"This state of affairs reflects badly on the image of Government in the eyes of the public," said Kaapanda.

'Operation Clean-up' he said, was aimed at restoring the integrity of the environment.

The clean-up campaign was endorsed by Cabinet last month.

The resolution empowers the Ministry of Works to co-ordinate the clean-up operation and to establish auction sites across the country.

Kaapanda said the clean-up was a step towards "eradicating wastage" and "mismanagement of Government resources", which could be more effectively used to uplift the living standards of Namibians.

"The Government has made huge losses hitherto in monetary value by not putting written-off vehicles and other unused items on auction before they depreciate further," said Kaapanda.

Civil servants, Kaapanda said, were supposed to be responsible for putting unused property on auction to enable Government to collect revenue and prevent theft of these items.

The campaign will start in the Khomas Region next month and resume in February next year by moving through the regions until all unnecessary items have been disposed of.

The Regional and Local Authority Councils will be asked to supervise the compilation of inventories of items to be auctioned off.

"To ensure that everything is in order, the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication will scrutinise all inventories of items to be auctioned before it gives its approval for auction to take place.

This illustrates the determination of our Ministry to ensure that the process will not be manipulated to serve the interest of a few," said Kaapanda.

The Minister said he believed that the clean-up campaign would not only change the face of Namibia's landscape in terms of tidiness, but would promote good governance.

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