Cabinet appointments offer a glimpse of hope

The nation has generally welcomed the appointment of ministers to the new cabinet, as announced late on Sunday.

President Hage Geingob knew he had to get his cabinet appointments right this time and he seemed to have done exactly that.

With these appointments, which are far from perfect, the president has shown good intent and he must commended for his effort.

The appointment of Esther Muinjangue, president of the opposition Nudo party, was symbolic of inclusion and intent to unite the nation beyond party politics, whereas naming Emma Teofilus the deputy ICT minister showed Geingob has started to think more about the youth.

Indeed, there are murmurs here and there that the president should have been even bolder to appoint Teofilus as substantive youth minister.

As things stand, cabinet remains largely old and tired. Elevating more young people to serve in the executive would have helped bridge the widening gap between generations of leaders in the country.

Be that as it may, Geingob must be commended for being daring enough not to re-appoint some of the older ministers. Leadership must evolve with time, but this cannot happen if we keep recycling the same faces as if only they are capable.

What is unclear now is the immediate future of the ministers who were not reappointed. We will know in the fullness of time.