Namibia’s President Geingob angry with new deputy ministers
NAN-F-32
Ministers
Windhoek, Feb. 13, 2018 (Xinhua/NAN) Namibian President Hage Geingob on Tuesday expressed his anger at some politicians who were promoted to the positions of deputy ministers but were unreachable on their mobile phones ahead of their swearing-in ceremony.
The president said during the swearing-in ceremony of 10 deputy ministers at the State House in Windhoek that it was a bad start for the ministers not to be reached on phone.
Geingob said his office called the promoted politicians to talk to them on Monday evening before they get their letters of appointment, adding that none of them was available.
He declared year 2018 as a year of reckoning adding that the swearing-in ceremonies were not a joke.
“Not being able to reach you is a bad beginning already, government is giving you cellphones and it’s not for business, you should be reached wherever you are.
“This is the year of reckoning, you will be sworn-in today and you can get out tomorrow too,” Geingob said.
He said the government would be more transparent and accountable to improve service delivery to the people, especially those in the rural areas.
He said priorities would be laid on delivery and connecting more Namibians to essential services, such as water, sanitation and electricity.
Geingob pledged to initiate the building of infrastructure, including airports, ports and rail.
On Feb. 8, Geingob reshuffled his cabinet, reassigning some ministers and appointing others.
The reshuffle came weeks after the dismissal of Jerry Ekandjo, former youth minister and Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, former home affairs minister. (Xinhua/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole