Windhoek - Namibian President Sam Nujoma on Thursday appointed a new foreign minister to replace Hidipo Hamutenya, whom he sacked earlier this week and swore in three new cabinet members.
Former labour minister Marco Hausiku took oath as the new foreign minister, former junior women's affairs minister Marlene Mungunda was promoted to labour minister and two MPs - Lempy Lukas and Angelika Muharukua - were appointed junior ministers.
"These new appointments will come into force with immediate effect", Nujoma said at the short oath-taking ceremony.
"I would like to call upon them to continue to serve the people of Namibia with dedication and honesty in their respective portfolios," he said.
Nujoma, who has dominated Namibian politics for nearly five decades and ruled the country since its 1990 independence, on Monday fired his former foreign minister - one of three candidates in the running to succeed him.
The shock move has fuelled speculation over the outcome of a two-day special party congress due to begin on Friday to pick Nujoma's successor.
Nujoma last month announced he would not be seeking a fourth term in office and would hand over the reins when his term ends in March next year in what will be the first transition of power in Namibia since independence.
Nujoma and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe are the only two leaders in sub-Saharan Africa still in power since independence. - Sapa-AFP