Africa-Press – Namibia. Political commentators have praised president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for avoiding international trips and limiting her travels to trips within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Political analyst Rui Tyitende says Nandi-Ndaitwah appears to be intentionally distancing herself from the travel-heavy style of previous administrations.
“I think she also wants to show that the problems we are facing are internal and cannot be resolved by engaging or forming strategic alliances with international partners,” he says.
Tyitende says Nandi-Ndaitwah’s foreign policy outlook is “distinctly African”.
Since March, Nandi-Ndaitwah has taken six regional trips – all within the SADC region. She has not travelled outside the African continent since her inauguration.
Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo says the president has deliberately chosen to focus on domestic affairs during her early months in office.
When necessary, Nandi-Ndaitwah has relied on her ministers and the vice president to represent the country abroad.
“That is exactly why she appointed them. It is a sign of trust in their ability to carry Namibia’s message abroad,” he says.
Mbambo says every invitation to the president is carefully considered.
“The president has not turned down opportunities as such, but has made deliberate choices about when it makes sense for her to be present personally and when it is more practical to have a minister or the vice president represent Namibia,” he adds.
He emphasises that the president believes leadership begins at home.
According to him, delegating foreign duties promotes teamwork and continuity within the government.
“It shows Namibia’s leadership does not rest on one person alone, but on a trusted team that can effectively represent the country wherever needed. At the right time, she will engage more broadly beyond the continent,” he says.
Political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah says the president’s approach appears “normal and cautious”.
“Staying within the SADC region could indicate a focus on strengthening regional ties,” he says.
He says delegating international trips does not imply diplomatic disengagement.
However, he cautions that the president should appoint ambassadors to avoid repeated delegations and minimise costs.
Former Swapo think tank member Ben Mulongeni says international travel should be purposeful and guided by national interest.
“It is crucial for the president to travel and spend the money where needed, but the president cannot save money at the expense of Namibia’s interests outside the country.”
He welcomed Nandi-Ndaitwah’s choice to prioritise visits to neighbouring countries.
“The visits are symbolic and foster economic cooperation,” he says. “What countries consider are historical ties, friendship and economic interests.”
REGIONAL
Her first foreign visit was to Luanda, Angola, on 8 May. On 15 May, she visited Gaborone, Botswana, and Lusaka, Zambia, returning the following day. On 19 May, she travelled to Maputo, Mozambique, followed by visits to Harare, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania on 20 May, returning home on 21 May.
Tanzania holds personal and political significance for the president, who lived there from 1980 to 1986 as a Swapo representative during Namibia’s liberation struggle.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is known as ‘Mama Swapo’ in Tanzania.
On 20 June, she paid a one-day official visit to South Africa, and she also travelled to Antananarivo, Madagascar, for the 45th SADC Summit from 16 to 18 August.
In contrast, former presidents Hage Geingob and Nangolo Mbumba frequently travelled abroad, including to Europe, Asia and the United States.
Between April and June last year, Mbumba visited Tanzania, Kenya, The Netherlands, Zambia and South Africa. During his 14-month term, he travelled to 14 countries in 11 months, spent 50 days abroad and qualified for around N$1.9 million in travel allowances.
Nandi-Ndaitwah has, on two occasions, delegated foreign responsibilities to senior officials.
In April, minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi represented her at the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Last week, vice president Lucia Witbooi attended the intra-African trade fair in Algiers, Algeria, on the president’s behalf.
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