Staff Reporter
VICE President Lucia Witbooi has called for strengthened policy coordination, reduced bureaucracy and renewed ethical leadership across government as she closed the first Cabinet Retreat of the Eighth Administration in Windhoek on Friday. The two-day retreat, held under the theme “Enhancing Policy Coordination, Governance and Service Delivery for Accelerated National Development,” focused on identifying bottlenecks, aligning national priorities and improving service delivery as the government prepares to implement the SWAPO Party election manifesto and the forthcoming National Development Plan 6.
Delivering the closing statement, Witbooi said the retreat provided a critical platform for reviewing sector performance and discussing the challenges and opportunities facing Namibia. She praised the quality of engagement, saying it reflected the seriousness with which office-bearers approach their responsibilities.
Photos: Vice President of Namibia (Facebook)
Witbooi added that the recent national elections reaffirmed the public’s mandate for the SWAPO Party to address unemployment, poverty and hunger. She said the responsibility to fulfil these commitments now rests with Cabinet members and government leaders. The discussions, she added, made clear where bottlenecks exist and where improvements are needed within governance and service delivery systems.
She urged leaders to embrace ethical leadership, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, streamline governance processes and strengthen coordination across ministries to ensure effective implementation of national development goals.
The Vice President emphasised that Namibia’s progress depends on a capable, responsive and collaborative government. Challenges in areas such as the economy, social protection, regional development, youth unemployment and governance reforms, she said, require both technical solutions and strong political will.
She stressed the need for improved inter-ministerial coordination and deeper engagement with communities across all 14 regions. Insights from the retreat, she said, must now be translated into actionable programmes with measurable outcomes that citizens can experience in their daily lives.
Witbooi expressed appreciation to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for her guidance and leadership, saying her vision continues to shape the direction of government work. She also commended Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila for her leadership in advancing policy coherence and addressing legislative and administrative bottlenecks.
Thanks were extended to Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, regional governors, executive directors, state-owned enterprise leaders, technical experts and moderators for their contributions throughout the retreat. Witbooi said their insights demonstrated a shared commitment to advancing the National Development Agenda and NDP 6.
She also acknowledged the work of the technical teams and support staff who prepared background papers, handled logistics and ensured the smooth running of the event.
As the retreat concluded, Witbooi urged leaders to return to their offices with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment. She reminded them of the President’s message that “ethical leadership is non-negotiable,” and encouraged them to deliver results that strengthen public trust and improve the lives of Namibians.
She closed by wishing attendees a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
