Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus has called on public enterprises to work towards self-reliance in anticipation of a phased reduction in government subsidies over the next few years.

Theofelus made the remarks on Monday at the ministry's first staff engagement of the year in Windhoek.

She said parastatals must view government criticism as a reflection of their own service delivery.

"As public enterprises, you are the buffer of government through the various ministries, including in this case the Ministry of ICT. You are an extension of the Ministry of ICT. That is why your integrated strategic business plans and your boards are appointed by the line minister and approved by the line minister. And therefore, I would urge all the public enterprises here to start operating as an extension of the government. The same criticism the government receives, see it as the same criticism to you as a service delivery for the Namibian people."

The minister also announced a phased reduction in government subsidies for ICT public enterprises.

"Public entities that receive subsidies from the Ministry of ICT, I wish to inform you that for this coming financial year moving forward, your subsidy will be reduced by 3% next financial year, by another 3% the year after, and another 3% the following year. Because this is a do-or-die situation where you need to rely less on subsidies and manage your public entities with the innovative financial prudence they deserve. We must invest in business processes that allow our public enterprises to be less dependent on public subsidies and more on delivering business processes that generate income for those public enterprises."

She urged the entities to invest in business processes that generate income and ensure financial sustainability.