Where are President Pohamba photos?

IT is difficult to understand why some Government offices are still not displaying the official portrait of President Hifikepunye Pohamba although he has been in office for 19 months, says Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

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.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.