Shangula needs ‘unquestionable backing’ JEMIMA BEUKES The incoming health minister needs not only the support of his senior staff but the unquestionable backing of the head of state and his cabinet colleagues, former health minister Dr Richard Kamwi said yesterday.
He was reacting the appointment of Dr Kalumbi Shangula as replacement for Dr Bernard Haufiku, who was fired from cabinet by President Hage Geingob this week following a fallout that has been intensifying since the beginning of the year.
Haufiku now occupies the newly created position of health adviser to the presidency.
“As minister of health, Dr Shangula will not only need the support of his senior staff. He will need unquestionable support from the president, the prime minister and cabinet ministers, especially the minister of finance,” said Kamwi, who had served in the position for many years until 2015.
During part of Kamwi’s stint, Shangula had served as his permanent secretary.
Kamwi said he was in fact the one who encouraged Shangula, who was still studying in the United Kingdom at the time, to apply for the position of PS, while not knowing that he (Kamwi) would later be appointed as health minister.
Kamwi emphasised that the health ministry is very complex and should not be treated like other ministries, as it deals with life and death.
He also believes that the ministry should be exempted from budget cuts amid the current economic hardships.
Kamwi is optimistic that Shangula will succeed in his new role if he performs with the same vigour as when he was PS.
“I worked with Dr Shangula, he was my technical adviser during his time as health director for the northwest health region until he took up the PS position.
“I did not work with Dr Bernard Haufiku, but for the short time that he was there all I can say is that he is a good medical doctor. And we saw what he was trying to achieve and do,” said Kamwi.
Former deputy health PS Dr Norbert Foster also spoke highly of Shangula, saying he has tremendous insight into the health sector.
“I think he is probably the most experienced public servant in terms of health and has worked throughout the system, from district level, director, up to PS. He has tremendous insight into the health sector and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities this ministry faces,” Foster said.
Shangula, who was first sworn in as member of parliament yesterday before taking his oath of office at State House, believes the problems at the health ministry cannot be solved at once.
He too emphasised that the issue of funding is critical.
“You must have the means to deliver a service and you need people to deliver these services. And you must have money to pay their salaries,” he said.
Shangula until recently served as the deputy associate dean of the University of Namibia (Unam) School of Medicine.
He had served as environment ministry PS before his retirement from the public service.
Shangula has also served as the executive chairperson of Swapo business arm, Kalahari Holdings. He is also the chairperson of the ruling party’s think tank.
He was married to state pathologist Dr Elizabeth Shangula, who died in 2008.