For years, Namibia’s civil service has carried a reputation of inefficiency and having poor work ethics. In some circles, civil servants have been perceived less as public service professionals and more as glorified salary-collectors.

In an interview with this publication last year, then-  Secretary to Cabinet George Simataa expressed reservations on the possibility of implementing a four-day working week in the Namibian public service. 

“People come to work as they wish. It has not been easy to control people,” he said, citing a culture that lacks accountability and consistency. He added that a sense of entitlement persists among some government employees – one more tied to the calendar of public holidays than to actual key-results performance.

In contrast, seasoned unionist and former educator Mahongora Kavihuha of the Trade Union Congress of Namibia offered a different perspective. He reminded us that work patterns have always evolved.
“It’s not a strange phenomenon,” he said, pointing out that before labour reforms, people once worked up to 20 hours a day until the eight-hour shift became standard. 

Kavihuha advocates a four-day work week, viewing it through the lens of “employee time sovereignty” – the right to have greater control over one’s time, particularly in an era where remote productivity has been proved viable.

Indeed, the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated that output does not depend solely on office attendance. Flexibility, Kavihuha argues, may not only boost productivity but also address broader societal challenges such as substance abuse, family breakdowns, and inadequate maternity leave – all of which can be linked to the pressures of rigid work schedules.

Namibia’s public sector employs more than 100 000 people, with a wage bill of N$35.4 billion. While some critics believe this cost is wastefulness, Simataa is convinced it is a necessary investment that keeps the country running. And he’s not entirely wrong. Where criticism is warranted, so too must recognition be accorded where it’s due.

A wave of change appears to be quietly making its way through the public service under the new administration of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Her “business unusual” approach to governance is not just rhetoric – it is being mirrored in some offices, ministries, and agencies where staff are showing increased commitment to service delivery.

A recent visit to the National Planning Commission offered a glimpse of this new energy. On that day, dozens of scholarship applicants arrived – some even after hours – to submit documents for a Chinese government bursary programme. Contrary to the old stereotype that government offices shut before the official 17h00 closing time, staff at the commission were still working into the evening. Doors remained open past 18h00, and applicants were received without being turned away.

This kind of dedication directly contradicts the popular notion that public servants are disengaged or complacent. In fact, it reflects a growing spirit of responsibility and purpose – something we should nurture and celebrate.
That said, the public also has a role to play. Citizens must develop the habit of doing things on time, rather than scrambling at the last minute and expecting offices to bend over backwards to accommodate their poor planning.

At this publication, we believe in highlighting and uplifting these positive efforts. Every Friday, our ‘Know-Your-Civil-Servant’ feature showcases individuals in public service who go above and beyond their call of duty to deliver service. Similarly, our ‘On-The-Spot’ profiles celebrate both high-profile and everyday Namibians making extraordinary contributions to the service of the country.
Improving service delivery is a shared responsibility. It starts with every official understanding the urgency and impact of their role, and every citizen appreciating the systems that support us all. Kindness, speed and professionalism are not optional – they should be the standard.

Let us strive for a Namibia where long, stagnant queues, unattended counters, and lunch-break service disruptions become a thing of the past. Let us create a culture where reliability, respect and results define our public institutions.
A more professional, efficient, responsive and dedicated civil service is not a mere mirage. With collective effort, it can become the norm. Yes we can!