Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has officially opened a satellite office in Mariental, marking the first GIPF office in the Hardap Region.
“This GIPF Mariental satellite office will be known as a one-stop GIPF office that strives to ensure excellent quality services to all its resident members through offering guaranteed pension benefits that are paid timely and accurately,” said Nillian Mulemi, the Chairperson of the GIPF Board of Trustees.
Mulemi revealed that the Mariental satellite office is equipped to offer pension inquiries, pension advice, biometric registration and verification, benefit and income statements, as well as the submission of claim forms and supporting documents.
The establishment of the office was driven by GIPF’s newly-launched strategic plan for the period 2023-2026. Mulemi explained that the strategy builds upon the fund’s sound direction over the past five years and focuses on member centricity.
“The GIPF Strategic Plan 2023–2026, which the fund embarked on 01 April 2023, is crafted under the general theme of ‘Deepening the Strategy towards Member Centricity’, which is a deliberately crafted theme that best captures the fund’s intended focus and direction over the next three years,” she added.
Salomon April, the Governor of the Hardap Region, described the opening of the office as a monumental milestone for Mariental, signaling a flicker of hope for the town.
“Mariental has always been seen as a small market town in the heart of southern Namibia, but today this opening has elevated us and put us on the map. This step indeed speaks to the newly launched strategic vision the GIPF embarked on since 01 April 2023, which states that GIPF strives ‘To be a Member Focused and Globally Leading Pension Fund’,” April said.
While acknowledging the positive impact that the new office will have on the region, April also urged the fund to invest more in the region, particularly in renewable energy projects that are suitable for the region’s conditions.
Furthermore, he called on the fund to collaborate with the regional council in addressing youth unemployment by prioritizing local inhabitants for temporary and permanent employment when implementing investment projects.
Despite these suggestions, the governor commended the fund for its support to the region thus far. He revealed that GIPF has invested over N$177 million in the Hardap Region, including the construction of the Rehoboth Shopping Centre, installation of solar panels on top of the Rehoboth Shopping Centre, as well as land servicing and housing developments in Mariental.
“The fund has been instrumental in changing the lives of ordinary Namibians through its Corporate Social Investment focus. As a governor, I am aware of the various mandates of the fund and the investments made nationally. The Hardap Region stands ready to be engaged as a key partner in the fund’s unlisted investment space,” the governor said.
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