Monitor civil servants doing business - economist

After Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said she would know by the end of June whether civil servants would be allowed to run private businesses, commentators warned that a system is needed to monitor their work performance. This follows a 2012 moratorium on civil servants engaging in private businesses while they are employed by the State, as that was perceived to lead to conflict of interest. The ban ensured that civil servants did not concentrate more on their businesses than their government jobs. “The Prime Minister is working on a system and we have a deadline of end June. If you can allow us (time) until end of June, which will be the only time I will be able to advise you on what the system will look like,” said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. On whether the system would see an end to the ban, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said: “I do not have anything to do with that. I am not dealing with the existing system and I am confining myself to the system I am taking up.” Local economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu said it would be unconstitutional to expect civil servants to make ends meet on their salaries. “How do you expect them to feed their families, pay for their children’s education and survive off their salaries only?” said Kakujaha-Matundu. “Even if you continue to ban them from having businesses; you would have to police them all. That becomes a nightmare.” According to Kakujaha-Matundu the lifting of the ban should be accompanied by performance evaluation. “If the employees with businesses do not meet their targets or under-perform in their government duties you will be able to measure whether they’re simply lazy or are spending more time on their private businesses.” Kakujaha-Matundu said those found guilty of neglecting their jobs for their businesses should be punished by not receiving salary increases. The economist said it would be difficult to prevent businesses owned by government employees to do business with the government. “Insider trading is very tricky, even if they are not running their own businesses; corrupt civil servants are roped in by businesspeople to provide information. “This could also provide information to their own proxies. It is very difficult to detect.” Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) Secretary-General Mike Kavekotora said the lifting of the ban would contradict President Hage Geingob’s stance on transparency. “Not long ago, the same President announced that politicians should not involve themselves in business activities. What is the difference between a minister and a civil servant?” Kavekotora asked. “The very same aspect he is trying to prevent will come back through the back door.” Kavekotora believes that civil servants provide critical services to citizens and having their own businesses would affect their service delivery. “The President must come out clearly and say what the agenda is for lifting the ban. He cannot give contradictory messages to the public.” All People’s Party (APP) leader Ignatius Shixwameni warned that lifting the ban was “bad news”. “The pronouncement by Geingob over the two months in charge is clear that for civil servants to do private dealings is dangerous. “The lifting of the ban is bad and [contrary to] the current government strategy which seeks to prevent civil servants from doing double deals.” He feared this would mean that public servants would now be able to do business with their employer, which is the government, while they have inside information. “You cannot worship two gods. Civil servants must make up their minds whether they want to work for the government or if they are businesspeople.” Political commentator Hoze Riruako said the lifting of the ban would create a loophole for corruption. “You cannot say whether the person who works for the government is the same person bidding and tendering for the government. If you are really serious about fighting corruption, you would not allow a situation where corruption could be perpetuated,” he said. WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA