Windhoek
Ministers who fail to meet their performance targets, as contained in their newly-crafted performance agreements, risk being reassigned, while top performers will be rewarded, the presidency said yesterday.
Responding to questions from New Era, presidential press secretary Albertus Aochamub said the performance agreements accord the president an opportunity to review targets and also give the necessary support for improved performance.
“The possible outcomes include rewards for good performance, reassignment due to good or poor performance as measured and further refinement of targets to further drive performance,” he said.
Another purpose of performance agreements is to improve service delivery by maximising the performance potential of individual ministers, to guide, support and assist poor performers to move to greater heights.
All targets are reviewed periodically and all reasons for good or poor performance will be considered objectively, Aochamub explained.
He also said the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has dedicated resources to monitor targets and offer ongoing counsel and support to all those who signed the agreements.
Asked whether the president will go as far as removing ministers who fail to meet set targets, Aochamub said: “It is too early after a few months of performance measurement to judge individual performance.”
“We require the system to settle and all ministers to completely acclimatise before citizens can pass judgment on their performance.
“Please give all involved in driving performance a fair chance to internalise and excel at what has been started in October 2015.”
New Era perused the performance agreements of some ministers last week to see what will be expected of them before their agreements expire in March.
While overseeing the signing ceremony in October, President Hage Geingob reminded ministers that for government to successfully implement its policies and achieve the desired results there should be a high degree of accountability for all political leaders, managers and staff members in the civil service. The agreements will for once provide specific targets against which ministers can be assessed, unlike in the past when the public could not measure the performance of political heads.
The only common target set for all ministers is to ensure that public officers suspected of engaging in corrupt practices must step aside to pave way for an independent investigation.
Health
Arguably one of the toughest ministries to run, health minister Dr Bernhard Haufiku is expected to ensure that Namibia’s health system is patient-centred.
Haufiku is also expected to ensure reduced mortality and morbidity, especially maternal and infant mortality.
The health ministry has over the years experienced medicine shortage and one of the set targets is that adequate pharmaceuticals and medical related supplies are always available.
Land reform
Land remains a burning issue in the country, with many Namibians calling for laws that ban foreigners from acquiring land while others claim that land is not being distributed equitably.
Lands minister Utoni Nujoma will be expected, amongst others, to ensure that all Namibians are given equitable access to land and that land is distributed transparently.
Nujoma is also expected to ensure that a proper investigation is carried out to determine the root causes of land disputes. He must also ensure that land disputes, which often take years to finalise, and arbitration of disputes are dealt with timeously.
With land prices continuing to soar, the lands minister is also expected to supervise the formulation and implementation of policies aimed at discouraging land speculation and racketeering.
Finance
As per his performance contract, finance minister Calle Schlettwein is expected to ensure that the total debt stock of the country does not exceed 32 percent and he is expected to develop and implement citizens’ service charters in all key departments of the finance ministry and outlets that interface with the public.
“Maintain prudent macroeconomic stability and sustained economic growth,” reads a part of his contract.
He is also expected to improve monitoring and manage fiscal financial risks. Schlettwein is also tasked to ensure broad-based economic empowerment of Namibians and local sourcing of goods and services.
Poverty eradication
Chief amongst the poverty ministry’s head Bishop Zephania Kameeta’s targets is the formulation of a national blueprint on poverty eradication and social welfare.
Kameeta is also expected to expand social protection systems.
“Empower the poor so that they can break out of a cycle of poverty to contribute to economic growth,” states Kameeta’s contract.
He is also expected to “start the process of abolishing hunger and malnutrition in the country”.
Mines
Mines and energy minister Obed Kandjoze is expected, as per his contract, to devise ways to increase participation of Namibians in the mining sector.
“Explore ways to improve the generation and distribution of alternative but environmentally friendly energy products,” his contract further states.