Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Honourable Inge Zaamwani, has been elected Chairperson of the SASSCAL Council of Ministers. Her appointment was confirmed during the Council’s meeting held in Gaborone, Botswana.
The SASSCAL Council of Ministers is the highest decision-making body of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL). It is made up of ministers from member states, along with Germany as the Principal funding partner. The Council provides political direction and supports decisions aimed at strengthening sustainable development and climate resilience in the region.
Hon. Zaamwani takes over from Botswana’s Minister of Environment and Tourism, Honourable Wynter Mmolotsi, who served as Chairperson from 2023 to 2026.
Focus on Results and Accountability
In her acceptance speech, Hon. Zaamwani said she recognises the responsibility that comes with the role. She stressed that her leadership will focus on ensuring that decisions taken by the Council lead to real, measurable outcomes.
“We will ensure that decisions of the Council are translated into tangible and measurable outcomes,” she said.
She added that Namibia will build on the progress made by the outgoing Chair and continue to strengthen SASSCAL’s impact across the region.
Hon. Zaamwani outlined several priorities for her term, including expanding SASSCAL’s work across southern Africa, strengthening cooperation among member states, and promoting shared ownership of the organisation’s vision. She also committed to increasing SASSCAL’s visibility, credibility, and impact both regionally and internationally.
Call for Strong Commitment from Member States
Hon. Zaamwani further called on member states to ratify the SASSCAL Treaty and honour their financial commitments. She said this is important for strengthening the organisation’s governance, improving its operations, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
She noted that strong financial and legal support from member countries would help SASSCAL remain effective and relevant in addressing climate change challenges in the region.
The new Chairperson also highlighted the importance of maintaining strong relations with Germany, SASSCAL’s main funding partner. She said continued financial support will be critical for research programmes and for implementing SASSCAL Strategy 3.0.
“A strong and predictable partnership will help protect ongoing programmes and support impactful research,” she said.
Namibia Commits to Leadership Role
Hon. Zaamwani reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to leading the Council with dedication and humility. She said the country is ready to work closely with all member states, partners, and stakeholders to advance SASSCAL’s mandate.
“We look forward to delivering lasting benefits for our people and our environment,” she said.
Outgoing Chair Highlights Achievements
Outgoing Chairperson Hon. Wynter Mmolotsi praised SASSCAL’s progress during his term, saying the organisation has delivered strong results across the region.
He highlighted improvements in climate data collection, including the installation of 154 automatic weather stations across member countries. These have helped improve early warning systems and provide better climate information for planning in agriculture, water management, and disaster risk reduction.
Hon. Mmolotsi also pointed to SASSCAL’s support for research and innovation in sustainable land management, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience. He said the organisation has invested in capacity building through training programmes, workshops, and Schools of Excellence.
In Botswana, he noted that SASSCAL has supported 13 research projects worth 34 million pula. He added that three Botswana students have completed doctoral studies under the programme and are now contributing to national water security efforts.
He also announced plans to establish a Centre of Excellence in Botswana, focusing on biodiversity and ecosystem health, with support from both the government and Germany.
Regional Leadership Representation
The SASSCAL Council of Ministers includes representatives from Angola, Botswana, Germany, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.
Members of the Council include:
- Honourable Inge Zaamwani (Namibia) – Chairperson
- Honourable Felix Mutati (Zambia) – Vice-Chairperson
- Honourable Wynter Mmolotsi (Botswana)
- Honourable Albano Vicente Lopes Ferreira (Angola)
- Honourable Dorothee Bär (Germany)
- Honourable Blade Nzimande (South Africa)
The Council continues to play a key role in guiding SASSCAL’s work in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development across member countries and southern Africa.
