Justicia Shipena
The Public Service Commission (PSC) plans to roll out an automated recruitment and management system to improve hiring processes in the public sector. The system aims to make recruitment more transparent, fair, and efficient.
PSC chairperson Salmaan Jacobs said this forms part of wide-ranging reforms aimed at restoring the commission’s independence and accountability.
He was speaking at the PSC Reform Retreat held in Windhoek on Monday.
Jacobs says the reform drive seeks to reposition the commission as a truly independent oversight body that ensures fairness, efficiency and integrity in the public service.
Jacobs said the PSC’s independence has weakened over time. He pointed out that the commission’s lack of its own secretariat and budget continues to limit its effectiveness.
“The Commission’s structure must be reviewed, and it must be granted financial and administrative autonomy. Without independence, impartiality is only an illusion,” he said.
He said the retreat aimed to lay the groundwork for a modern commission, comparable to other constitutional oversight bodies.
The retreat focused on key priorities such as amending outdated laws, creating an independent secretariat, establishing a separate budget vote, introducing performance-based incentives, and adopting the PSC Strategic Reform Framework for 2025–2030.
“This retreat must mark the beginning of a new era in which the Public Service Commission reclaims its constitutional place as an independent guardian of good governance,” said Jacobs.
The retreat, themed “Towards the Public Service Commission Reform”, brought together current and former commissioners, government officials, and experts to discuss ways to improve transparency and service delivery.
Bank of Namibia (BoN) deputy governor Leonie Dunn called on the public sector to embrace reform and innovation, warning that outdated systems slow down progress.
“We meet at a national crossroads where legacy systems must yield to new capacities, where rising citizen expectations outpace institutional responses,” she said.
Dunn said the public service forms the backbone of the nation.
“Efficiency and productivity in the public service are not technical ideals; they are moral imperatives,” she said.
Dunn said BoN will support the PSC’s renewal efforts.
“It takes courage to question legacy systems and persistence to see reforms through. But the reward is immense in a public sector that is productive, trusted, and truly people-centred.”
