President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed Modestus Amutse to lead the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, with his tenure effective from 2 December 2025.
The appointment is made under Article 35 of the Constitution, which empowers the President to select ministers from the National Assembly to administer and execute the functions of government.
Amutse brings a comprehensive, well-rounded set of qualifications to the role.
He holds an MBA from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute, a Master’s degree in Communication from the International University Alliance, and an honours qualification in Public Governance from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Corporate Governance in Southern Africa, a credential that strengthens his grounding in governance, compliance and organisational oversight.
Before entering politics, he worked as a journalist with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, giving him early exposure to national issues and public communication. These academic, professional and governance credentials now complement his long record in public service.
He previously served as Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology. Before that, he was a Member of Parliament and chaired a National Assembly Standing Committee.
His early leadership roles at the regional level further strengthen the depth of experience he brings to a portfolio that is central to Namibia’s plans for industrialisation, mining development and energy transition.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed gratitude to Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi, who acted in the role for several months.
She acknowledged his steady leadership, commitment, and support for the ministry during the interim period.
The President said the appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the 8th administration, following the recently concluded Regional and Local Authority Elections in which Namibians reaffirmed their trust in the SWAPO Party. She said the administration has prioritised quality service delivery, accountability and the implementation of national goals anchored in the SWAPO Party Election Manifesto, its Implementation Plan and the Sixth National Development Plan.
She noted that Amutse takes office at a time when Namibia is accelerating industrialisation, strengthening the mining sector, and advancing in the energy space to drive sustainable development and shared prosperity across all 14 regions.
