Africa-Press – Namibia. Looking in the rearview mirror, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said her first 100 days in office have marked a decisive shift in Namibia’s governance and development path.
During her first three months in office, her administration has focused on food security, economic reform, infrastructure development and international cooperation.
Speaking at the launch of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), the President unpacked major achievements since assuming office on 21 March 2025. Her administration aims to “uplift the social well-being and improve the quality of life for all Namibians”.
The President highlighted the recent reclassification of Namibia to a lower-middle-income country by global institutions as a positive step.
“With only four and a half years to Vision 2030, this is the final chance to make Namibia a developed and industrialised country,” she said.
The NDP6 includes four key pillars: economic transformation, human development, environmental sustainability, and good governance. It sets out 47 focus areas, and is aligned with international goals like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063.
“Our leadership values are pragmatism, accountability, integrity, meritocracy and inclusivity,” she remarked.
Namibia has also engaged in several international efforts to boost its global standing. In her first three months, Nandi-Ndaitwah visited seven African countries and attended the United States-Africa Business Summit in Angola.
In addition, she hosted the first-ever Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting outside the United Kingdom.
“These steps helped position Namibia as a serious investment destination,” she stated.
Agriculture
What is more, Nandi-Ndaitwah gave detailed updates on agricultural production, a key sector in her agenda.
In addition to agricultural production, the government provided food assistance to over 1.4 million people and expanded its voucher system to reach more than 140 000 households across nine regions.
The President said backlogs in food distribution would be cleared by August.
Agriculture remains a central part of her government’s strategy to ensure food security and job creation.
“Our green schemes are producing real results,” she stated. “As of June 2025, 3 403 hectares are under cultivation. We have already harvested 9 947 tonnes of maize, 300 tonnes of potatoes and 39 tonnes of sunflower,” the President said.
She added that two new green schemes in Zambezi and Ohangwena are being developed, while the Uvhungu-Vungu Dairy Project in Kavango East is being revived.
Seed processing facilities are also under development in Omusati, Zambezi and Kavango West.
More than N$101 million has been spent to support communal and emerging livestock farmers.
“We are moving steadily toward food security,” the President said. President Nandi-Ndaitwah placed strong emphasis on youth empowerment.
She revealed that the National Youth Fund has been capitalised with N$257 million to support entrepreneurship and access to finance. “Young people are not a burden. They are our greatest opportunity,” she said.
“These are golden opportunities that our youth must exploit without fail,” the President remarked. She announced that more than 200 youth-led businesses were supported with equipment and training, and 734 internships were facilitated across public institutions.
“A national framework for work-integrated learning is being finalised so that our young people can graduate into jobs, not just certificates,” she added.
On education, the President said her government is committed to scrapping tuition fees at public higher learning institutions and vocational training centres starting in 2026. “Education is a right, not a privilege. No Namibian should be denied learning because of financial barriers,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She announced two major studies: one to assess the quality of free basic education and another to measure the impact of the country’s new school curriculum. In the healthcare sector, she said important strides have been made.
“We are expanding services to reach every Namibian no matter where they live,” she stated.
The President revealed that the Okuryangava Clinic in Windhoek will become a 24-hour facility from 1 August, and seven new clinics will be built during the current financial year. A total of 36 ambulances were purchased and delivered to all 14 regions.
In addition, 60 mobile health vans are currently being procured. The President also announced the renovation of a 48-bed mental health centre in Rehoboth. “Namibians deserve access to mental health care and dignity in their recovery,” she said. Plans are also underway to build a pharmaceutical plant in Okahandja and a new central medical store in Windhoek. “We have started bilateral engagements with Egypt and India to allow Namibia to purchase medicine directly from manufacturers,” she stated.
Housing
On housing, Nandi-Ndaitwah reported that 3 402 housing units are under construction, including some under the Shack Dwellers Federation. “The Police Village Project has also been launched to provide housing for officers and strengthen safety in our communities,” she added.
She said the formalisation of informal settlements is actively ongoing in towns such as Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Keetmanshoop and Rundu.
“A total of 31 settlements are now undergoing formalisation, with 10 000 erven already being serviced,” the President noted.
In addition, 1 019 toilets were built during this period to improve sanitation access across all 14 regions.
Namibia’s hosting of the Region 5 Youth Games is something the President is proud of. She described the event as a “national triumph”, having created 955 direct jobs and 699 indirect jobs.
“The renovation of sport facilities for the games was completed in record time,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said. Additionally, the construction of Caf-standard stadiums has commenced in Eenhana, Keetmanshoop and Mariental. “We are also finalising a new sport funding model to support grassroots and professional development,” she noted.
In the creative industry, the government is preparing to launch a new Creative Industry Infrastructure and Equipment Fund before the end of August.
“This will support studios, equipment and materials to grow our local arts economy,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
Namibia hosted 16 international film productions and supported eight local ones between March and June 2025.
In a bid to strengthen governance at the local level, the President revealed that investigations into land governance were conducted in Katima Mulilo and Bukalo. “These investigations led to the implementation of remedial measures to regulate land transactions and strengthen record-keeping,” she stated.
She said there is progress in economic reform, especially in the mining sector, where the government is developing a policy to increase Namibian ownership. “We must ensure that the wealth from our resources benefits the people of this country,” she said.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah called for national unity and shared responsibility. “The journey ahead is not easy, but with one heart and one mind, we will move Namibia forward,” she remarked.
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