly, the president acknowledged the challenges of collaboration among diverse stakeholders but said differences should not be viewed as weaknesses. “Disagreement is an opportunity to understand one another and to build better solutions,” she said.[email protected]



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Namibian Sun 2025-12-03

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