Niël Terblanché
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security dismissed allegations made by political activist Michael Amushelelo, who recently criticized the conduct of a ministry staff member for using a mobile phone while on duty.
In a widely circulated social media post, Amushelelo implied that the employee’s brief use of their phone demonstrated a lack of professionalism.
Etienne Maritz, the ministry’s executive director, in a statement on Wednesday, refuted this portrayal, calling it a misleading and unfair attack on the integrity of its workforce.
Maritz clarified that the use of mobile phones by its staff is often a necessity, especially in modern public service.
“Ministry staff rely on mobile phones to communicate with clients, update individuals on document collections, consult with colleagues for quicker resolution of public inquiries, and receive essential documents from clients in remote areas,” he said.
He added that such use of phones is entirely legitimate and integral to efficient public service delivery.
Maritz also stated that staff members, like all employees, have personal responsibilities and that it is unreasonable to expect them to operate without any personal engagement in an interconnected world where communication tools like mobile phones are vital.
“The ministry categorically rejects what it called an attempt to defame its personnel and undermine the essential services they provide to the Namibian public,” he said.
Calling for public discernment, Maritz urged people not to take unverified claims at face value.
Instead, he encouraged individuals with concerns to reach out directly to the ministry’s public relations section, utilize the online feedback form on its official website, or visit ministry offices across Namibia to share suggestions or voice any issues.
“Opportunistic and unwarranted attacks serve no constructive purpose,” he said while calling on the public to focus on cooperative efforts rather than divisive accusations.
Maritz added that the ministry is committed to transparency and accountability and he said that he would welcome all constructive feedback aimed at improving service delivery by his staff.
