Windhoek, Namibia 06 November 2019. His Excellency the President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr. Hage G. Geingob inaugurated Namibia’s APRM National Governing Council on 06 November 2019 and witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Technical Assessment at State House. In his keynote address, the President recognised the presence of the Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba, the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi, the Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Saara Kuugongelwa Amadhila, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperations Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Naditwah, the APR Panel Member Amb. Sefue, the APRM CEO Prof. Eddy Maloka as well as members of the diplomatic corps and civil society.

The President stated that Namibia is committed to the full implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism and is ready to provide critical information to the APRM Continental Secretariat in order to finalize the Country Base and Targeted Review Reports for Namibia. Furthermore, the President indicated that Namibia is opening the doors to the APRM with a view to share with the Continent its best governance practices, in order to contribute to economic growth and socio-economic development and achieving the Africa We all Want. The President also lauded the APRM for its critical role in ensuring that Africa realizes its aspirations and developmental goals as enshrined in Agenda 2063 as underlined in its new extended mandate that includes monitoring the implementation of the SDGs and Agenda 2063 for all AU Member States. The President concluded the Address by expressing his confidence in the Mechanism and its ability to improve Africa’s governance architecture and achieve far reaching results where youth and women are the main driving forces in achieving prosperity and development.

Speaking on behalf of the Continental APRM Structures, Ambassador Ombeni Sefue, Lead APR Panel Member for Namibia, expressed his happiness to be in Namibia, a country close to his heart, to celebrate the inauguration of the National Governance Council. Ambassador Sefue noted that, following the establishment and official launch of the APRM National Structures, Namibia was now ready to embark on reviews that will seek solutions to governance challenges in the country and highlight Namibian best practices that can be shared with the rest of Africa. He assured the President that continental APRM experts will work closely with the Namibian structures, stakeholders and experts in this undertaking.

Touching on the issue of youth unemployment, a theme chosen by Namibia for a Targeted Review in December 2019, Ambassador Sefue observed that the review process will provide Namibia with a short, independent, credible and legitimate analysis of, and solutions to, youth unemployment. He assured Namibia that the outcome of this targeted review will be of interest to the rest of the continent because all countries were struggling with the problem on youth unemployment.

Ambassador Sefue signed the MoU on Technical Assessments with the Namibian Minister of Economic Planning and Director General of the National Planning Commission, Hon. Obeth Kandjoze.

The APRM CEO, Professor Eddy Maloka expressed his joy at the determination and collective leadership towards governance practiced by His Excellency President Geingob, and to witness its commitment to the APRM as an expression of an African owned and led good governance mechanism, by inaugurating the NGC at a busy time, shortly before elections. Professor Maloka also praised Namibia for its wisdom in picking a theme so important not just to Namibia, but the entire sub-region and region. Professor Maloka underlined the Continental Secretariat’s readiness to support Namibia in addressing governance challenges and best practices in the best interest of the population.

Ambassador Emvula, Chairperson of the Namibian APRM National Governance Council (NGC), thanked the H.E President Geingob, introduced the nine other members of the NGC and noted its readiness to carry forward the work of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism at the national level, in serving Namibia, and its determination to deliver on the commitments made including to complete the Targeted Review on Youth Unemployment in 2019 and a Base Review in all governance areas thereafter.