Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed 19 new members to the National Planning Commission (NPC), who will serve a three-year term beginning in August 2025.
The newly appointed members are: Josef Andreas, Kavei Gurvy, Ellencia Hanse, Nelago Indongo, Jason Kasuto, Susan-Marie Lewis, Thaddius Maswahu, Immacullate Mogotsi, Fidelus Mwazi, Titus Nampala, Roseta Mersia Nawases, Kuniberth Shamathe, Rose-Mary N. Sihova, Beverly Cecily Silas-Garas, Christoph Siririka, Sven Thieme, Penny Tuna Magdalena Uukunde, Roelie Venter, and Bernie Zaaruka.
The announcement was made by I-Ben Natangwe Nashandi, Secretary to the Commission and Executive Director of the NPC. He stated that the appointments were made in accordance with Section 2(1)(b) of the National Planning Commission Act, 2013, read together with Article 129(3) of the Namibian Constitution.
NEW MEMBERS: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed 19 new members to the NPC. Photo: National Planning Commission.
“The members are drawn from diverse backgrounds and sectors, including academia, business, the private sector, farming, economics, and the social sciences. They offer a wealth of experience and skills, which are beneficial for providing sound advice to support the work of the National Planning Commission,” Nashandi explained.
He highlighted that the NPC is established to plan the priorities and direction of national development. This, he added, includes spearheading the identification of Namibia’s socio-economic development priorities, as well as formulating short-, medium-, and long-term national development plans in consultation with regional councils.
Nashandi added that Commission members are also responsible for developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure the effective implementation of these plans; evaluating the effectiveness of government socio-economic policies; coordinating the development of such policies to ensure consistency; and mobilising, managing, and coordinating international development cooperation.
“The Director General of the National Planning Commission, Ambassador Dr Kaire Mbuende, who also serves as the Chairperson, hosted an inaugural meeting for the members on 18 August 2025, and urged them to provide government with well-grounded policy advice and research to help the country achieve these goals,” Nashandi recalled.
