The Cabinet of Namibia is an appointed body that was established by Chapter 6 (Articles 35-42) of the
Constitution of Namibia. It is mandated to include the following positions: the
President of Namibia, the
Prime Minister of Namibia and any positions that the President so appoints.[1]
All cabinet members also sit in the
National Assembly. This situation has been criticised by Namibia's civil society and the opposition as creating a significant overlap between
executive and
legislature, undermining the
separation of powers. Moreover, the seniority of cabinet members generally relegate ordinary MPs to the back benches.[2]
List of cabinets of Namibia
Current cabinet (2020–)
The current cabinet was announced on 21 March 2020. Several deputy minister positions have been disestablished as a cost-cutting measure. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has been merged with the Ministry of Land Reform, and the Ministry of Veteran Affairs is now part of Defence.[3] The death of the president in February 2024 necessitated a reshuffle in the top leadership.[4]
The 6th Cabinet was announced on 19 March 2015. The position of
Vice-President was established for the first time, as well as five ministries with two deputy ministers each. Their double appointments significantly increased the number of top positions in public administration.[9][10]
A major cabinet reshuffle occurred in February 2018 when two ministers were fired, the vice-president retired on health grounds, and several other rotations took place.[11] In the wake of the February cabinet reshuffle the number of deputy ministers was reduced again to one per ministry, with the Office of the Vice-President the only exception. This move was announced as a cost-cutting measure.[12][13]
This Cabinet was appointed in 2010. The
SWAPO congress end of November 2012 resulted in "one of the biggest Cabinet reshuffles the country has seen since independence".[20]
The second cabinet under
Sam Nujoma was announced on
Independence Day 1995.[35] In 1999 a re-shuffle took place, mainly affecting deputy ministers.[36]
The first cabinet after
Namibian independence consisted of 19 ministers appointed by inaugural president
Sam Nujoma. In 1991, two further ministries were established:[37]
The Cabinet of Namibia is an appointed body that was established by Chapter 6 (Articles 35-42) of the
Constitution of Namibia. It is mandated to include the following positions: the
President of Namibia, the
Prime Minister of Namibia and any positions that the President so appoints.[1]
All cabinet members also sit in the
National Assembly. This situation has been criticised by Namibia's civil society and the opposition as creating a significant overlap between
executive and
legislature, undermining the
separation of powers. Moreover, the seniority of cabinet members generally relegate ordinary MPs to the back benches.[2]
List of cabinets of Namibia
Current cabinet (2020–)
The current cabinet was announced on 21 March 2020. Several deputy minister positions have been disestablished as a cost-cutting measure. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has been merged with the Ministry of Land Reform, and the Ministry of Veteran Affairs is now part of Defence.[3] The death of the president in February 2024 necessitated a reshuffle in the top leadership.[4]
The 6th Cabinet was announced on 19 March 2015. The position of
Vice-President was established for the first time, as well as five ministries with two deputy ministers each. Their double appointments significantly increased the number of top positions in public administration.[9][10]
A major cabinet reshuffle occurred in February 2018 when two ministers were fired, the vice-president retired on health grounds, and several other rotations took place.[11] In the wake of the February cabinet reshuffle the number of deputy ministers was reduced again to one per ministry, with the Office of the Vice-President the only exception. This move was announced as a cost-cutting measure.[12][13]
This Cabinet was appointed in 2010. The
SWAPO congress end of November 2012 resulted in "one of the biggest Cabinet reshuffles the country has seen since independence".[20]
The second cabinet under
Sam Nujoma was announced on
Independence Day 1995.[35] In 1999 a re-shuffle took place, mainly affecting deputy ministers.[36]
The first cabinet after
Namibian independence consisted of 19 ministers appointed by inaugural president
Sam Nujoma. In 1991, two further ministries were established:[37]