Reshuffle talk reaches fever pitch as cabinet meets

Speculation in senior political circles is that President Hage Geingob will use today's first cabinet meeting of the year to announce his long-awaited cabinet reshuffle.

The expected changes could also include ministries being merged in his bloated administration, besides new faces coming into executive posts, which has been necessitated by last year's Swapo congress outcome and the recent firings of Jerry Ekandjo and Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana. Also being speculated about is the future of vice-president Nickey Iyambo, who has not been in the best of health. Senior ruling party sources told Namibian Sun yesterday that Iyambo may well be “sent home to rest”, and that that there is a strong push from within Geingob's inner circle to have current deputy prime minister Netumbo-Nandi Ndaitwah take his place.

This would then pave the way for former Swapo secretary-general Nangolo Mbumba to take up Nandi-Ndwaitah's current position, where she doubles as international relations minister.

Among other speculation, it also emerged this week that tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta may well be the frontrunner to replace Ekandjo as sports minister, after the latter was fired together with home affairs minister Iivula-Ithana last Thursday.

Ekandjo and Iivula-Ithana were the first victims of what Geingob has termed 'the year of reckoning', after they brutally attacked his leadership abilities during the run-up to the Swapo elective congress in November last year.

Another cabinet position that needs to be filled is that of housing minister Sophia Shaningwa, who was elected as the new Swapo SG, while the push for Nandi-Ndaitwah to become vice-president comes after she emerged as the party vice-president, and Geingob's natural successor, at the congress.

Senior sources reiterated that is likely that Geingob will merge some ministries, some of which controversially have up to two deputy ministers, who may now also face the chop.

Among the ministries that are likely to be merged are gender and poverty, which many believe have overlapping responsibilities.

There are also rumours that the two education ministries will be merged, but it remains unclear who is likely to be axed between basic education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa and her higher education counterpart Itah Kandjii-Murangi.

There is also talk that the fisheries and environment ministries may also be brought under one roof.

Although analysts were reluctant to comment on the speculation, they reminded the public and those carrying around reshuffling lists that Geingob is limited by the parliamentary list, which he must use to draw new ministers from.

Political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah is not convinced that the president will be able to find the expected qualifications and skills from this list.

“But perhaps he will make a few moves within government,” he said.

Another commentator Dr Andrew Niikondo, however feels there are enough people to choose from.

JEMIMA BEUKES