Persistent staff shortages at the Rundu government garage have drawn serious concern from the Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, who has called for immediate corrective measures to restore efficiency and accountability at the facility.
During an oversight visit over the weekend, Minister Nekundi noted that several critical positions remain vacant, undermining the garage’s operations and contributing to widespread mismanagement. He emphasized that the absence of adequate personnel has not only delayed service delivery but has also allowed various operational failures to persist unchecked.
Among the key issues uncovered was the alarming backlog of unpaid invoices to local service providers, with some payments outstanding for as long as three years. In many instances, services were rendered without proper procurement procedures, including the issuance of official orders—a clear violation of government protocols.
The minister also highlighted the concerning number of derelict government vehicles abandoned in the garage yard. He reminded staff that, under existing policy, vehicles exceeding 120,000 kilometres or older than five years must be auctioned. However, some units were found to have surpassed 500,000 kilometres and remained in use for over two decades, resulting in excessive maintenance costs.
Minister Nekundi issued firm instructions: all legitimate invoices must be settled within 30 days, outdated vehicles should be disposed of in line with government policy, vacant positions must be urgently filled, and the garage’s overall condition must be improved to reflect professional standards.
He further announced that similar inspections would be conducted at government garages across the country to address inefficiencies and ensure compliance with established operational guidelines.
