By Emma Kakololo WINDHOEK The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marco Hausiku, yesterday said work performance would from now on determine how far staff would climb the ladder at the ministry. Hausiku said this at a first meeting of the year to review the progress of last year to address the challenges facing Foreign Affairs in the years that lie ahead. The minister said he was keenly aware of officials’ reasonable expectations that they will eventually rise to higher positions in the Foreign Service, which was needed to maintain high morale and enthusiasm amongst staff members. “However, one should not forget, that upward mobility goes together with performance and performance need continuous capacity building, through training and re-training,” he reminded staff members. “I believe that life is about progress, and that progress is brought about by progressive people, visionary people, who value discipline and indeed people who love work,” he stated, adding: “As a matter of fact, there are staff members amongst us, who have proved themselves to that extent.” He urged them to continue playing an active role in addressing the political, economic, social and security concerns in the international arena, and to promote friendly relations and cooperation in order to ensure prosperity and security. “As we continue to pursue our national, regional and international commitments, we must do more this year and perform better, than last year,” he said. This year has started on a high note with Namibia attending the African Union (AU) Summit in Sudan and also hosting the Ministerial Troika of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. Namibia will also attend both the Ordinary SADC and AU Summit later this year and it will also participate in the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, the Langkawi International Dialogue, the United Nation’s General Assembly and the Sino-Africa Summit, among others, he said. “Our effective participation in these important engagements and meetings will depend on proper preparations, hence a call upon all of you to face up to these challenges,” he stressed. Hausiku said that in the country’s capacity of holding the Chairmanship of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Namibia is expected to lead the SADC Electoral Observer Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in April this year. “It is therefore important that the departments concerned pay particular attention to prioritise activities,” he stated.