Africa-Press – Namibia.
The Namibian Police Force topped the public service awards (PSAs) hosted by the Namibian Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam) on Friday.
The first-ever PSAs were hosted to recognise and celebrate public sector institutions that have invested significantly in the capacity building and development of their employees during the 2024/2025 financial year
The force scooped the award for the Overall Best Public Enterprise in the country.
The Namibian Police operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security and was awarded gold for the award under the category of ministries, offices and agencies, topping its counterparts.
Several other institutions, including this publication, the New Era Publication Corporation, were honoured.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform obtained silver, while the urban and rural development ministry took bronze.
Inspector General Joseph Shikongo stated that the win not only demonstrates Nampol’s presence on the ground through arrests but also enhances the capabilities of its staff in various fields.
“We had a number of courses that we were running with Nipam, including leadership, public speaking, custom-centric, and so many others, and I believe that we were able to do a lot in the course of the year. That partnership that we built up as an organisation will continue. It’s not only a question that we are putting money into Nipam, but we are seeing the return, what we are getting from this public institution, in terms of ensuring that people are trained, people are capacitated, and how to deal with our community,” he said.
By recognising institutions that have prioritised staff development, Nipam seeks to highlight the critical link between skilled personnel and efficient, citizen-centred service delivery.
Nipam Executive Director Heroldt Murangi said while the need for public service delivery to the citizens is acute, the consumption of Nipam services aimed at increasing public service delivery is very low.
In the 2024/25 financial year, only 30% of the public sector institutions attended Nipam training.
The institution is working on reviewing the curricula and course content to respond to the needs of the public sector and win public trust in the quality of the programmes it offers.
“The PSAs are conceptualised with a very clear intent to identify, acknowledge and inspire those institutions and individuals who are making a tangible difference, often under immense pressure and limited resources. Through this initiative, as an institute, we want to acknowledge the hard work, creativity and leadership that drives meaningful service delivery. Most importantly, to inspire others to raise their standards and strive for greatness,” he said.
The event attracted wide support from the executive directors (EDs), chief regional officers (CROs) and chief executive officers (CEOs).
Murangi said the event is the beginning of a new tradition.
It will become an annual event on the institution’s calendar and a cornerstone of promoting and sustaining high performance in the public service.
The awards also covered local authorities, regional councils and public enterprise categories.
In the public enterprise category, the Namibia Institute of Pathology obtained gold, followed by the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation and the Road Fund Administration, which were awarded silver and bronze, respectively.
Ohangwena Regional Council bagged gold, while Khomas took silver and Oshana, bronze, in the regional council category.
The local authority’s category saw the Ongwediva Town Council win the gold, followed by the Oshakati and Ondangwa town councils.
The chairperson of Nipam’s governing council and Secretary to Cabinet, Amb. Emilia Mkusa, highlighted that the National Development Plan 6 challenges the nation to raise the bar on governance.
“It demands a public service that is responsive, transparent, and accountable. One that puts people first and relentlessly drives toward impact and value. This is not just about systems and procedures; it is about mindset. It is about a culture of service that is ethical, efficient, and purpose-driven,” she said.
She affirmed the commitment to zero tolerance for complacency and a full embrace of performance excellence while noting that the people the sectors serve are not statistics; they are families, our neighbours, and fellow citizens.
“I pledged our continued support to initiatives that raise performance standards and restore confidence in our public institutions. We will leave no stone unturned in the transformation of the public sector to improve service delivery,” she added.
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