In its Harambee Prosperity Plan, the Namibian government echoes concerns about its ability to deliver high-quality services as “a prerequisite for rapid growth, job creation and poverty eradication”. The plan calls for stronger performance management, including citizen satisfaction surveys. The first such survey, in 2017, found satisfaction levels averaging 54% across 19 public institutions, well below the 70% target. The government receives a failing grade on the provision of serviced land and housing in urban areas. Citizen assessments are more favourable when it comes to health care, water/sanitation, and electricity. But many Namibians still lack access to basic service infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and challenges such as difficulty obtaining services, long wait times, and unreliable supply are common. These results, while often complimentary of government efforts, suggest that providing basic services to most citizens will require a redoubling of efforts and resources to realize pledges made in national development plans.
