Edmund Khoaseb is a senior public relations officer at the Ministry of Justice and an infant to the public service. His key interest lies in effective public service delivery.
Khoaseb is a communications guru, with 10 years of experience as a communications practitioner. He joined the public service in 2022.
Before that, Khoaseb worked as a police officer in the Windhoek City Police Service, attached to the communication department, where he worked for more than 13 years.
He holds an Honours Degree in Journalism and Media Technology from the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
Khoaseb is currently responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies that are aimed at promoting and protecting the reputation of the ministry – internally and externally.
His roles involve managing media relations, coordinating events and campaigns, as well as developing communication materials, such as press releases, speeches and social media content.
Joining the public service
When asked why he decided to join the public service after spending a decade in the private sector, Khoaseb had this to say: “There are many reasons why someone might choose to pursue a career in the public service. For me, I was motivated by a sense of purpose – a desire to make a positive impact on society”.
By working in a government agency or ministry, Khoaseb believed that he can contribute to the development of policies and programmes that benefit the community.
“I also appreciate the opportunities for growth that the public service can offer. As I gain experience and develop new skills, I hope to take on more challenging roles or move into leadership positions,” he said.
Khoaseb, who is known as a life coach, leader and motivational speaker points out job security is another benefit of working for the government.
“I appreciate the stable employment opportunities that are available – and on the specific role and agency, the public service may provide a good work-life balance with reasonable hours and flexible scheduling options. All of these factors make working in the public service a rewarding and fulfilling career path for me,” Khoaseb said.
Challenges
There is no profession without challenges – and for Khoaseb, balancing competing priorities and managing the stakeholder’s expectations are among the major challenges he encounters so far.
“Managing the expectations of a variety of stakeholders, including the public, media and other government agencies can be challenging when there are differing opinions or perspectives on the ministry’s policies and initiatives,” he said.
Besides that, Khoeseb also pointed out crisis management and keeping up with changing trends and technologies, as well as maintaining objectivity and professionalism as some of the challenges he is faced with.
“It is a challenge to stay up-to-date with new technologies and trends in the field of public relations to ensure my communication strategies are effective. As a public servant, I will need to maintain objectivity and professionalism in my communication and avoid any perception of bias or political influence” he said.
He, however, said there could be many satisfying aspects to the position that includes making a positive impact.
“Through my communication efforts, I help to promote the ministry’s policies and initiatives, which may have a positive impact on the community. Knowing that I am contributing to the greater good can be very satisfying,” he said.
He further said while there may be challenges in the role, such as managing competing priorities or responding to crises, overcoming these challenges can be very satisfying. It can be rewarding to see my efforts result in successful outcomes.
“The most satisfying aspect of the position for me would be knowing that I am contributing to the ministry’s goals and making a positive impact on the community, while also developing my skills and knowledge,” he said.
As a skilful speaker and communicator with excellent writing skills and a tactful stakeholder engager, Khoaseb is optimistic that expertise can be highly beneficial to public service.
“My expertise in communication, stakeholder engagement and writing can help to support the Ministry of Justice in achieving its goals and effectively communicating its policies and initiatives to the public and other stakeholders,” he said.
When asked what he thinks of the misconception that employees in public institutions are unproductive and inefficient, Khoaseb had this to say:
“On this one, let me just say most corporate leaders and achievers have roots in government,” he said.
Khoaseb is planning to serve the public sector for more years and wishes to climb the ladder and serve the nation as an executive director in the government, or as a chief executive officer at a local authority.