Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare addressed staff at the Office of the Prime Minister, calling for a complete shift in how public service is delivered in the country.

Dr. Ngurare made it clear that under his leadership, there will be no room for excuses, complacency, or business as usual.

The Prime Minister told staff that the Office of the Prime Minister must set the standard for all other government institutions, and if they fail, they risk losing the trust and confidence of the people, something he says would render the public service ineffective and irrelevant.

Dr. Ngurare stressed the importance of delivering services that meet the real needs of Namibians, whether through digital platforms or in-person engagement.

He said the demand for government services will only grow as the population increases, and the government must be prepared to respond efficiently and deliberately, especially for women, youth, and rural communities.

He expressed frustration with bureaucratic resistance and told staff not to come to his office with theories and legal limitations but with solutions.

"It cannot be correct that when elections are held, we go and campaign, we talk to our people, but when the development budget comes, suddenly things are not benefiting them. So it cannot be correct. And further, and as expected, as Prime Minister, I will appreciate theories, but I don't want to be reached by theories. So if I ask you to come to my office to explain something, please don't recite impossibilities in my presence. If there is a law, read to me how we are going to implement that law to benefit our people."

Dr. Ngurare called out the common pattern of politicians promising change during elections, only for development budgets to bypass the very communities they claimed to represent. That, he said, must end.

On internal operations, the Prime Minister instructed supervisors to ensure that all government employees have performance agreements in place and that their work is reviewed regularly.

He stressed that performance management isn't just paperwork – it's about tracking progress, providing support, and holding people accountable.

"The aspects of the performance management system include reviews of progress reports, providing continuous feedback, and addressing identified shortcomings, both in terms of providing the necessary support to enable staff to perform optimally and holding them accountable where necessary. The efficiency of managing emergency situations during times of disaster lies in the quality of the assistance and, most importantly, the speed at which we assist the victims in these situations. These situations are often unpredictable, but we must find sustainable, resilient, and effective ways of managing situations when appropriate."

He also spoke about the importance of emergency preparedness, saying that the effectiveness of government response during disasters lies not just in the quality of help but in how quickly that help reaches those affected.

Dr Ngurare reminded staff that leadership starts with them.

If they do not set the tone, no one else will. He said it's time for bold, practical action and that as Prime Minister, he will not accept inaction disguised as procedure.

His message was clear: no more business as usual.