Ongwediva
Vice-president Nickey Iyambo said the Harambee Prosperity Plan requires civil servants to demand a salary increment in line with the work performed and not demand inflated figures when their work is below par.
“Civil servants should be ready to work hard, deliver results in whichever service area they are, and not just demand salary increments because of inflation, knowing their work has been below par,” said Iyambo.
He made the remarks at the 17th Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair on Saturday.
Iyambo said it appears that there is a need for civil servants to take rededication oaths because the successful implementation of Harambee requires an army of dedicated civil servants.
He also appealed for government office-bearers and agencies to focus on people-centred service delivery in the march towards poverty alleviation and economic emancipation.
Iyambo’s words come at a time when government and the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) are in a deadlock over teachers’ salary increments.
Initially, teachers demanded a 12 percent increase across the board but for the 2016/17 financial year government offered 10 percent increment for grades 15 to 13, five percent for grades 12 to five and four percent for grades four to one A.
It is yet to be established whether the teachers will go on a national strike.
Iyambo also said there is an urgent need to provide coordinated services, training and funding in order to assist small and medium enterprises (SME) to compete in the economic mainstream and subsequently grow their business.
Iyambo said the sector continues to face a myriad of challenges such as limited skills, lack of finances, high rental and complicated compliance rules, which severely inhibit their growth.
The vice-president thus appealed that hindrances impacting the growth of SMEs be done away with.
“Why not? What is stopping us to go all out for them? We all know that they are the greatest employment creators in many countries, including Namibia,” he said in his appeal for SME empowerment.
He also appealed to government financial institutions to take the lead in the economic empowerment of every Namibian.
“What they are doing currently is very good, but too little, slow and late.”
Iyambo further appealed to the private sector benefiting from Namibia’s economic resources, government procurement or captive market to plough back into the community.
“The absence of an economic empowerment law should not deter you to accommodate previously disadvantaged Namibians,” said the vice-president.
This year’s show has attracted 440 exhibitors, of which 22 are national exhibitors compared to 39 last year, and is expected to draw over 100 000 visitors.
On show… Kristina Kasanga is one of the entrepreneurs exhibiting their products at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair.