Govt garages are scrap yards: Mutorwa

WINDHOEK, 09 Apr – Government garages have become scrap yards instead of serving the purpose of repairing vehicles, Minister of Works and Transport John Mutorwa said on Monday.
Mutorwa told a news conference that he had observed bureaucracy and inefficiencies in applying the procurement law at government garages, resulting in some vehicles being grounded for long stretches of time.
“The economy of a country can only be maintained by reliable transportation – vehicles, ships and trains. But if they are all grounded, what are we doing?” he asked.
Mutorwa said he was also concerned at the exorbitant payments the ministry had to make for poorly constructed public infrastructure including roads, clinics, airports and houses.
“Many valid complaints are received on a daily basis about poor construction of public infrastructure and poor supervision of the construction process of these infrastructures,” he said.
Misuse, wastage and theft of public resources, as well as favouritism, nepotism, corruption and abuse of positions were the other scourges facing the ministry and state owned enterprises, he added.
The allocation of government houses to its employees was not done in a fair manner, while some houses were dilapidated or breeding grounds for criminals, Mutorwa told reporters, calling for stronger accountability.
The news conference was attended by senior officials in the ministry, and related companies and departments.
NAMPA