Chamwe Kaira
Public Enterprises employ 25 000 people, according to statistics released by the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Ipumpu Shiimi this week.
The government is in the process of reforming public enterprises to improve their operations. Namibia currently owns 81 Public Enterprises (PEs) consisting of commercial, non-commercial and extra budgetary funds.
The Total Asset Value of the all Public enterprises stands at N$119 billion and liabilities at N$60 billion, giving a portfolio Net Asset Value of N$50 billion.
Shiimi said it is known the performance of a number of our public enterprises is mediocre; service delivery is ineffective and that affects our national competitiveness negatively whilst being an enormous drain on the Fiscus at a time when the country is experiencing economic difficulties.
Shiimi said Public Enterprises Ownership Purposes policy that is being developed by the ministry will clarify the role of the state and professionalize its role as a shareholder among other reforms.
“The State shall ensure that public enterprises fulfill their mandates and sustainable. For this purpose, Public Enterprises must maintain transparency and openness,” he said.
Under the reforms, the state shall be a professional and responsible owner of PEs that shall at all times act within the confines of the law.
The State shall also exercise its ownership function in the exclusive interest of the general public.
“It’s known the performance of a number of our public enterprises is mediocre; service delivery is ineffective and that affects our national competitiveness negatively whilst being an enormous drain on the Fiscus at a time when the country is experiencing economic difficulties. Consequently, the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises (MPE), in executing its vision to position PEs as key contributors towards sustainable development of Namibia developed the PEOP as part of its transformation agenda,” said Shiimi said.
