Martin Endjala
President Hage Geingob told a new business grouping of black entrepreneurs who visited him at the State House yesterday that unity is important among the business fraterning to build a prosperous nation.
The Namibia Local Business Association, Naloba is a breakaway group from the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who claim that NCCI does not fight for their interest.
However, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry denied that the new association is a breakaway group, saying the NCCI has not experienced any loss in membership and therefore it is unclear where the black businesses are departing from. ”NCCI member records reveal that of the 26 businesses who claim to have resigned from the chamber, none are currently members in good standing. Investigations show that membership of two lapsed in 2019 due to failure to pay their annual subscription. A further 23 have not been members since the period between 2009-2018. As for the one remaining firm, there is no record of that enterprise ever applying to be an NCCI member,” Charity Mwiya stated.
She said Naloba is free to pursue its agenda as long as it does not discredit NCCI.
President Geingob also received another black business outfit calling itself Black Business Leadership Network, under the leadership of Irene Simeon-Kurtz
During the meeting at State House with Naloba, President Geingob impressed upon the new association that any organisation should reflect the national character of the country. The visiting group consisted only of black business people mainly from the north central regions.
He welcomed the formation of Naloba, while stressing the importance of dialogue and consultations to find amicable solutions to issues of common interests.
The NALOBA team was led by their president and vice-president Erastus Shapumba and Kanu Amadhila, who explained the association’s mandate, pointing out that it is the voice of the local business fraternity, representing its members’ business interests and to offer them with network platforms.
Amadhila told Windhoek Observer today that the courtesy meeting at State House was purely to introduce themselves as an organization and described the meeting as good and fruitful. “We were well received by the Cabinet at the State House alongside with the president and the meeting was really good.”
He further alluded that the president advised them to stay united and to tackle issues that affect local businesses in the country.
Both new outfits called for the fast tracking of the New Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEEF) that is stuck in the blocks.
The President asked them surprisingly where they were when he was facing opposition during discussions about the introduction of the black business empowerment legislation.
