Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has called on senior public service leaders to strengthen strategic governance, embrace digital transformation, and redefine Namibia's position in the fast-evolving global technology space.

He was speaking at the senior government officials' and executive directors' retreat at Swakopmund.

Dr. Ngurare said the gathering is more than a routine meeting but a critical moment for reflection and recommitment to improving service delivery across government.

"The retreat itself presents an important opportunity for us as leaders of the public service to pause, reflect, and renew our collective commitment to a capable, ethical, and results-orientated public service that delivers meaningful outcomes for every Namibian."

He challenged leaders to rethink Namibia's role in the digital era, urging them to develop a clear national position on artificial intelligence, data governance, and technological sovereignty.

"If we speak of national interest and national security, and with this new digitalisation as well as the many things that are out there, we have got to define our digital sovereignty. What is it that I should understand about artificial intelligence? What is it that I should understand about the transformation that my government is doing in so far as the digital space is concerned?"

Dr. Ngurare also raised concern over weaknesses in government digital systems, warning that infrastructure gaps must be addressed if Namibia is to compete in the global digital economy.

"We are going to develop digital application forms, and that also means security must be built into them. I wanted to mention something that I think some of you are already aware of: parts of our technical infrastructure have been compromised, for lack of a better word. In other words, certain individuals or actors have gained unauthorised access to our digital environment. That, in itself, constitutes an infringement on our national security."

The retreat focuses on strengthening execution of national priorities and improving public sector performance.