Geingob appoints new defence minister
Namibian President Hage Geingob has appointed three cabinet ministers and four deputy ministers in a cabinet reshuffle.
RUSTENBURG, April 22 (ANA) – Namibian President Hage Geingob appointed three ministers and four deputy ministers in a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday.
Home Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi was moved to the defence post, replacing Peter Hafeni Vilho.
Vilho resigned earlier this month following media reports that he had not declared an offshore bank account in Hong Kong, which reportedly had a market value of about US$233,631 (N$3.4 million) as at September 2020.
Geingob said Kapofi was expected to co-ordinate and administer the operations of the ministry and the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), to defend the territorial integrity and national interests of Namibia and assist veterans and dependants of deceased veterans through funding, administering and managing the welfare of veterans and dependants.
“The minister is further expected to guarantee our country’s sovereignty, ensure the readiness and professionalism of the armed forces. The minister is further expected to strengthen capabilities of the NDF and to improve working and living infrastructure for defence personnel.
“As a key deliverable, the minister is expected for the term, to complete institutional reforms of line agencies under the ministry (i.e. August 26 Holdings) and to ensure smooth integration of the Department of Veterans Affairs into the Ministry of Defence,” he said in a statement.
According to media reports, Vilho in his resignation letter requested that the Presidency order an urgent forensic audit of the books of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, the Namibian Defence Force, and that of August 26 Holdings, a company owned 100% by the defence ministry.
Albert Kawana was moved from the fisheries portfolio and replaced Kapofi as home affairs, immigration, safety and security minister.
Derek Klazen was appointed minister of fisheries and marine resources, replacing Kawana.
Veno Kauaria was appointed deputy minister of higher education, training and innovation, while Natalia /Goagoses was appointed deputy minister of urban and rural development.
Former Swapo Party Youth League leader Heather Sibungu is the deputy minister of environment, forestry and tourism, while former home affairs deputy minister Maureen Hinda-Mbuende was appointed the deputy minister of finance.
The finance ministry has been without a deputy minister since March last year, according to a report in daily newspaper New Era.
Geingob said the changes to the Namibian government were necessitated by recent developments in the country and the need to scale up implementation of the Harambee Prosperity Plan II and the National Development Plans, including improved service delivery to the Namibian people.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher