Confusion surrounds the current status of the 11-member task force established to review governance and human resource matters at state-owned enterprises.
A daily publication recently reported that the task force, chaired by Joseph Diescho, was cancelled after prime minister Elijah Ngurare “accepted the committee’s own recommendation that its mandate duplicated work already completed by similar committees established by previous administrations”.
Task force member and former Roads Authority chief executive Conrad Lutombi says the initiative was merely put on hold while the government considers the work it has already done.
Ngurare appointed the task force in July.
Lutombi says members had already started their work before they were informed it had been paused.
“What I know is that they just put it on hold. We were informed at a meeting it was being put on hold while they are considering the recommendations, because some of the work – most of the work – was already done,” he says.
Secretary to the Cabinet Emilia Mkusa has declined to say whether the Cabinet had approved of or discussed the task force.
“I cannot confirm it, I cannot deny it,” she says.
Mkusa has referred all questions to the prime minister.
“It’s best if you speak to the prime minister himself,” she says.
The Office of the Prime Minister did not answer questions sent to it two weeks ago at the time of going to print.
The task force was to serve from 1 July to 30 September and assist the Cabinet Committee on Public Service with reviewing salary structures across public enterprises.
It is chaired by Diescho, with former higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi serving as deputy chairperson.
Other members are Tshapaka Kapolo, Lutombi, Fluksman Samuehl, commissioner Habatte Doeses, Tangeni Amupadhi, Aletha Frederick, Aino Mukwiilongo, Tanja Jacobie and Mathew //Gowaseb.
The Namibian last month reported that the task force was duplicating work.
Six years ago, a high-level panel on the Namibian economy recommended reviewing the pay of state-owned enterprises (SOE) boards and chief executives to improve efficiency and reduce reliance on government funding.
In 2018, former public enterprises minister Leon Jooste said public enterprises were spending N$6.1 billion on salaries while many were failing to meet their performance targets.
Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani has questioned the task force’s establishment.
“It is very shocking that a whole senior office at the level of a prime minister would put up a task force and disband it without giving it clear terms of reference and without consulting. It’s a very embarrassing moment in our governance,” he says.
Political analyst Sakaria Johannes says there is inconsistency in the government addressing governance issues. He says this could create uncertainty and weaken public confidence in reform efforts.
“While the government may have valid administrative reasons for dissolving the task team, the focus should now shift to what replaces it. The public expects a transparent and credible process that ensures SOE executive remuneration is fair, performance-based and aligned with the country’s economic realities,” he says.
