Time for a competitive economy

Time for a competitive economy
There have been diverse opinions on the New Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework in Namibia (NEEEF) question, with some not supporting the proposed legislation in its entirety. There is no doubt that government will find itself in a dilemma when it comes to the implementation of this economic transformation plan. It is true that Namibia is still not yet an established nation and that much transformation is needed to address the current imbalances in almost all sectors of our economy. We are cognisant of the fact that addressing the issues of the past is an incredibly difficult mission and hence the authorities must tread with caution when implementing certain programmes aimed at changing the status quo for the better. Previously disadvantaged Namibians have made peace with the fact that there were oppressive policies that excluded them from access to capital, infrastructure and to build industries, in comparison to white-owned businesses that greatly benefited. Together, as Namibians, one and all, we have a duty to fix our country and not just act like cry-babies whenever words such as NEEEF and empowerment are mentioned. Inasmuch as we don’t wholly agree with the NEEEF concept and its targeted interventions, it is about time that we swallow our pride and work towards the economic transformation of an all-inclusive democracy. For quite a long time the structure of the economy has remained largely unchanged. We can’t be happy with the high levels of inequality and poverty that our people are wallowing in. There is clearly an urgent need to accelerate the pace of transforming our economy with the main objective of ensuring all our people an equitable share of the country’s wealth. The poor have every reason to feel infuriated when they struggle to get jobs, decent homes and to simply provide for their families. Moreover we must guard against factors such as corruption and maladministration, which undermine economic transformation and deplete our resources. It is crucial to develop a credible and sustainable growth strategy that inspire responsible businesses to make sizable contributions towards the prosperity of all Namibian citizens. Everyone has a role to play in the Namibian house!