There are nearly 1,000 unfilled vacancies at the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Minister Veikko Nekundi voiced his frustration over the lack of action in filling these positions, especially amid Namibia's high unemployment rate.

In his maiden address to his staff after being elevated from deputy to minister, Nekundi called for immediate steps to address administrative inefficiencies and fill these long-standing vacancies.

"As it stands, the Ministry of Works and Transport has a total of 957 vacant positions that are approved, 957 vacancies approved in various fields, yet we are the same people who are on the radio. The unemployment rate is too high, yet we do not want to employ our fellow brothers and sisters. Yet you're the one complaining. The workload is too much, that is administrative. I don't want to use that word. I, therefore, ask the colleagues, the departments concerned, the directorate concerned, and the division concerned, and in particular the HR division, to ensure that all 957 vacancies are advertised within 30 days, all of them at once."

In line with his vision for a more responsive and agile ministry, Nekundi emphasised a rigorous timeline for the filling of vacancies. 

All unfilled positions must be advertised within the next 30 days, providing a transparent and fair opportunity for candidates to apply. 

The minister also stressed the importance of hiring interns, urging his team to make room for as many young people as possible to gain valuable experience.

"We must acknowledge our obligation to provide essential hands-on experience for our youth and be the enabler that fosters their professional growth and at the same time strengthens the workforce pipeline within the Ministry of Works and Transport. Therefore, status progress reports on interns must be provided quarterly to the office of the minister."

In a bid to demonstrate a shift in leadership culture, Nekundi announced that he would implement an open-door policy, encouraging both employees and the public to engage with the ministry's leadership in a more accessible manner.