Senior Justice employees urged to master the Swapo manifesto

JUSTICE Deputy Minister Uutoni Nujoma has called on senior staff in the ministry to study the Swapo Party manifesto of 2004 along with the National Development Plan and Vision 2030.

Calling the document with the party’s promises to the nation a “national development blueprint”, Nujoma said any policy proposal that runs counter to the three documents cannot be regarded as good. He was addressing the management committee of the Ministry of Justice last week.It was attended by the permanent secretary, deputy permanent secretary and directors of divisions.”I am reliably informed, and I am pleased about it, that the permanent secretary has made available to you copies of the 2004 Swapo election manifesto.That is a good start; please make it a point to study this important document,” he said.He said it would serve no purpose if policies were made but the statutes became archival material, dusted and read only by research professors writing academic papers.Nujoma bemoaned the fact that the civil service was good at formulating policies but slow to implement them.He said a lack of finances was mainly blamed for the poor implementation of policies but staff were not making the most of the meagre resources.He said staff were guilty of absenteeism, laziness, unpunctuality, misapplication and misappropriation of Government property.”We must always remember that we are public servants, not public masters,” he said.Nujoma said many justice staff were hard working and dedicated but there were “a few bad apples”.”We should continue to show them the wrongness of their ways, and endeavour to bring them into the light of acceptable behaviour and work ethics expected of any good public servant,” he said.He said civil servants who commit crimes must be brought to book swiftly and decisively while those who lack skills must be encouraged to study.He was addressing the management committee of the Ministry of Justice last week.It was attended by the permanent secretary, deputy permanent secretary and directors of divisions.”I am reliably informed, and I am pleased about it, that the permanent secretary has made available to you copies of the 2004 Swapo election manifesto.That is a good start; please make it a point to study this important document,” he said.He said it would serve no purpose if policies were made but the statutes became archival material, dusted and read only by research professors writing academic papers.Nujoma bemoaned the fact that the civil service was good at formulating policies but slow to implement them.He said a lack of finances was mainly blamed for the poor implementation of policies but staff were not making the most of the meagre resources.He said staff were guilty of absenteeism, laziness, unpunctuality, misapplication and misappropriation of Government property.”We must always remember that we are public servants, not public masters,” he said.Nujoma said many justice staff were hard working and dedicated but there were “a few bad apples”.”We should continue to show them the wrongness of their ways, and endeavour to bring them into the light of acceptable behaviour and work ethics expected of any good public servant,” he said.He said civil servants who commit crimes must be brought to book swiftly and decisively while those who lack skills must be encouraged to study.