Namibian business community have raised concern on the influx of foreign competitors in the South West African State saying they will take up the issue to the government for redress.
The businessmen are concerned with foreigners dominating business in Namibia and thus met for the second time at Ongwediva on Sunday to discuss the matter before taking up the issue with Government.
They want President Hikefupunye Pohamba’s government to protect them against what they termed, undermining of businesses of indigenous people by foreigners, especially from China, India and Germany.
This, they said, is a result of the policy of free-market system that the Government has introduced since the country’s independence.
However, the community is not completely opposed to their foreign competitors’ investment in the Namibian economy, but only want restrictions on certain business areas where the natives are not performing.
They strongly opposed that foreigners compete with the locals in retailing, even at village levels in the rural areas.
” It is unfair for us to compete with people that are financially backed by bigger companies in their respective countries of origin.
” They should be restricted to manufacturing and wholesale business ventures,” the concerned group charged,” the business community said.
They singled out the Chinese and Indians as the culprits in the opening of small retailing businesses in villages, while Germans are allegedly competing with locals in buying land for commercial purposes.
They claimed that some business personalities of foreign origin have even managed to acquire title deeds to own land at some Namibian business centres such at Oshikango, where portions of land are declared ‘China Town’.
The concerned group has thus decided to approach the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) to take up their concern with the relevant higher authorities as a matter of urgency.
The NCCI, according to the group, is well aware of the issue since 2004.
“We will be forced to take up the issue with the Government or with our country’s President if the NCCI once again fail to respond positively to our concern,” said Vaino Kamati, who chaired last Sunday’s meeting.
Another prominent businessman, Epafras Mukwiilongo said: “It is high time that indigenous business owners stop watching their businesses closing down because of uncontrolled foreign-owned business ventures without taking any action.”
…..Chinese people are vicious competitors. They operate like “ANTS”. If you cant handle the competition you will be crashed. The question is “are consumers complaining or they are enjoying the competition? or is it some greedy rich local man whose suddenly feeling unpopular and very insecure?????
Atleast Namibians have brains,lets learn from them.Zambian empowerment will push the country Zambia to greater heights.We all know the negative impact of foreign investment.Foreign investment must be encouraged while at the same time it must be closely monitored and controlled.Zambia for Zambians
Foreign trade in small retail places like markets should be discouraged and made illegal by Govt.This is one of the few policies that i concur with Mr M Sata.
The Litunga of Barotseland has an unwritten policy not to allow outside investors to trade in Local brews like ‘Sipesu’ which is a livelihood of our grandmothers,who have managed to educate us from these proceeds.
Pipo, I attended a forum in South Africa in May on China. Martin Davies, one of Africa top experts on China said in fact it good we trade with China. China will surpus Japan very soon. Davies said if a country does not have a China Town, nothing is happening in that country, he said it up to us in Africa to maximise our benefits from China and the west who are now afraid of China.
China,Cuba,USA,South Africa….to name but a few,can invest in our economies and vice-versa.We do not need to be colonised (neo-colonialism).What we want are partners in investment and protection of our Tu- Ntemba from the influx of foreign retailers.
Sounds like what ‘Martin Davies’ said to you at that forum is Gospel truth to you?#4
It is true. It is not neo-colonialism. China is giving us with no strings attached. The west has been ripping us for years. Anglo American pulled out of Zambia and the Chinese came in. Do not believe what the western media is saying about China. Its up to us to tell the Chinese what we want, we have the resources, which they need. It must be 50-50 affair.
#6, i am struggling to agree or disagree with you. Anyhow, you have made your point. I was priviledged to deal with China in my various assignments. This is what i dicovered about China. On the surface, China’s aid appears to have no strings attached. But in reality, their aid has strings attached in that they expect a country that they give their aid to play by their ball-game particularly at international fora when they desparately need that vote. A country cannot be China’s ally or friend and be given that aid when you show signs of leaning towards Taiwan or Hong Kong, that time. That aid has some invisible strings attached, Sir/Madam.
CHINA IS A GROWING ECONOMIC HOUSE IN TODAY’S WORLD,THEREFORE ANY SENSIBLE COUNTRY WOULD LIKE TO DO BUSINESS WITH CHINA.IT HAS THE LARGEST RESERVE (OF DOLLARS),LARGEST MARKET,AND FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY.
THE BEST WE CAN DO AS AFRICANS IS TO TELL THE CHINESE WHAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT WE WANT AS A PEOPLE/COUNTRY.
OTHERWISE CRYING FOUL WONT HELP US. LET US WAKE UP AND BE COUNTED.
WE DEFINITELY NEED THE CHINESE THAN WE NEED THE EXPLOITATIVE WEST.
“Globalisation and its discontent” by Josef Stiglitz. When you have time read the book. It will provide u with the relevant knowledge you need in attaining a perspective on the aforementioned issue.
It is true, china comes with no ethical or supriority strings attached like the west has. They always have a supriority complex, were as china has the same recent humble beginings as africa. They know poverty. It is up to us to learn from them.
The only point of friction between the chinese and the Africans is in china workers are/were dispossible. Development and advancment is at all costs. Such kind of 100% labour or nothing attitude in Africa does not work, it brings out a slave driver preception. China has to find the right balance if it to succeed
in pickpocketing our resources.