Renthia Kaimbi
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says her administration will not tolerate high markups on essential goods, especially in the health sector.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said she was not opposed to removing middlemen from the Health Ministry’s procurement process.
Last month, the Ministry of Health stopped using middlemen in the procurement of medicines and clinical supplies, choosing instead to buy directly from international manufacturers and wholesalers.
Health Minister Esperance Luvindao said the decision has already saved the government more than N$221 million in the first phase.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the savings will be reinvested into improving the country’s public health system.
“We have cut out the middlemen in the procurement of medical and clinical supplies. We are now buying them directly from the suppliers. Already, we have a saving of N$221 million that is now going to be invested back into the health sector,” she said.
She was speaking during the launch of Swapo’s local and regional elections campaign in Walvis Bay over the weekend.
She added that her administration supports local businesses but rejects profiteering at the expense of the public.
“We had no problem with middlemen. We know they are our citizens. We know they have to make business. But the way they were making it that is what became problematic. You cannot have a Panado, which is supposed to cost the government N$10, and because you are a middle person, you are selling it at N$60. That is daylight robbery of the nation,” she said.
Independent economist Joseph Sheehama supported the president’s stance.
“I must express that I completely agree with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah when she says she is not against middlemen but against high markups on prescriptive pharmaceuticals,” he said.
Sheehama said weak oversight in ministries allows middlemen to exploit loopholes.
He urged the government to improve procurement transparency and support small businesses so they can participate fairly.
He also cautioned that reforms should be managed carefully to prevent company closures and job losses.
