Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Emma Theofelus, has urged the nation to be patient with NamPost as it enhance its operations in distributing social grants.
She emphasised that since managing grant distributions is a new responsibility for the national postal operator, it needs to adapt its processes to meet the increased demand.
NamPost was awarded the tender to distribute social grants nationwide, effective 1 October, taking over from Epupa Investment Technology.
The distribution of the grants has been clouded with complaints of long queues and delayed payments, for which the company has tendered an apology.
The company assured the public that it is working to fix the issues, with plans for a new payment schedule and full activation of its mobile teams.
“We ask the nation to kindly be patient with NamPost and the government as a whole as we disperse the service to them. I am sure you can understand that some constituencies are much more dense than others, like in Khomas, some areas in Kavango East, like Rundu, and many other constituencies, as we know through the census, have many more people of a certain demographic who benefit from social grants,” said the minister while visiting the NamPost Divundu branch on Monday.
Theofelus stated that the social grants being distributed, such as disability, orphan, and vulnerable children’s grants, are part of the government’s commitment and will be provided as planned.
“This is our commitment as a government of the Republic of Namibia. We know we want to fast track the benefits that come with getting these grants; however, administratively, we are still getting our ducks in a row as we transition from the old contractor to the new one, and we ask for the nation’s patience,’’ she said.
Since Monday was a payout day, the minister stopped by to see how the process was going after she inaugurated the first MTC mobile home in Divundu.
“I decided to make a turn at NamPost in Divundu to observe the payout process of the grants through NamPost. As you know, there was a transition in government where all public enterprises that once reported to the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises were then transferred to their line ministries. NamPost is one of those entities that now falls under the MICT. As we are aware, the Public Enterprises Governance Amendment Bill will be passed in parliament, and then NamPost will be fully operational under the ministry of ICT. Until then, the ICT ministry, which I head as minister, will continuously monitor the work of those public enterprises, including NamPost,” she noted.
“So, the transition there might take a bit longer, but from what I have observed here in Divundu and some other places I have visited, I think NamPost is improving in effectively dispersing the service across the nation,” she emphasised.
-jmuyamba@nepc.com.na