Make sure that 2025 is the year of Namibia, a year during which we all hope for better and promise to do better.
This is President Nangolo Mbumba's New Year message, stressing that 2025 be a year during which Namibia continues to become stronger and better for current and future generations.
"The coming year is important because our country will come of age by celebrating 35 years of independence. This will require of us more individual and collective efforts to realise the promise of prosperity, which was the clarion call stated at independence in 1990 by H.E. Dr. Sam Nujoma, the Father of the Namibian Nation. In whatever you do, make sure that you plan to realise your dreams and aspirations. Make sure that your hopes and aspirations are part of your contribution as a citizen to a better Namibia in 2025."
In this vein, the President reminded Namibians that New Year's Eve provides an opportunity to reflect on the year that is passing into history.
The country entered the year 2024 on a sad note, experiencing the death of a sitting president, Hage Geingob, in February.
President Mbumba highlighted that Namibians emerged stronger from the collective grief and applauded the manner in which they dealt with the loss.
"Indeed, this year, which President Geingob had christened in his 2024 New Year Message, the Year of Expectations, has been the most unusual year. We commenced the year with tears and sorrow none of us could have expected. But we are closing the year celebrating important gains in our democratic journey. For the first time in the history of our nation, the Namibian people have elected a woman to be the president of the Republic of Namibia during the November 2024 Presidential and National Assembly Elections."
The New Year's Eve further provides Dr. Mbumba notes; it is to plan effectively for the year that lies ahead.
He outlined a brief of the government's development plans in 2025, some of which are a continuation.
"Spurred by mining, oil and gas, critical raw materials, and 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. Mechanised and sustainable agriculture remains vital for national food security. Therefore, I am pleased with the ongoing progress in reforming green schemes and other sub-sectors of our agricultural economy.The efforts of the government, as well as those of citizens, to guarantee peace and security have allowed for growth in various economic activities and the completion of projects under the Harambee Prosperity Plan I and II."