WINDHOEK – Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF), John Mutorwa, has reprimanded the ministry’s epmployees for dereliction of duties and responsibilities, unproductiveness, absenteeism, sloppy tender contractors’ work, lack of time management and lack of authority by Government officials in senior positions.
A clearly irate Mutorwa last Wednesay officially opened his third term in office introducing the MAWF’s policy statement and guiding motto as “Change with continuity, coordination, consolidation and completion of MAF major plans, programmes and projects.” The minister especially expressed himself strongly government officials who allow contractors and consultants not finishing very important projects on time and according to stipulated requirements because of a lack of authority and sometimes even corruption. “Under the table deeds must be exposed and so must everyone that is not capable of doing his or her job. Everybody has a job title and everybody is accountable to the people of Namibia. Civil servants must execute their civil duties and those that can’t perform their duties, must abandon their titles and leave their offices,” he demanded.
Mutorwa stressed the important role the MAWF has to play in achieving the goals of NDP4 and Vision 2030. “For us to pass the test, the cooperation, acceptance, assistance, loyalty, support and advice of [and] from all will be needed at all times,” he emphasised.
He outlined the MAWF’s programmes and projects for the immediate and long-term future, saying the ministry is instrumental in contributing towards the attainment of food security, economic growth and job creation. Mutorwa warned that 2015wil be a difficult [year on] the agricultural front due to the drought, saying the various directorates within the ministry have a long way to go with some of the projects recently implemented. He urged all directorates, role players and stakeholders to work closely together to achieve the aims of the ministry and ultimately, that of the government.
The minister assured the media that the Early Warning System and Food Information Unit has completed a comprehensive survey of the current drought and the report has been submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister for final scrutiny upon which it will be handed to Cabinet for recommendation. “Soon, the people of Namibia will be informed about Government’s decision on the drought, and measurements that will be put into place to counter the effects of the drought,” he promised.
CAPTION: Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF), John Mutorwa, lashing out at tender contractors who do not perform their duties diligently when he officially assumed his term third in office last Wednesday. Picture: Deon Schlechter