Accountability, responsibility and service to the people needs to be addressed in this great Republic of the braves. There appears to be a lack of urgency when handling matters that require service. We are just not into serving – at least not at the level where tasks are completed at levels that are acceptable.

This week, Minister of Works and Transport Veiko Nekundi carried out a surprise visit at the construction site of the bridge near the Osona Base NDF camp, also known informally as the Osona bridge. The minister was there to check on the progress of the bridge, or in this case – the lack thereof.

The bridge was earlier this year declared unfit to carry the load of heavy traffic that passes through it following some damage on it because of heavy rain. That was in April, some 8 months ago. 

Since then, those daring to use the detour along the path of the bridge have had to drive on a badly maintained dirt road to by-pass the bridge. This has been the case even at the height of the previous raining season. No one bothered to attend to the matter; most definitely not the contractors that were brought in to mend the bridge. They probably had their reasons, but none known to many who frequent the road.

Then, as if in a grand magician’s trick, construction on the road started. In two days, much progress was observed compared to the months of waiting and hoping. It was not started because those responsible had finally seen the light; but more so because that light was the torch of line minister Veiko Nekundi throwing a spotlight on the bridge and demanding answers. 

Suddenly, a project stalled for all these months sprung into life and all indications are that such process could go swiftly. This begs the question; why wait until a minister calls you out to carry out a mandated task? Why would one require a minister to almost literally push you to do what you are contracted to carry out?

Sadly, this situation is not an isolated one. This mode of doing things unfortunately is creeping in at all levels of the Namibian society. And worse of all; there appears to be nothing one can do to change the mindset of those entrusted with service. 

How many times have you stood in a queue at any institution for what seems like hours, before being slammed with a “We are closed” sign once it’s your turn to be served? At times, citizens are made to go an extra mile to get serviced. This would include gathering details and documents, and ‘proof’ that is often the responsibility of the person on the other end of the glass window.

A taxi driver would intentionally offer you bad service, while clerks in vital offices are almost never available to attend to queries. The reason? Because they can. Is that right? Well, it’s your call. 

This is however a dangerous precedence being set. Permitting such deteriorating level of service could easy transform into a form of systemic corruption, where one must pay for an otherwise free service to obtain preferential treatment or to expedite the process in his favour.

Lest those entrusted with service adopt a new mindset – one that is geared towards serving and helping where possible – the country is doomed. Let’s change this mindset; replace the negativity and indifference with real action and will to serve.

Namibia is all we have, let’s make living in this land of the brave a joyful experience.