Premier eager to finalise NEEEF

Prime minister Saara-Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is eager to get the ball rolling as far as the implementation of the National Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework is concerned. This follows comments made at an expo held in Katutura last week in which the premier said it was time to finalise the draft bill. Providing a brief update on the implementation of NEEEF, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila thanked stakeholders for the input they had made. “We are forging ahead with the National Equitable Empowerment Framework. We acknowledge and appreciate the considerable input received during consultations and we are eager to work with all stakeholders to finalise the law,” said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. According to her, NEEEF posed no threat to established businesses but was rather a mechanism through which government sought to redress inequality. “Empowerment of previously disadvantaged should not be perceived as a threat to those who have been advantaged. It should rather be understood in the context of our reality, demanding that for equitable development to take place, all citizens should be given equal opportunity to make a living,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said. She called for greater participation between the private sector and emerging black businesses and said established businesses could provide the stimuli through which emerging black-owned businesses could grow. “The established private sector should cooperate with the emerging black businesses to bring about economic growth, with the private sector as the centrifugal force,” said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. President Hage Geingob during the delivery of his state of the nation address bemoaned the lack of participation regarding the distribution policy. “I have followed public discussions on this matter and have observed that while NEEEF may be imperfect, most commentators are avoiding the inequality question wherein NEEEF is located,” he said. According to Geingob, while various charters had been introduced that seek to address inequality, the charters were not enough. “Despite the self-regulation approach adopted in some key economic sectors, such as the mining, financial services and tourism, we have not seen significant transformation in the last 27 years of Namibia's independence,” he said of self-adopted equality charters. Geingob said economic inclusiveness would bring about harmony. “The majority of Namibians remain structurally excluded from meaningful participation in the economy and as we established earlier, inclusivity ensures harmony and exclusivity brings discord. Without deliberate policies, the economy on its own will not be able to correct for structural imbalances,” concluded Geingob.OGONE TLHAGE

Premier eager to finalise NEEEF

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

Please login to leave a comment

Premier eager to finalise NEEEF

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

Please login to leave a comment

Login