Naloba accuses govt of neglecting businesses
Amadhila blasts 'laissez-faire approach’ to business
During an explosive interview, the Naloba vice-president took aim at government's lackadaisical approach to supporting businesses and Cabinet members clinging to the reins of power.
The Namibia Local Business Association (Naloba) has accused government of not coming to the party where small- and medium-sized businesses are concerned, saying the lack of support is impacting the private sector’s ability to spur the economy.
The comments were made by the business lobbying group's vice-president Kanu Amadhila during a recent sit-down on The Evening Review.
He blasted government’s ‘laissez-faire approach’ to business, saying it’s the reason businesses are going under.
“Local business people have got no more businesses, especially from the Covid-19 pandemic. A lot of businesses collapsed and they continue to collapse, and we feel a need for intervention and support from government,” Amadhila said.
Despite the existence of support mechanisms from government, they are too few and far in between to save businesses from certain failure, he said.
Feeling the pinch
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are especially feeling the pinch, Amadhila said.
“A lot of enterprises - from small to large - are collapsing because there is no government initiative to revive them. Some say there are revival plans and funds made available by government, but they never reach local businesses. There are question marks regarding who benefitted,” he added.
According to him, the economy would thrive if government played a more active role in creating a conducive business environment.
“Anything comes with the support of government. In any successful economy, it’s only applicable when government is there,” he said.
Business are not growing at the expected pace, Amadhila added.
“A lot of business people are parked because they lack support. They will not go up, they will not go down, because they need support.”
‘Dictators’
The association’s vice-president also took aim at politicians who have been serving in Cabinet since independence, saying their attitude was akin to that of dictators.
“We are happy with the political rotation of our head of state, but there is a chronic disease of parliamentarians who have been serving two, three previous governments.
“Those people are dictators. If the term of the head of state comes to an end, that Cabinet must also come to an end,” he said.
The comments were made by the business lobbying group's vice-president Kanu Amadhila during a recent sit-down on The Evening Review.
He blasted government’s ‘laissez-faire approach’ to business, saying it’s the reason businesses are going under.
“Local business people have got no more businesses, especially from the Covid-19 pandemic. A lot of businesses collapsed and they continue to collapse, and we feel a need for intervention and support from government,” Amadhila said.
Despite the existence of support mechanisms from government, they are too few and far in between to save businesses from certain failure, he said.
Feeling the pinch
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are especially feeling the pinch, Amadhila said.
“A lot of enterprises - from small to large - are collapsing because there is no government initiative to revive them. Some say there are revival plans and funds made available by government, but they never reach local businesses. There are question marks regarding who benefitted,” he added.
According to him, the economy would thrive if government played a more active role in creating a conducive business environment.
“Anything comes with the support of government. In any successful economy, it’s only applicable when government is there,” he said.
Business are not growing at the expected pace, Amadhila added.
“A lot of business people are parked because they lack support. They will not go up, they will not go down, because they need support.”
‘Dictators’
The association’s vice-president also took aim at politicians who have been serving in Cabinet since independence, saying their attitude was akin to that of dictators.
“We are happy with the political rotation of our head of state, but there is a chronic disease of parliamentarians who have been serving two, three previous governments.
“Those people are dictators. If the term of the head of state comes to an end, that Cabinet must also come to an end,” he said.
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