Namibia has assumed the Chairpersonship of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL), with Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani taking the helm from Botswana’s outgoing chair, Environment and Tourism Minister Wynter Mmolotsi.
Zaamwani accepted the two-year appointment on 12 March in Gaborone, describing it as an honour whilst setting out a clear agenda for her tenure. She praised Mmolotsi’s leadership for providing “clear strategic direction to the governing board and management” and laying “a strong foundation upon which we are proud to build going forward.”
Her priorities include advancing SASSCAL’s regional expansion, pushing for treaty ratification among member states, and securing continued German funding. “I will engage with the Federal Republic of Germany to secure its commitments through sustained financial support for ongoing research and the implementation of SASSCAL Strategy 3.0,” pledged Zaamwani.
She was candid about the weight of the role ahead. “Institutional sustainability and credibility are anchored in the collective responsibility of its member states. I will advocate for member states to ratify the SASSCAL Treaty and urge them to honour their financial obligations.Namibia assumes the chairpersonship “with humility and commitment to serve the collective interests of the region.,” she said, adding a direct call to action on treaty ratification,” concluded Zaamwani.
