Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Unpatriotic workers derail investments – Tweya

Home National Unpatriotic workers derail investments – Tweya

WALVIS BAY – Civil servants who are unpatriotic and derelict in their duties are the worst enemies of development in Namibia as they derail efforts to woo investors through unnecessary bureaucracy that delays investment opportunities.

This sentiment was expressed by the Minister of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development, Tjekero Tweya, who was speaking at the official opening of the 12th edition of the Erongo Trade Expo that started yesterday in Walvis Bay.
Tweya said civil servants who do not carry out their responsibilities as they should are putting development and job creation efforts for Namibians at risk with their unpatriotic acts.

But he said such civil servants cannot entirely be blamed for their behaviour as those in charge of such erring institutions are letting them run them without supervision and on their own. 

“It is painful to see that all government’s efforts to attract investors are derailed.  In reality we need investors to create jobs and assist government in alleviating poverty. We paint a very positive, business-friendly country to the world. However, investors are faced with many challenges.  Some have to wait for [up to] 66 days before they can register a company in Namibia.  They get discouraged and take their investment elsewhere where they can register a business within six days,” a concerned Tweya said.

Tweya called on Namibians to change their attitude and be open and receptive towards development and foreign investors, adding that President Hage Geingob at the recently concluded Geneva Conference on Trade used the opportunity to market and promote Namibia as an investment hub that is ready to welcome investors.

“As government we are clear on what we want, which is to market Namibia and bring investment opportunities for Namibians. However, civil servants and their unpatriotic behaviour are costing us such investment opportunities – they are our worst enemies.  Their attitude must change unless they want to cost us jobs and development,” lamented the minister.
Meanwhile, Tweya revealed he had to intervene last week in the case of heavy machinery meant to be released by customs for the multi-million- dollar Peugeot assembly plant planned for the coast.

The assembly plant is a joint venture between the Namibia Development Corporation and Groupe PSA France and will see Peugeot and Opel vehicles being assembled at Walvis Bay and exported to the rest of the African continent.
The first consignment of the assembly plant arrived last week but was held up by customs as they wanted to impose a levy on the machinery.

Tweya said his deputy had to travel to Walvis Bay and intervene for the equipment to be released by overzealous customs officers. He said the officials, instead of consulting or taking into consideration the bigger benefits for the country, put the project in jeopardy.

Currently, he said, six small and medium enterprises are contracted to assist with the installation of the machines while the plant itself will create 50 to 60 jobs once it is completed due to increased automation in the assembly facilities.
“Imagine, all these jobs could have been lost because of bureaucracy.  This is all-out sabotage,” the minister said. 
He said such behaviour of customs officials is unacceptable.  

“Instead of seeing the bigger picture that the assembly plant will bring in much more revenue and jobs than a levy they wanted to impose.  We really need to think beyond and act in the best interest of the country. What was done could have blocked the project and many others if we carry on this way,” lamented Tweya.