Africa-Press – Namibia. The Erongo region officially welcomed its first female governor, Natalia /Goagoses, on Friday, while also bidding farewell to her predecessor, Neville Andre.
On the day, the region gave Andre his flowers, honouring him for his providing leadership and direction, during what many described as the most difficult period in the region’s recent history.
The transition took place during a weekend of official engagements, starting with /Goagoses’ arrival at the Swapo regional offices in Swakopmund. The party pledged its full support to her, describing her appointment as a key moment for regional progress.
/Goagoses is a former chief regional officer of the Erongo Regional Council and previously served as deputy minister of urban and rural development and the ministry of higher education. She is hails from Okombahe, in the Dâures constituency.
“When the President appointed me, I was instructed to be a unifier in a cosmopolitan region where the GDP of our nation is generated. I was told to work with every resident and stakeholder and not to divide. I pledge today that I will do just that,” /Goagoses said.
She vowed to tackle poverty, inequality and youth unemployment, adding that financial discipline must be a priority across all regional institutions.
“From the 2025/2026 financial year, I expect unqualified audit reports. If we can manage that, more funding and investor confidence will follow,” she added.
Swapo regional coordinator Daniel Muhuura called on the new governor to ensure the region’s natural resources benefit all residents.
“Governor, we trust that under your leadership, that gap between wealth and poverty will narrow,” he said.
Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga, who was also in attendance, urged party members to focus on unity and performance.
“Let’s avoid infighting and unproductive behaviour. If something isn’t working, fix it constructively,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Saturday evening, the region paid tribute to Andre, who led Erongo through the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and was later voted the most hard-working regional governor in 2024.
Andre used the occasion to thank the Namibian government and particularly the late president Hage Geingob for trusting him with such a critical assignment.
“Being appointed to lead a region of this magnitude was a humongous task and a great honour. It demanded hard work and meant I had to sacrifice a lot, especially time with my family,” Andre said.
He described the post-pandemic period as one of the toughest times for the region, which had to rebuild itself socially and economically. He also thanked the people of Erongo, the business community, and Namibians at large for the unwavering support shown to him throughout his tenure.
“Without that support, none of what we achieved would have been possible,” Andre said.
He urged the region to rally behind the new governor and continue working towards inclusive development.
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