President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she will get rid of underperforming public office-bearers.
She said this during a recent visit to a centre for flood victims at Etunda in the Omusati region.
The president said she would use the powers given to her by the electorate to fire public office-bearers not doing what is expected of them, before Namibians “fire” her.
“I have been given powers by Namibians, and I will use it on your behalf. But those working with me, before Namibians fire me, I will fire you,” she said.
She said Namibians also reserve the right to fire her if she does not do her job.
Nandi-Ndaitwah reiterated that her term would not be “business as usual”.
Tsumeb Affirmative Repositioning activist Johannes ‘Jay-Jay’ John yesterday said the president delivers promising speeches, but they lack implementation.
‘LESS TALK, MORE ACTION’
“What I want to see is less talk and more action. There has been positive rhetoric about good governance, but the implementation is lacking throughout my observation,” he said.
John said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been underperforming.
He also demanded action against other entities.
John said ACC director general Paulus Noa’s contract should not be extended.
The ACC has failed in its mandate to address corruption in the country as some cases have never been addressed, he said.
John claims some of Nandi-Ndaitwah’s Cabinet ministers “are not saints” and have been involved in past corruption.
“This Cabinet is going to be her biggest test to see how she is going to act when they are not performing,” he said.
Meanwhile, political analyst Henning Melber says Nandi-Ndaitwah seems eager to establish her authority by using “no-nonsense” language.
He, however, says harsh words could threaten public servants and political office-bearers who have settled in a comfort zone, reminding them they are paid to deliver.
Melber says the president is setting the bar for herself.
“If her words are not followed by action when non-delivery is a matter of personal failure, it would have a boomerang effect,” he says.
Melber says the president will be held responsible for non-delivery.
She herself can only be punished by not being re-elected after her first term in office, he says.
Social justice activist Shaun Gariseb says it’s good to learn that the president is letting public office-bearers know what’s expected of them.
He says leaders have a tendency to ignore citizens if they complain about service delivery.
“Leaders were quick to take pictures for Instagram when they got appointed, they must now work with and for the people. We will judge our president on the performance of her team,” Gariseb says.
He says accountable leaders clearly communicate their goals to their teams to foster alignment and team focus.
That is what the president is currently doing, Gariseb says.
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