Ministry of Finance Holds Talks With NamPost Amid Social Grant Payment Challenges
By TUW
The Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises has acknowledged growing public concern over challenges affecting the payment of social grants and has moved to engage NamPost Namibia’s leadership to address the situation.
Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Ipumbu Shiimi, on Tuesday held a meeting with the NamPost Namibia team to gain a clearer understanding of the operational difficulties currently experienced by grant beneficiaries across the country. The engagement focused on persistent problems such as long queues, delays in payments, shortages of cash at some pay points, and the overall slow processing of grants.
According to a statement shared by the ministry on social media, the meeting was convened as part of government’s efforts to ensure that social grant payments are carried out efficiently and with dignity for beneficiaries.
“The engagement forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to better understand the operational challenges surrounding social grant payments and to work with NamPost in finding sustainable solutions,” the ministry stated.
NamPost took over the responsibility of administering social grant payments from Epupa Investment Holdings last year. Since then, the transition has been met with criticism from sections of the public, particularly beneficiaries who argue that the new system has been marked by inefficiencies and poor service delivery.
Concerns have intensified following reports from various regions, including Rundu, where beneficiaries allegedly collapsed while standing in long queues waiting to receive their grants. In one reported incident, an elderly person is said to have died after collapsing at a NamPost pay point while waiting for payment, a development that has sparked outrage and renewed calls for urgent intervention.
Many beneficiaries have expressed frustration, claiming that the previous service provider, Epupa Investment Holdings, offered a more efficient and faster payment process. Some have urged government to review the current system or strengthen NamPost’s capacity to handle the responsibility effectively.
The Ministry of Finance has assured the public that the welfare of grant beneficiaries remains a priority and that engagements with NamPost will continue as authorities work to improve service delivery, reduce waiting times, and prevent further incidents at pay points.
