Nekundi lays down the law on public tenders

Minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi yesterday issued a firm directive to public agencies and contractors operating under his ministry that Namibians must take precedence in all state procurement and infrastructure projects — particularly at strategic entities such as the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport).Speaking during a high-level engagement involving the Namport board and Prime Minister Eliah Ngurare, Nekundi declared that the era of business-as-usual in the awarding of state contracts is over. He criticised the longstanding practice of lucrative government tenders being awarded to non-Namibians, often to the detriment of local companies and communities.“It will not be business as usual,” Nekundi said. “We cannot continue issuing contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, with much of that money leaving the country. Local participation is of paramount importance.”Drawing a parallel with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist economic policies, Nekundi defended his interventionist approach.“We see what Trump is doing — and it resonates here,” he said, referencing Trump’s imposition of tariffs to protect American industries. “I want to assure everyone that, in line with the Constitution, I will not interfere — but I will intervene in the national interest, because I am accountable for it.”Nekundi stressed that public entities, especially Namport, must implement concrete measures to ensure that the benefits of state contracts are retained within Namibia.“If a contract includes subcontracts, at least one-third must be awarded to companies from the Erongo Region,” he said. “One-third of the workforce must also be from Erongo. This is non-negotiable. It is not up for discussion. It is a directive.”Namport board chairperson Nangula Hamunyela affirmed the board’s commitment to national development goals, particularly those outlined in the Swapo election manifesto.“We are fully cognisant of our responsibility to contribute to national development,” she said. “The oil and gas sector is a critical economic enabler, and it is therefore vital that our ports in Walvis Bay and Lüderitz are positioned and equipped to support this sector effectively.”Hamunyela confirmed that Namport’s infrastructure development plans are progressing.“Our plans to develop both ports in support of the oil and gas industry are at an advanced stage,” she said. “We will continue investing in port infrastructure to ensure we provide efficient support across the entire industry spectrum, thereby contributing to Namibia’s economic development and sustainability.”Prime Minister Ngurare, on his first visit to Namport since his recent appointment, reiterated the importance of aligning state enterprises with the national development agenda.“Namibia’s resources must benefit every Namibian,” said Ngurare. “Namport holds a strategic role both nationally and regionally.”Ngurare, who previously served as a trustee of the Namport Social Investment Fund, emphasised the government’s expectation for tangible results from state-owned enterprises.“This is not just a meet-and-greet,” he said. “Entities like Namport must understand that they play a vital role in addressing the bread-and-butter issues facing our nation — and above all, in advancing Namibia’s national interests and security.”He concluded by stating that the implementation of the Swapo manifesto is non-negotiable.“We must ensure its implementation — ironclad,” Ngurare stated.

Nekundi lays down the law on public tenders

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-14

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Nekundi lays down the law on public tenders

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-14

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