The Cabinet of Namibia is an appointed body that was established by Chapter 6 (Articles 35-42) of the Constitution of Namibia. It comprises the President of Namibia, the Prime Minister of Namibia and any members that the President may appoint.The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia
All Cabinet members also sit in the National Assembly. This dual membership has been criticised by Namibian civil society groups and opposition parties for creating a significant overlap between executive and legislative branches, undermining the separation of powers. Moreover, the seniority of Cabinet members generally relegates ordinary MPs to the back benches.
List of Cabinets of Namibia
Current cabinet (2025-present)
The new cabinet was announced on 22 March 2025, following the inauguration of president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on 21 March 2025. On 2 April 2026, several new positions were announced.
President: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Vice President: Lucia Witbooi Prime Minister: Elijah Ngurare Deputy Prime Minister: Natangwe Ithete (until 26 October 2025) Minister in the Presidency: Charles Mubita (since 2 April 2026) Deputy: Moses ǁKhumub (since 2 April 2026) Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform: Mac Hengari (until 23 April 2025), Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi (since 7 May 2025) Deputy: Ruth Masake Attorney General: Festus Mbandeka Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs: Frans Kapofi Deputy: Charles Mubita Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture: Sanet Steenkamp Deputy: Dino Ballotti Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism: Indileni Daniel Deputy: Anselm Marungu (since 2 April 2026) Minister of Finance and Social Grants Management: Erica Shafudah Minister of Gender Equality and Social Welfare: Emma Kantema-Gaomas Deputy: Linda Mbwale Minister of Health and Social Services: Esperance Luvindao Deputy: Hambeleleni Ndjaleka (since 2 April 2026) Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security: Lucia Iipumbu Deputy: Edward Wambo (since 2 April 2026) Minister of Industrialization, Mines and Energy: Natangwe Ithete (until 26 October 2026), Frans Kapofi (interim, from 28 October 2025) Deputy: Gaudentia Kröhne Minister of Information and Communications Technology: Emma Theofelus Deputy: Wenzel Kavaka (since 2 April 2026) Minister of International Relations and Trade: Selma Ashipala-Musavyi Deputy: Jenelly Matundu Minister of Justice and Labour Relations: Fillemon Wise Immanuel Deputy: Theresia Brandt (since 2 April 2026) Director General of the National Planning Commission: Kaire Mbuende Minister of Urban and Rural Development: Sankwasa James Sankwasa Deputy: Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele Minister of Works and Transport: Veikko Nekundi Deputy: Hans Haikali (since 2 April 2026)
2020–2025 This 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. The death of the president in February 2024 necessitated a reshuffle in the top leadership. President: Hage Geingob (until 4 February 2024), Nangolo Mbumba Vice President: Nangolo Mbumba (until 4 February 2024), Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Prime Minister: Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila Deputy Prime Minister: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (until 4 February 2024) Minister of Presidential Affairs: Christine ǁHoebes Deputy for the recognition of the disabled: Alexia Manombe-Ncube Deputy for the recognition of marginalised people: Royal ǀUiǀoǀoo Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform: Calle Schlettwein Deputy: Anna Shiweda Attorney General: Festus Mbandeka Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs: Peter Vilho (until April 2021), Frans Kapofi Deputy: Hilma Nicanor Minister of Education, Arts and Culture: Anna Nghipondoka Deputy: Faustina Caley Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism: Pohamba Shifeta Deputy: Heather Sibungo (from April 2021) Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises: Iipumbu Shiimi Deputy: Maureen Hinda-Mbuende (from April 2021) Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources: Albert Kawana (until April 2021), Derek Klazen Deputy: Sylvia Makgone Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare: Doreen Sioka Deputy: Bernadette Jagger Deputy: Lucia Witbooi (until September 2023) Minister of Health and Social Services: Kalumbi Shangula Deputy: Esther Muinjangue (NUDO), the only opposition politician in Cabinet Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security: Frans Kapofi (until April 2021), Albert Kawana Deputy: Daniel Kashikola (until September 2023), Lucia Witbooi Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation: Itah Kandjii-Murangi Deputy: Veno Kauaria (until July 2021), Natalia ǀGoagoses Minister of Industrialization and Trade: Lucia Iipumbu Deputy: Verna Sinimbo Minister of Information and Communications Technology: Peya Mushelenga until 09 February 2024 Emma Theofelus Deputy: Modestus Amutse Minister of International Relations and Cooperation: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah until 09 February 2024 Peya Mushelenga Deputy: Jennely Matundu Minister of Justice: Yvonne Dausab Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation: Utoni Nujoma Deputy: Hafeni Ndemula Minister of Mines and Energy: Tom Alweendo Deputy: Kornelia Shilunga Director General of the National Planning Commission: Obeth Kandjoze Minister of Public Enterprises: Leon Jooste (resigned 31 March 2022) (merged with finance ministry on 1 December 2022) Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service: Agnes Tjongarero Deputy: Emma Kantema-Gaomas Minister of Urban and Rural Development: Erastus Uutoni Deputy: Derek Klazen (until April 2021), Natalia ǀGoagoses (until September 2023), Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele Minister of Works and Transport: John Mutorwa Deputy: Veikko Nekundi
2015–2020 The 6th Cabinet was announced on 19 March 2015. The position of Vice President was established for the first time, and there were five ministries with two deputy ministers each. Their double appointments significantly increased the number of top positions in public administration.
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. 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.
President: Hage Geingob Vice President: Nickey Iyambo (until February 2018), Nangolo Mbumba Prime Minister: Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Deputy: Peya Mushelenga (until February 2018), Christine ǁHoebes Deputy: Maureen Hinda-Mbuende (until February 2018) Attorney-General: Albert Kawana Director General of the National Planning Commission and Minister of Economic Planning: Tom Alweendo (until February 2018), Obeth Kandjoze Deputy: Lucia Iipumbu (until February 2018), Piet van der Walt Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry: John Mutorwa (until February 2018), Alpheus ǃNaruseb Deputy: Theo Diergaardt Deputy: Anna ShawndaΜ Minister of Defence: Penda ya Ndakolo Deputy: Billy Mwaningange Minister of Education, Arts and Culture: Katrina Hanse-Himarwa (until July 2019), Martin Andjaba (acting), Anna Nghipondoka (From March 2020) Deputy: Anna Nghipondoka (until February 2020). Minister of Environment and Tourism: Pohamba Shifeta Deputy: Tommy Nambahu (until February 2018), Bernadette Jagger Minister of Finance: Calle Schlettwein Deputy: Natangwe Ithete Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources: Bernhard Esau (until 13 November 2019), Albert Kawana (acting) Deputy: Chief Samuel Ankama (until February 2018), Sylvia Makgone Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare: Doreen Sioka Deputy: Lucia Witbooi Minister of Health and Social Services: Bernard Haufiku (until December 2018), Kalumbi Shangula Deputy: Juliet Kavetuna Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation: Itah Kandjii-Murangi Deputy: Becky Ndoze-Ojo Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration: Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana (until February 2018), Frans Kapofi Deputy: Erastus Uutoni Minister of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development: Immanuel Ngatjizeko (until February 2018), Tjekero Tweya Deputy: Piet van der Walt (until February 2018), Lucia Iipumbu Minister of Information and Communication Technology: Tjekero Tweya (until February 2018), Stanley Simataa Deputy: Stanley Simaata (until February 2018), Engel Nawatiseb Minister of Justice: Albert Kawana (until February 2018), Sackeus Shanghala (until 13 November 2019), Frans Kapofi (acting) Deputy: Lidwina Shapwa Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation: Erkki Nghimtina Deputy: Alpheus Muheua (until February 2018), Tommy Nambahu Minister of Land Reform: Utoni Nujoma Deputy: Bernadus Swartbooi (until December 2016), Priscilla Boois (from.December 2016) Minister of Mines and Energy: Obeth Kandjoze (until February 2018), Tom Alweendo Deputy: Kornelia Shilunga Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare: Bishop Zephania Kameeta Deputy: Priscilla Beukes Deputy: Reverend Aino Kapewangolo Minister of Presidential Affairs: Frans Kapofi (until February 2018), Immanuel Ngatjizeko (until February 2018), Martin Andjaba Deputy: Christine ǁHoebes (until February 2018) Minister of Public Enterprises: Leon Jooste Deputy: Engel Nawatiseb (until February 2018), Veikko Nekundi Minister of Safety and Security: Charles Namoloh Deputy: Daniel Kashikola (Until September 2023), Lucia Witbooi (From September 2023- ) Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service: Jerry Ekandjo.(until February 2018), Erastus Uutoni Deputy: Agnes Tjongarero Minister of Urban and Rural Development: Sophia Shaningwa (until February 2018), Peya Mushelenga Deputy: Derek Klazen Deputy: Sylvia Makgone (until February 2018), Chief Samuel Ankama Minister of Veterans' Affairs: Nickey Iyambo Deputy for the recognition of the disabled: Alexia Manombe-Ncube Deputy for the recognition of marginalised people: Royal ǀUiǀoǀoo Deputy for the recognition of veterans of the fight for independence: Hilma Nicanor Minister of Works and Transport: Alpheus ǃNaruseb (until February 2018), John Mutorwa Deputy: Sankwasa James Sankwasa Deputy: Kilus Nguvauva
2010–2015 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". President: Hifikepunye Pohamba Prime Minister: Nahas Angula (2010–2012), Hage Geingob (2012–2015) Deputy Prime Minister: Marco Hausiku Speaker of Parliament: Theo-Ben Gurirab Deputy Speaker: Loide Kasingo Minister of Trade and Industry: Hage Geingob (2010–2012), Calle Schlettwein (2012–2015) Deputy: Tjekero Tweya Minister of Justice: Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana (2010–2012), Utoni Nujoma (2012–2015) Deputy: Tommy Nambahu Minister of Safety and Security: Nangolo Mbumba (2010–2012), Immanuel Ngatjizeko (2012–2015) Deputy: Erastus Uutoni Minister of Presidential Affairs and Attorney General: Albert Kawana Deputy: none Minister of Defence: Charles Namoloh (2010–2012), Nahas Angula (2012–2015) Deputy: Lempy Lucas (2010–2012), Petrus Iilonga (2012–2015) Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration: Rosalia Nghidinwa (2010–2012), Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana (2012–2015) Deputy: Elia Kaiyamo Minister of Finance: Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila Deputy: Calle Schlettwein (2010–2012), vacant as from 4 December 2012 Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development: Jerry Ekandjo (2010–2012), Charles Namoloh (2012–2015) Deputy: Priscilla Beukes Minister of Foreign Affairs: Utoni Nujoma (2010–2012), Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (2012–) Deputy: Peya Mushelenga