Windhoek: The Director General of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Kaire Mbuende, has urged members of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Recovery to establish a new standard for urgency, coherence, and measurable results. Mbuende made the call during the inaugural meeting of the task force at the commission’s chambers, where he also highlighted that the formation of the task force indicates a significant shift in the national strategy, moving from planning to accelerated and disciplined implementation.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Mbuende stressed that the current state of Namibia’s economy is characterized by slow growth, high unemployment, structural rigidities, and the continued underperformance of key sectors. He informed the task force members that Namibia’s initiatives for economic recovery should lead to increased production, enhanced productive capacity, and intentional economic diversification.
He emphasized that no country has attained sustained growth and development without expanding its production and trade, pointing out that Namibia should thus widen its economic base, enhance value addition, and discover new engines of growth that can create significant employment opportunities.
Commenting on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s promise of 500,000 jobs, Mbuende underscored that Namibia needs to grow at a much faster rate, adding that the task force will be crucial in identifying the strategic reforms and catalytic investments necessary to set the country’s economy on a higher, more inclusive, and sustainable growth path.
Mbuende reminded the task force of their responsibilities, stating that they are expected to deliver concrete strategies, coordinated actions, and implementable recommendations that will influence Namibia’s Economic Recovery Programme. ‘You will identify barriers, propose practical solutions, facilitate public-private collaboration, and accelerate the conversion of existing projects from pipeline to implementation,’ Mbuende said.
The task force, chaired by Dagmar Honsbein, was launched by the head of state on 01 December alongside the Task Forces on Health and Housing. Comprising 18 members, it includes notable figures like former Standard Bank Chief Executive Vetumbuavi Mungunda; O and L Group Executive Chairperson Sven Thieme; BoN Deputy Governor Ebson Uanguta; current Standard Bank Chief Executive Erwin Tjipuka; agricultural expert Roelie Venter; FirstRand Namibia CEO Conrad Dempsey, and governance and legal practitioner Vincia Cloete.