STAFF WRITER
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has called on the public servants to use innovation to improve service delivery for the betterment of the Namibian economic performance.
Speaking at the inaugural Public Service innovation summit on Wednesday, Ngurare said an agile civil service is key to achieving the set goals of the National Development Plan 6 and Vision 2030.
The Premier said the Public Sector Innovation Conference signals that Namibia is committed to building a public service that is efficient, digitally enabled, citizen-centred, and performance-driven.
“Achieving these priorities requires more than incremental reform. It requires rapid transformation in Government operations in line with Vision 2030 and NDP6 which prioritises economic diversification, youth employment, digital transformation, effective governance and a reformed public service,” he said..
He added that, “We must recognise a fundamental truth: economic transformation cannot occur without institutional transformation.
Ngurare said a compatible Public Service.
“When entrepreneurs face administrative delays, growth slows. When investors encounter fragmented systems, competitiveness as an investment destination declines.
“When content creators cannot monetise their efforts, they cannot earn an income. When public servants have to do everything manually, it reduces efficiency,” he said.
According to Ngurare, institutional performance systems must reward creativity, collaboration and measurable results.
“Namibia is a youthful nation. Our demographic profile is both a responsibility and an opportunity. Always, on youth empowerment in particular, we must walk the talk. It must be embedded in policy design, service delivery, and entrepreneurship support and skills development. Innovation in the public sector must create enabling environments for young people to thrive ,” he said.
He said Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are central to our innovation agenda.
“A modern economy requires practical skills. A modern public sector requires technical competencies in digital systems, data management, infrastructure maintenance and service optimisation.
“Strengthening TVET pathways ensures that our youth are equipped not only with theoretical knowledge, but with industry-relevant skills that support industrialisation and service transformation. Innovation ecosystems must therefore actively integrate TVET institutions as partners in building Namibia’s productive capacity,” he said.
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