Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba on Tuesday reshuffled nearly his entire cabinet dropping safety and security minister Peter Tsheehama and redrafting former Prime Minister Hage Geingob into the cabinet as minister of trade and industry.
No explanation has been given for the sacking of Tsheehama but government sources said the veteran freedom fighter could have been dropped due to ill-health.
Geingob, Namibia first prime minister who was appointed South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party vice president last December, had been relegated to the political dustbins but will now be heading the trade portfolio.
Tsheehama, who held the all powerful post of safety and security minister, has been replaced by Nickey Iyambo, who was previously heading the agriculture, water and forestry ministry.
Among the notable changes are the appointment of former lands and agriculture minister Jerry Ekandjo as the new minister of regional, local government, housing and rural development. He is taking over from John Pandeni who died a few weeks a go in a car crash.
Information and broadcasting minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been moved to head the ministry of environment and tourism, whilst Immanuel Ngatjizeko will now head the ministry of labour and social welfare.
Helmut Angula, who was heading the Namibia Planning Commission (NPC) has been appointed minister of works and transport.
Former minister of sports and culture, John Mutorwa has been moved to agriculture, water and forestry, Willem Konjore, who previously headed environment and tourism ministry has been moved to youth, national service, sports and culture, whilst Joel Kaapanda, is the new minister of information and communication technology. Panapress.
