Namibia's Public Service Commission warned civil servants this week that selling goods at the workplace without written approval counts as serious misconduct, with penalties ranging up to dismissal from the public service.
PSC chairperson Patrick Nandago announced the enforcement drive as the commission nears the end of a round of regional visits, which close on Friday. He told The Namibian on Tuesday that public servants must serve the public rather than turn government offices into business premises.
What the Public Service Act says about side businesses
The legal basis is the Public Service Act 13 of 1995, which classifies conducting private sales or business during official working hours without written approval as serious misconduct. Once the PSC's regional visits conclude, managers and supervisors at public institutions can apply the Act against offending employees.
The available sanctions are graduated. A worker caught selling on the job could face a formal disciplinary hearing, a formal caution or written reprimand, an administrative fine of up to N$2 000, compulsory transfer, salary reduction, demotion, or dismissal.
The prohibition covers everything from sweets and cakes to hampers and the popular 'order with me' items. Nandago framed the issue as one of duty: staff who sell to the public turn clients into customers and disregard the services they are paid to deliver.
Civil servants are not supposed to be selling their goods at workplaces. Leadership must not allow civil servants to abuse working hours.
The warning comes amid a broader compliance sweep. The PSC has been visiting regional councils and governors' offices to assess human resource management, performance and adherence to public service regulations, with the stated aim of improving service delivery across government structures.
The commission visited the Zambezi region last week, followed by Kavango East on Monday and Tuesday. Kavango West is on the itinerary for Wednesday, with further engagements planned in other regions. Nandago said the findings will be compiled into a report for prime minister Elijah Ngurare.
Transparency and infrastructure concerns surface
The visits have also surfaced concerns about transparency in recruitment processes and deteriorating public infrastructure. Nandago's report to the prime minister is expected to address these alongside the workplace trading issue.
Politicians split on blame and remedies
Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian Elvis Lizazi backed the PSC chairperson, arguing that civil servants who run private business during working hours deprive the government of paid time.
We cannot serve two masters at the same time. You will serve the one well and neglect the other. I agree with the chairperson of the commission. We need value for money in the public service.
Lizazi's proposed remedy is straightforward: civil servants who want to operate businesses should employ salespeople rather than use official working hours to sell their goods.
Parliamentarian Vetaruhe Kandorozu took a harder line on leadership. He described the misconduct as a symptom of deeper failures, arguing that rule-breaking among junior employees indicates weak supervision at the top.
If the governors and regional councils are unable to discipline their subordinates, the system will have those types of indicators.
Kandorozu said the government's performance appraisal management system appears ineffective in some institutions. He called for disciplinary action against employees who neglect official duties to pursue private business, and said hawking should not be allowed at any public institution during or after office hours.
He also urged president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to assess governors' performance, suggesting that frequent travel could undermine their attention to regional responsibilities.
Union: the rules allow side businesses with permission
Public Service Union of Namibia secretary general Ndjizuvee Haakuria offered a more nuanced reading. He said side businesses are not automatically prohibited under public service staff rules, provided employees follow the required procedures.
The procedure involves completing a form seeking permission to engage in activities outside the public service. Haakuria acknowledged that some employees have been conducting business without that permission, sometimes because they were unaware of the requirement.
He also noted that the union has encountered cases where supervisors responded with warnings and reminders to complete the relevant forms rather than immediately imposing severe penalties. That practice suggests the enforcement gap may be as much about awareness as about intent.
A path toward clear rules rather than blanket bans
Industrial psychologist and human resource practitioner Lifalaza Simataa said the commission's concerns are justified. Employees should inform employers about outside business activities and ensure these do not conflict with their contracts, duties or organisational policies.
Side hustles are allowed, but they should not conflict with the rules and regulations or the duties that you have.
Simataa's recommendation points to where reform could land. He said the PSC should promote clear guidelines on how public servants can register businesses, disclose their interests and obtain permission to operate them, preserving accountability while allowing legitimate additional income.
For a workforce supplementing salaries in a tight economy, that balance matters. A Wikipedia overview of side jobs notes that people often take them out of necessity or to turn a hobby into a micro-business, a pattern that likely explains much of the trading the PSC now wants stamped out of government offices.
The test ahead is procedural. If the PSC pairs enforcement of the Public Service Act with a simple, transparent registration pathway, Namibia can protect service delivery without shutting down lawful entrepreneurship among its civil servants.
FAQ
Can Namibian civil servants run a side business legally?
Yes, provided they complete the required permission form for outside activities and the business does not interfere with their official duties, according to the Public Service Union of Namibia.
What penalties apply to selling goods at the workplace?
Under the Public Service Act 13 of 1995, penalties range from a written reprimand and a fine of up to N$2 000 to transfer, demotion, salary reduction or dismissal.
Who decides on disciplinary action?
Managers and supervisors at public institutions can apply the Act once the PSC's regional visits conclude on Friday, following a formal disciplinary process.