By John Muyamba

RUNDU - Several residents of Rundu were interviewed on this year’s Africa Public Service Day (APSD) celebrations held in Rundu on Monday, 23 June. New Era journalist in Rundu, John Muyamba, reports.

Sebastian Kantema the Chief Regional Officer for the Kavango Regional Council:

“The turnout was good. The speech delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Marco Hausiku was to the point, telling us as public servants, not only in the region but in the entire Namibia what to do. Many ministries showed up not only from the Kavango regions but also from out of town.

“The message was good and the lectures really worth it. First  they spoke about what is expected from a democratic state, the services we are supposed to bring to people, like water, housing electricity, roads and clinics.

“Professor Joseph Diescho told us to be proud Namibians and to improve what we have to render more productive services.”

“We learnt many things –  how to appoint staff, how to monitor and supervise staff on probation, how to make sure the performance management system is implemented.”

Ignatius Shixwameni, the APP president:

 “I hope the event continues to be successful, it’s a very important activity. Government should organise more such public lectures not only on Public Service Day; organise such activities to make citizens aware of  the need for citizen participation within their government in making sure that government is performing, that the public service is performing efficiently and delivering. Awareness building is of great importance.”

Peter Kashumali  

“As public servants we must attend to our duties at all times, not close offices during office hours. We do things wrongly and later blame the government. As Professor Diescho said in his lecture – public servants are the people on the ground and not the government. The government just provides you with work for you to serve people.”