Home Affairs ministry to become more efficient

A delegation representing the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry met with  Ambassador Patrick Nandago, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs last week in order to discuss issues of mutual concern.
A business delegation consisting of Dr Leake Hangala, Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, Lucia Shipena, Sebby Kankondi, Tarah Shaanika and other Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) staff  met with Nandago and other representatives of the Ministry. The agenda of the meeting included the establishment of/funding for a private sector desk, computerisation of the Home Affairs Ministry, client service and operating/working hours.
At the meeting, Nandago informed the business chamber that the Ministry’s  proposed restructuring was approved by both Cabinet and the Public Service Commission which allowed the Ministry to strengthen its management and increase its staff complement to boost its capacity.
He further informed the NCCI delegation that most of the Ministry’s systems were being automated to make service delivery more efficient. Of particular interest to the chamber was the automation of the work visa and permits application systems which will enable the Ministry to process these applications faster and eliminate the risk of documents getting lost.
Nandago emphasised that his Ministry was working very hard to eliminate inefficiencies in the system and serve the business community and the Namibian public better. He noted that the Ministry was aware of the challenges businesses faced with regard to work visas and permits but the administrative reforms which the Ministry was putting in place were aimed at responding to those challenges.
He informed the chamber that the Ministry will provide training to its staff once the restructuring process has been completed to ensure that all staff members will work towards improvement in service provision.
Speaking on behalf of the business delegation, NCCI director Dr Leake Hangala, welcomed the bold initiatives which the Ministry of Home Affairs has undertaken to revamp its structures and upgrade its systems. He expressed the chamber’s satisfaction at the progress which the Ministry has made and offered the private sector’s full support to the Ministry in having its ongoing administrative reforms completed successfully.