Contradictory statements by those in the top echelons have left many Namibians and investors confused around the ownership of the country’s vast resources, making grounds fertile for exploitation and political instability.
This is according to analysts who spoke to Nampa ahead of President Hage Geingob’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), in which he is expected to account to the country through Parliament.
On Wednesday, Geingob will deliver his eighth SONA.
Economist Salomo Hei says there must be synergy between the president and his top brass when it comes to key government policies and assets.
On Monday, Geingob said without nationalising strategic resources through constitutional reforms, Namibians will never fully own their resources.
“Who owns the resources? The Constitution and other licence requirements are clear but there seems to be confusion around this. Investors and Namibians need to know this. We need certainty,” Hei said.
It comes just as the global economy is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, while there is no end in sight to the conflict in Ukraine which has seen fuel prices shoot through the roof, further driving up the cost of living.
“Is there any thought about re-thinking the levy regime in the short-term to protect consumers?” Hei wanted to know.
He added that TransNamib’s N.dollars 2.6 billion loan must be used to place the entity on the right trajectory as far as logistics are concerned.
“We have so many trucks on our road. We need to take that cargo off the road and put it on the rail. There must be dry ports in places like Grootfontein, Okahandja, Tses and others,” Hei submitted.
On the agricultural front, the economist said, Geingob must provide leadership and direction as far as the green schemes are concerned.
Political scientist Ndumba Kamwanyah says Geingob must avoid sloganeering and pinning all hopes on the hyped green hydrogen project.
“The people want solutions now,” he said.
Geingob, the pundits opined, must also take the nation into his confidence on how his administration intends to cushion the public from the high cost of living.
“The cost of living is getting out of hand. One will hope that he will come up with measures to relieve the pain that is out there,” Kamwanyah stated.
He added: “The cost of living is going up and up but the salaries of civil servants have remained stagnant. What is the plan for them?”
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
