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Government Information Bulletin Special Edition

Republic of Namibia Special Edition 2009

New State House inaugurated

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President Hifikepunye Pohamba inaugurated the new State House in Auasblick, Windhoek, during Namibia’s
18th Independence anniversary on 21 March 2008

Inauguration More State House

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Statement pictures Special Edition on

New State House by
popular demand
Page 2 Page 4-5
 Government Information Bulletin Special Edition

ADDRESS BY H.E. HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA,

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA, ON
THE OCCASION OF THE 18TH INDEPENDENCE
ANNIVERSARY AND INAUGRATION
OF THE NEW STATE HOUSE
21 MARCH 2008, WINDHOEK
At the very outset, I would like to kindly apartheid tyranny are today contributing free from war, victimisation, intimidation,
request you to rise, so that we can all meaningfully in shaping a brighter future racial discrimination and oppression.
observe a minute of silence in honour of for the Land of the Brave. These blossoming youth represent a
the late Comrade John Alfons Pandeni who new generation, the torch-bearers of our
passed away in a tragic vehicle accident Our hopes for a better future are reinforced democratic traditions and our country’s
on 14 March 2008. (I thank you, you may when we look at the flourishing youth, future. As we sing that our democracy is
be seated). a new generation of the “born-frees”, maturing, the “born-frees” will, as from this
Namibians who were born into a society year for the first time be able to exercise
Today, we celebrate the 18th Anniversary their democratic right of participating in
of the attainment of our nationhood.
As we gather here today, we recall the
Our hopes for a elections at different levels.

heartening events of that historic day, better future are The peace and political stability that our
when we hoisted our flag of freedom country has enjoyed over the years is one
and sovereignty for the first time. We reinforced when of the major achievements of our country
recall how we celebrated the lowering of and fitting tribute to the fallen heroes and
the apartheid flag of oppression, in the we look at the heroines of our revolution whose blood
knowledge that it would never again fly waters our freedom.
as a symbol of authority over our country.
flourishing youth,
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The events of that historic day are still
vivid in our memories.
a new generation In this climate of stability and peace, we
have been able to implement policies and
of the “born-frees”, programmes aimed at improving the living
We can look back with pride at the many conditions of our people. In the face
successes that were achieved after Namibians who of numerous challenges and backlogs,
independence in many areas of social and progress has been made in many areas
economic development. We are proud, were born into a of social and economic development to
and rightly so, of the peace and stability expand service delivery and access to
that our country has enjoyed since that
society free from public amenities.
joyful day of 21 March 1990.
war, victimisation,
Freedom and independence has in many Access to education has been expanded
ways unleashed the potential of our intimidation, racial in all parts of the country. Literacy and
people who have taken advantage of their numeracy levels have increased. More
liberty to make tangible contributions to discrimination and Namibians have access to health care as
the development of our country. Many of the number of clinics, hospitals and health
those who were denied opportunities by oppression. centres have grown. Housing projects

have been implemented in our urban
centres as well as rural settlements. The
national electricity grid has been extended
to cater for the growth of our towns and
cities. Rural electrification has changed
the face of many rural communities across
Namibia.
Moreover, physical and communication
infrastructures have reached even the
remote parts of the country. New roads
have been built to facilitate economic
activities and trade as well as to ensure
safer movement of people and goods.
Our railway network has been expanded
by more than 300 kilometers. The
rehabilitation of roads and railways has
enjoyed ongoing attention of our SWAPO
PARTY Government.
Telephone connectivity has grown with both
fixed lines and cellular communications.
Increasing numbers of Namibians are
joining the digital age through the use of
the internet and related technologies. I
can, therefore, proudly say that, despite
the challenges, Namibians have many
reasons to be proud on this occasion of
the 18th Anniversary of our country’s
freedom and independence.
This year, our Independence Anniversary
celebration is coinciding with the
inauguration of the new State House,
a symbol of our nationhood and
sovereignty.
I wish, at this juncture, to thank His
Excellency Comrade Sam Nujoma, Father
of the Namibian Nation, for his vision and
conceptualisation of this project. This is
one of the projects that were initiated
during your tenure of office as President
of the Republic of Namibia.
Your devotion to nation building and
infrastructure development is admired
by all patriotic Namibians. It serves as
an inspiration to all peace-loving and
patriotic citizens of our Republic. I want
to assure you that the present leadership
of our SWAPO PARTY Government
will continue to build on the strong
Government Information Bulletin Special Edition
foundation that has already been laid
under your leadership.
We will work tirelessly for the economic and
social well-being of all Namibians. To many
Namibians, you will go down in the history
of our country as one of the great sons
of Namibia who contributed immensely to
the liberation of our Motherland. For this,
we say, once again, thank you very much
for what you have done for the Namibian
people. May God continue to bless you.
Few years ago, a decision was taken to
construct a new seat for the Namibian
Presidency. The construction site was
handed over to the Mansudae Overseas
Project Group from the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea in 2002. This
marked the beginning of the construction
of the complex. During the construction
period, about forty (40) local companies
were engaged as sub-constructors.
The sub-contractors were assigned work
such as electrical installations and air-
conditioning among others. Plant and
equipment were also hired from local
suppliers and hundreds of jobs were
created. Thus, local companies and
workers have benefited greatly, not only
in terms of financial earnings, but also
A scene at the inauguration of the New State House on
21 March 2008
with regard to valuable experiences
and skills that Namibian workers gained
during the construction of a project of this
magnitude.
I would like to take this opportunity to
commend all the people who have been
involved in the completion of this project
for their hard-work, dedication, sharp
skills and professionalism.
Your hard work has gone a long way in
enhancing our sovereignty and nationhood.
I know that a conscious decision was made
that as far as possible, local construction
materials and decorations should be used
to give the building a truly Namibian
character. As a result, local materials such
as wood, granite and steel have been used
extensively.
Our guests will, therefore, be pleased to
see how these local materials have been
blended together to create an aesthetically
pleasing atmosphere, incorporating many
representations of our country’s wide
natural and cultural diversity.
There have been some concerns raised
about the timing or even the need for this
project. In this regard, I wish to say that
this is a national asset which belong to no
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Continues on page 6
 State House

Above left a view of the A fountain w

Cabinet Chambers with a national sym
painting of the Namibian
flag on the wall.
On the right the impressive
chandelier in the dome of the
Cabinet Chamber. On the left the
President’s chair in the Cabinet
Chamber underneath the
Coat of Arms Touch-sensitive escalators leading to the
Cabinet Chambers

The banquet hall with a massive painting of a Welwitschia Mirabilis. On the opposite
side is a stage from where cultural groups and other artists can entertain guests
An outside view of the g
Left the media briefing premises
room, right the room
where the president
receives credentials,
below right the
conference room for
meetings with foreign
delegations. Below left
Mr. Abisai Shaningwa in
the new resource centre

Above and right-the

water fountain next t
the restaurant comes
life to the tunes of typ
Namibian music

Photos by Joseph Nekaya, Immanuel Thomas and Wilma Deetlefs

e in pictures

with elements from Namibia’s A painting of some of the members of Namibia’s Constituency Assembly,
mbols in front of State House under the chairpersonship of Dr. Hage Geingob can be seen in the
entrance hall to the State House

Oryx at the fountain at the

main entrance to State House

guest house on the State House

A painting of Namibia’s liberation struggle

The statues on
the right adorn
different corners in
State House while
the painting of the
Ruacana Falls greets
one on entering the
VIP section of the
A mural depicting Namibian
building. Below a
women dancing
homestead scene
to
s to
pical
 Government Information Bulletin Special Edition

INAUGRATION OF THE NEW STATE HOUSE Continues from page 3

one else but the people of Namibia. It is
a project that had to be completed as part
of our institution building strategy for our
country.
For those who are not aware, the office
space in the existing State House, from
where Namibian Presidents have operated
since independence, is very inadequate.
As a result, officials are crammed into
small offices, while others are forced to
share these small spaces. Surely, such
a situation is not conducive for effective
execution of important duties that these
officials are charged with.
I wish to stress that as a Government, we
are fully aware of what our priorities are.
It is for this reason that this project was
started many years after Cabinet declared
top four priorities of our Government,
namely, education, health, agriculture and
housing. This is borne out by the forward-
looking policies and budgetary allocations
we have consistently made to these priority
areas in order to improve service delivery,
expand access so that all Namibians can
enjoy the fruits of independence.
a tarred road of more than 300 kilometres. of many people have been destroyed.
This road will enable safer movement Our Government is monitoring the flood
of people and goods in that part of situation closely and continuously. We
our country. It will promote trade and have already started to implement rescue
commerce, thereby enabling our people operations to take the affected people
who engage in income generating projects to safety and to provide them with food,
to reach markets. medicines and water purification tablets.
Director of Ceremonies, The impact of the flood is going to be
devasting for our country, especially in
As we celebrate this joyful occasion of terms of the destruction of infrastructures
our 18th Independence Anniversary, our such as houses, schools, clinics, businesses
thoughts are with the thousands of our and roads. A few weeks ago, I declared
the flood situation in our country a national
disaster. We are going to work tirelessly
There have been to ameliorate the impact of the floods.
some concerns raised It is important that we work with resolve
about the timing or and dedication so that our people can
rebuild their lives after the floods. At
even the need for this juncture, I would like to express
sincere thanks to the Namibian business
this project. In this community, NGOs, individual citizen and
our development cooperation partners for
regard, I wish to say the financial and material assistance that
they have rendered to this flood victims.
that this is a national
asset which belong to Director of Ceremonies,

The completion of this project adds to the
list of other capital projects that have been
successfully implemented by our SWAPO
PARTY Government.
no one else but the Namibia is honoured to receive and
host His Excellency Comrade Kim Yong
people of Namibia. It Nam, President of the Presidium of
the Supreme People’s Assembly of the
is a project that had Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,

6
These include the construction of new
roads in different parts of our country, the
rehabilitation of roads and railway lines, the
completion of Phase One of the Northern
Railway Extension Project, the building of
Regional and Constituency Offices across
Namibia, the expansion of water pipelines,
the building of new schools and clinics and
many other projects. The list is endless.
We will continue to implement projects and
programmes to facilitate economic growth
and improve the living conditions of our
people. This year, the construction of the
Rundu-Elundu Road, via Nkurenkuru will
start. This will lead to the construction of
to be completed as
part of our institution
building strategy for
our country.
compatriots who have been displaced by
the floods in the north and north east of
our country. The floods have devasted
many communities and destroyed valuable
properties and assets.
The livelihoods and sources of income
during this auspicious occasion of our
18th Independence Anniversary and the
Inauguration of the New State House.
Your presence here, Your Excellency,
is a re-affirmation of the strong bonds
of friendship and co-operation that so
happily exist between our two countries
and peoples. These bonds have stood
the test of time as they date back to the
years of Namibia’s struggle for national
liberation and independence under the
leadership of SWAPO.
Your country provided the Namibian people
with valuable political and material support

Traditional dancers performing at the inauguration of the New State House
that enabled us to wage a successful
struggle and to dislodge the apartheid
colonial machinery from our country.
Co-operation between our two countries
has been growing over the years and one
aspect of this has been the participation
of Korean citizens in the construction of
this building.
I feel it is fitting and we are honoured
indeed that you could join us on this
occasion.
I am happy and proud that, this new
State House, the people’s house, has
been completed. It will provide the staff
members of the Office of the President
with improved working facilities. This
will enable the Office of the President
to carry out its work and its mandate
more effectively in line with our national
development plans and Vision 2030.
The new facilities will indeed provide an
appropriate environment as the Office
strives for excellence in service delivery and
effectiveness. This inauguration paves the
way for the relocation of staff members to
Government Information Bulletin Special Edition
the new building in the coming weeks and
months. I wish to take this opportunity
to commend all the people who were
involved in this project for a job well-done.
The High Level Technical Committee,
architects, the engineers, the artisans,
the contractors, the sub-contractors and
others who have worked here for the past
few years. We thank you wholeheartedly
for your toil and your sweat.
You have built the people’s house that
stands as a symbol of the tenacity of the
people of Namibia.
Civil servants who will work within these
walls should, at all times, serve the interest
of the Namibian people. They should
pursue national development agenda in all
their official actions. This State House was
built to facilitate and enable the Office of
the President to accomplish its mandate.
The people of Namibia expect the Office
of the President, the highest office in
the land, to lead by example, to be the
epitome of efficiency and effectiveness
in-service delivery. I trust that with this
new facility, the Office of the President
will live up to that noble expectation. I
call upon all Namibian citizens to continue
to maintain and promote peace, security
and stability. We should cherish and
continue to promote the policy of National
Reconciliation.
We should continue to promote national
unity and shun the vices of tribalism,
regionalism, ethnicity, racial discrimination,
sexism and corruption. We should
continue to pay tribute to our fallen heroes
and heroines whose blood waters our
freedom. Let us keep Namibia a winning 7
nation among the community of nations.
On this occasion of our 18th Independence
Anniversary and in the presence of all those
who have come to witness this historic
occasion, it is my distinct honour and
privilege to declare, the peoples’ house,
the new State House of the Republic of
Namibia, officially open, and to wish all
our citizens a Happy 18th Independence
Anniversary.
Long Live the Republic of Namibia!
I Thank You
 Government Information Bulletin Special Edition
State House: General Information
The State House administrative block, which
was inaugurated at the 18th anniversary of
Namibia’s independence on 21 March 2008,
is a picture of splendor and good taste
and all Namibians should be proud of this
symbol that is to become one of the national
heritage sites of independent Namibia.
The State House administration block covers
a massive 18 000 square metres of built-up
area and with its solid construction, the new
State House in Auasblick, Windhoek can
easily outlive the next few generations if
properly maintained in years to come.
Built and furnished at a cost of just under
N$400 million, the marble-clad pillars,
granite and wooden floors, touch-sensitive
escalators, limestone tiles and a water
fountain that performs to the tune of
Namibian music, is awe-inspiring.
No wonder that project manager Masoud
Fani proudly says that the new State House
is unique in Africa, especially with reference
to its size, the quality of the work, furnishings
and wealth of artwork that represents the
different cultures, animal life and paintings
of typical Namibian scenes and natural
wonders known to draw tourists to the Land
of the Brave.
According to Mr. Fani, the many negative
rumours that were going around about the
new State House don’t hold water. Namibia
never had a State House. Now there is
one that is ready to take its place among
the national heritage sites in the country.
The construction of the new State House
was not a waste of taxpayers’ money, he
insisted. Construction costs are continuously
escalating and if the government had
postponed the construction of a state house
8 indefinitely, the cost would have gone well
beyond the current amount that was spent.
The foundation of the new State House was
laid in September 2002 and the building was
completed in five and a half years. Mr. Fani
is convinced that any other contractor would
have taken between seven to nine years to
complete the new State House and the cost
would have been considerably more than
the almost N$400 million spent.
“Built and furnished at a cost of just under N$400 million, the
marble-clad pillars, granite and wooden floors, touch-sensitive
escalators, limestone tiles and a water fountain that performs to
the tune of Namibian music, is awe-inspiring.”
The main contractor on the site was a
foreigner and the Koreans initially worked
for 18 hours per day and seven days per
week to ensure the completion and timely
delivery of the building to the Namibian
Government. Towards the end, the builders
started working six days per week, taking
Sundays off to rest.
Contrary to beliefs that only Koreans worked
on the site, Mr. Fani said that more than
40 local contractors were involved in the
construction of the new State House. They
were involved in providing wood and other
material. However, due to the size of State
House, Namibian contractors were not always
able to deliver the required quantities, which
forced the main contractor to source marble,
limestone, granite and other items from
different countries abroad.
According to Mr. Fani, the contractors
sourced quality material, but always kept
the price factor in mind. For instance, solid
wooden doors with copper handles are used
throughout the administrative block. Each
set of doors weigh 190 kg.
Mr. Fani speaks highly of the officials from
the Department of Works in the Ministry of
Works and Transport with whom he worked
on this project. The team work was excellent
and the two parties supported each other
throughout the construction of State House.
With the new State House magnificently
overlooking the Namibian capital, Windhoek,
the challenges faced during the construction
period have somewhat faded. Yes, agreed
Mr. Fani, they had challenges - with the
construction, with different government
institutions, with the Windhoek Municipality
and with finances. And the exceptionally
good rainy season of 2006 brought its own
problems.
Financial constraints resulted in only one
guest house being built, while the household
quarters also had to be scaled down to ensure
that expenses stay within the budget.
State House boasts with a collection of
paintings done by Namibian artists, as well
as paintings done by Korean artists who had
travelled the country to photograph nature
scene and to then capture these scenes on
canvas. Besides the paintings that depict
the majestic Fish River Canyon, the Ruacana
Falls, the Spitzkoppe, the big five, culture
scenes and the liberation struggle, several
wood carvings, murals and statues depicting
the variety of cultures in Namibia adorn the
walls and corners of the new State House.
From the ceilings of the different halls,
including the Cabinet Chamber hang
chandeliers that were imported from different
countries around the world. In the different
conference rooms, lights that remind one of
Moroccan lights immediately attract attention
when you enter the rooms. The floors are
covered with beautiful loose Persian rugs,
leaving large areas of granite, marble or
wood to compete with the splendor of the
carpets.
Conference rooms – both big and small – are
furnished with heavy wooden tables around
which numerous comfortable leather chairs
are arranged. The rest of the halls and
waiting areas also boast leather furniture –
some in black, others in brown and in the
waiting room adjacent to the conference
room where the Head of State engages
in official talks with his counterparts, the
stunning white leather furniture take your
breath away.
The banquet hall in State House has Namibia’s
national plant, the Welwitschia Mirabilis
painted on a whole wall and opposite the
painted wall is a stage from where cultural
groups, choirs and musicians will entertain
guests during official events.
While President Hifikepunye Pohamba and
his personnel will start working from the new
State House soon after its inauguration on
21 March 2008, the President will have to
wait a few more months before his official
residence will be habitable.
Construction on the 3 500 square metre
residence started on 19 November 2007. The
residence is being built with a grant made
available by the Chinese government. It is
expected that President Pohamba would be
able to move into the State House residence
in the not too distant future.