There is no Swapo cabinet: Presidency

WINDHOEK, 14 MAY – President Hage Geingob’s remarks during Swapo’s first Central Committee (CC) meeting a week ago were misinterpreted and blown out of context by the media and commentators alike, State House spokesperson, Dr. Alfredo Hengari has said.
In a statement issued Sunday, Hengari said at no point during the CC gathering did Geingob mention the creation of a Swapo cabinet.
“He merely illustrated the ideal functioning and inclusive strategic interaction that ought to exist between the national Cabinet and the party secretariat,” said Hengari.
In the current iteration, the Swapo-party Election Manifesto of 2014 has been morphed and articulated through the Harambee Prosperity Plan, he explained.
During the session, Geingob explained that inviting the party’s secretary-general (SG) to Cabinet is aimed at ensuring policy coherence and convergence between Cabinet and its decisions.
The functional work and activities of the Swapo secretariat falls under the authority of the party’s SG.
Geingob stressed that the new secretariat had the obligation to proactively communicate and timeously discuss government policies and decisions, Hengari noted.
Those elected in the new Swapo secretariat include National Council Chairperson Magaret Mensah-Williams who is the new health and social services secretary, while environment minister Pohamba Shifeta took charge of the environment portfolio.
As it stands, National Assembly Speaker Professor Peter Katjavivi is the external affairs secretary, while veterans’ affairs deputy minister Hilma Nikanor is the information and mobilisation secretary.
Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa retains the transport portfolio at party level, while Attorney-General Albert Kawana was elected as the secretary for legal affairs, and agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb to lead economic affairs.
New trade minister Tjekero Tweya is in charge of the finance portfolio, while gender equality minister Doreen Sioka is the new education secretary.
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Loide Kasingo was made secretary for labour, whereas labour minister Erkki Nghimtina is the new secretary of defence and security. Khomas Governor Laura McLeod Katjirua is at the helm of the housing, sanitation and rural development portfolio.
They will be in charge of their respective portfolios for the next five year.
NAMPA