President challenges public enterprise CEOs to deliver reforms, create jobs
President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has challenged chief executive officers (CEOs) of Namibia’s public enterprises to move beyond discussions and deliver concrete reforms that will accelerate economic growth, create jobs and improve service delivery.
Speaking at the inaugural Strategic Dialogue of Public Enterprise CEOs at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM) on Thursday, the President said the meeting was convened to align public enterprises with the goals of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and ensure they play a leading role in driving Namibia’s development agenda.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said public enterprises must move from planning to implementation and deliver measurable results that directly benefit the Namibian people.
As part of what she described as “homework”, she instructed every public enterprise to identify one key reform that would unlock its contribution to the economy, outline strategic investment projects ready for implementation within the next 24 months, identify constraints requiring Cabinet or Presidential intervention, and propose regulatory reforms needed to improve performance.
The President also directed public enterprises to demonstrate how their plans will create jobs, expand opportunities for Namibian businesses and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), promote import substitution, increase exports and contribute to balanced regional development.
Reaffirming her commitment to decisive leadership, Nandi-Ndaitwah said she would not hesitate to intervene where unnecessary barriers prevent institutions from delivering for the Namibian people.
“I said I am going to be a disruptive President. If it is for the sake of the Namibian people, I will disrupt,” she said.
Describing public enterprise leaders as “the cream” of Namibia’s public service, the President urged them to uphold the values of pragmatism, integrity, accountability, meritocracy and inclusivity (PIAMI), saying the success of NDP6 will depend on action rather than promises.
“The people have trust and confidence in you. Don’t destroy that trust. Just deliver,” she said.
