President Nangolo Mbumba charts Namibia’s path to progress

“We have built more classrooms, more clinics and more police stations as part of our commitment to educate healthier and safer communities,” President Nangolo Mbumba stated during his New Year’s Eve speech held in Swakopmund last year. President Mbumba praised the progress made in infrastructure development, particularly in education, healthcare and security.



Additionally, in a budget statement by Minister of Education Anna Nghipondoka in 2024 for the 2024/25 financial year, it was revealed that the ministry has constructed a record 510 classrooms and 70 ablution facilities through a procurement agreement with August 26, a company owned by the defence ministry, during the 2023/24 financial year.



Mbumba also emphasised the continuation of the Harambee Prosperity Plan I and II, highlighting the second plan's fourth pillar, which focuses on improving access to quality education, enhancing sports development, and addressing gender-based violence, including violence against children.



Unemployment

However, Namibia continues to grapple with a high unemployment rate. According to a Market Watch publication from November 2024, the country’s unemployment rate stood at 43.0%, placing Namibia among the highest globally. Since independence, unemployment has remained high - frequently exceeding 30%.



Despite this, the president expressed optimism about the country’s economic prospects, pointing to the potential of emerging industries such as oil, gas and green hydrogen. “Spurred by mining oil and gas, critical raw materials, as well as green hydrogen, the Namibian economy has recovered to its pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels. Moreover, growth in the non-mineral economy, including tourism, is expected to gain traction, which augurs well for job creation in 2025 and beyond,” he stated.



Pact for the Future

Meanwhile, Namibia and Germany were appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General to co-chair the 2024 United Nations Summit for the Future during the 79th session of the United Nations general assembly in New York. Mbumba stressed that Namibia fulfilled its role successfully, contributing to 193 countries signing the United Nations Pact for the Future along with the additions of the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations. “With lots of effort, we were able to accomplish that task with the adoption of the historic Pact for the Future and its annexures, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations,” Mbumba stated.



The president concluded his speech with a message of hope and determination for the year ahead. “Make sure that 2025 is the Year of Namibia, a year during which we all hope for better and promise to do better. A year during which Namibia continues to become stronger and better for current and future generations. It is on this note of hope and promise that I wish all Namibians, residents and visitors a happy and prosperous new year 2025,” he concluded.