Ministry of Environment and Tourism (Namibia)

Last updated
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT)
Coat of arms of Namibia.svg
Ministry overview
Jurisdiction Flag of Namibia.svg Republic of Namibia
HeadquartersWindhoek
Minister responsible
Website www.met.gov.na

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) is a government ministry of Namibia, with headquarters in Windhoek. [1] It was created at Namibian independence in 1990 as Ministry of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism. [2] The first Namibian environment and tourism minister was Niko Bessinger, [3] the current minister is Pohamba Shifeta. [4]

Contents

Mandate

MEFT official during field inspection with a drone Drones for Monitoring Bush Encroachment.jpg
MEFT official during field inspection with a drone

The ministries self-declared mission is "to promote biodiversity conservation in the Namibian environment through the sustainable utilization of natural resources and tourism development for the maximum social and economic benefit of its citizens." Its mandate is derived from the Constitution of Namibia, specifically Chapter 11 "Principles of State Policy" and Article 95 "Promotion of the Welfare of the People". [5]

Namibia is the first African country that has integrated environmental conservation in the national constitution. [6]

Structure

The ministry has three departments: [7]

It further consists of seven directorates:

Ministers

All environment and tourism ministers in chronological order are: [2]

#PictureName(Birth–Death)PartyTerm startTerm end
Minister of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism
1 Niko Bessinger 1948–2008 SWAPO 19901995
Minister of Environment and Tourism
2 Gert Hanekom 1930–1999SWAPO19951997
3 Philemon Malima 1946–SWAPO19972005
4 Willem Konjore 1945–2021SWAPO20052008
5 Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah(cropped).jpg Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah 1952–SWAPO20082012
6 Uahekua Herunga 1969–SWAPO20122015
7 Pohamba Shifeta (profile).jpg Pohamba Shifeta 1968–SWAPO20152020
Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism
Pohamba Shifeta (profile).jpg Pohamba Shifeta1968–SWAPO2020

See also

References

  1. "Contact Us". Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
  2. 1 2 Sherbourne, Robin. Guide to the Namibian Economy 2013/14. Institute for Public Policy Research. pp. 302, 303. ISBN   978-99945-78-14-6.
  3. Christof Maletzky (26 March 2008): Niko Bessinger passes away The Namibian
  4. "Geingob announces Cabinet". The Namibian . 20 March 2015.
  5. "Ministry of Environment and Tourism Namibia - About Us". www.met.gov.na. Government of Namibia . Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  6. "Namibia: Environmental Law Context Report". africanlii.org. African Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  7. "Ministry of Environment and Tourism Namibia - Tourism, Planning and Administration". www.met.gov.na. Government of Namibia . Retrieved 8 October 2021.