Responding to a question from CoD parliamentarian Nora Schimming-Chase in the National Assembly last week, the Minister was quick to say that more than 5 000 Pohamba portraits had been sold and 3 000 more were in stock and could be obtained from her Ministry.

The CoD MP had posed the question because she noted during visits to several ministries that many offices only displayed the photo of former President Sam Nujoma.

Schimming-Chase said this could "send wrong signals to staff and foreign visitors".

Cabinet resolved on August 2 2005 that the official portrait of President Pohamba, as the head of state, should be displayed higher than Nujoma's portrait "and that the portrait of the serving President be on the right-hand side of the portrait of the Founding President".

The Cabinet decision did not spell out whether this meant the right-hand side from the perspective of the viewer.

"Each and every Ministry and Government office has the responsibility to ensure that they acquire enough portraits for all the offices they operate," Minister Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

"Ministers are to provide political leadership on the matter while the permanent secretaries are to see to it that (the) administrative work is done."

Ministries and other Government offices should correct the situation since foreigners and nationals alike should know and respect the President of the Republic of Namibia.

"(They must) ensure that both portraits are displayed in all Government offices and public places as per Cabinet decision," the Minister said.

Local News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  'DRC refugee' arrested at airport
•  Keetmanshoop grapples with debt, at odds with Receiver
•  Namibia plagued by gender-based violence
•  'Struggle Kids' are happy campers
•  Teachers 'plot to kill' principal
•  Zero tolerance for road hogs
•  Nujoma Foundation raises N$300 000 at gala dinner
•  Young man sent to jail for killing older brother
•  Three die in lorry crash
•  Henties Bay 'in a mess'
•  High Court upholds labour-hire ban
•  Oshakati nervously eyes the sky
•  Shamil Dirk's graft case postponed again
•  ACC nabs Otavi Village Council CEO
•  Justice driver accused of looting
•  Job equity has improved
•  Ombudsman complains about Justice Ministry
•  New plan for Cuvelai Basin
•  APP postpones congress
•  Zim to ignore tribunal ruling
•  Immigration locks up SA journalist
•  Youth gets four years for rape
•  Swapo closes ranks