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Celebrating more than 100 days in office

Michelline Nawatises

Pull Quote: “We can eliminate corruption, nepotism and unfairness so that we see each other as brothers and sisters and that we live the true spirit of One Namibia, One Nation.” - Deputy Minister Maureen Hinda- Mbuende

Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, a mother of six, was born in Tses (a village in the ?Karas Region of southern Namibia) and hails from Vaalgras, a small displaced community in the southern part of Namibia. She was appointed as the deputy minister of finance on 21 April 2021. “I am happy and grateful for being granted this opportunity to serve in this ministry and determined to do it to the best of my ability,” she said.

She is a fanatic of accuracy and has zero tolerance for error. “Having experience of internal auditing throughout my career, I am specific on systems and processes that identify and eliminate the potential risks,” she says.

The DM feels that since President Geingob also believes that systems and processes need to be in place, she share the same sentiments as that is her principle and objective.

In her time of serving as deputy minister, her focus areas will vary from internal audit, medical aid and human resources and other resources.

Hinda-Mbuende, who also has experience in education sees the need to raise consciousness about the need for developing a common value system where the nation must have a common understanding of what is right and wrong. She is strongly guided by fairness and objectivity and decided to make it her mission to raise awareness around the Public Service Employee Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) medical aid usage, the consequences of its abuse and the need for an appreciation of the benefit.

“It is a staff benefit meant for members only,” she emphasises.

“You will see me talking now and then about PSEMAS and the appreciation of the Namibian dollar,” she adds. She believes that as a nation we can build a common value system and uphold the Namibia we want to reflect and that we can eliminate corruption, nepotism and unfairness.

“We must see each other as brothers and sisters and that we live the true spirit of One Namibia, One Nation, she says.

Facts about Maureen Hinda-Mbuende

• The name ‘Maureen’ gives her shivers.

• Her second name is Magreth.

• She loves food that is displayed creatively.

• She is a daddy’s girl.

• Hinda-Mbuende is a generous woman.

• She is vocal.

• She is a political activist.

• Her struggle was about righteousness.

• She is a Pan-Africanist.

• She loves making tea for her husband.

• She enjoys swimming and gardening.