By: Kandjengo kaMkwaanyoka
Africa-Press – Angola. Namibia and Zambia were offered stakes in the Lobito Refinery by Angola but the Namibian government has not made it public that they are interested or that they will buy a stake.
However, it keeps chasing those going to Ngungula at Oshikango for fuel.
The Ministry of Mines under Tate Alweendo made various visits to Angola but the Namibian public received no response from the Cabinet.
And now under the new leadership, conversations are emerging that the government wants to partner up with Botswana to build a refinery.
Now the public and the market are confused, the Namibian government/Cabinet cannot just make up its mind on anything strategic and implement it.
Entrepreneurs, investors, and the rest of the economic participants rely on direction and the government leaders are supposed to provide that direction.
However, our Cabinet has a tendency of indecisiveness and keeps the public in the dark, creating a cloud of uncertainty.
We have moved from Angola’s proposal without updating the public if we have declined it or not, and we did so (declined).
From nowhere, we want to collaborate with Botswana and build a refinery.
As a researcher and economic analyst, I am more confused about what is going on and it is hard to make any predictions or forecasting on how things will look or might be.
Now imagine those with capital and entrepreneurial moves, they are on standby or perhaps even confused because of the lack of clarity and decision-making ability from those in charge.
We live in a cloud of uncertainty because the Namibian government and its Cabinet refuse to communicate effectively.
I am now concluding that we have people in high structures of governance and economic building who are not adequately informed on why timely information is key.
Or perhaps is deliberate hoarding of information.
Because how in the Namib Desert does one move from the Angola Lobito proposal to the Botswana refinery conversation without updating the Namibian public?
The Namibian Cabinet has disregarded the Namibian public and perhaps has little understanding of what strategic decisions can do in capital deployment.
Everything from the Presidency office or Cabinet is late or not communicated on time, strategic decisions aren’t made, questions are not being answered- it is hard to know where the country is going.
Have we rejected the Angolan proposal on Lobito Refinery and why?
Is it a commercial decision or a political one because we are collaborating with Angola on Bynes Hydro, and perhaps working on the grid and a highway to Angola through Kunene also?
There is no clarity at all.
In Angola, a litre of petrol is going for about $0.327 while the same liter in Namibia at Walvis Bay is around $1.11.
Namibia imports its refined fuel from the Middle East and also from Asia, even though Angola also imports, due to its inadequate refining capacity.
As a result, Angola reached out to Namibia and Zambia for them to collaborate on the Lobito Refinery, which will increase the country’s refining capacity.
Since Angola already has the crude oil to supply the refinery, it makes commercial sense and it could then supply itself, Namibia and Zambia adequately.
Angola is among Africa’s Top 4 largest producers of crude oil and ranked 18th globally – if things haven’t changed.
Namibia and Zambia import fuel from over 7,000km away, a costly activity, which is sensitive to international volatility.
However, it can be solved through collaboration, thus the question lingers, why did Cabinet not say yes to the proposal, and if they said no, what is the alternative?
Is the Botswana collaboration more feasible, if so can the public get clarity to enable us to start planning and placing capital in the right sectors?
Voices are loud in the corridor of the economy to restructure the Namibian economy to play a key role in capital deployment and infrastructure development in SADC.
It requires effective communication within the economy, to unlock local capital and for Namibians to grab the emerging opportunities.
This behavior of playing hide and seek with valuable economic information and government decisions is costing us.
So are we ditching the Angolan proposal and collaborating with Botswana or can we put capital together with Bots and invest in a bigger and better Lobito refinery?
The Cabinet must caucus and deliberate on this to advise the President, value addition that we seek will require a tough and timely decision, moreover collaboration with our neighbours.
The Presidency office must provide clarity on where we are heading, and please this must be done in Namibia, directly and timely to Namibian people.
We cannot hear about our government moves outside- it is disrespectful and prevents local participation.
For policymakers in the rebuilding and restructuring journey, economic information is key, and timely decisions and communication with Namibian entrepreneurs will enhance inclusivity.
I am not choosing between Botswana and Angola but I know Namibia also imports fuel for Botswana through our ports and Angola has plenty of crude oil to refine.
In collaboration, we can achieve more, lower the risk, and pool capital given our fiscal constraints.
We just need decisions to be made- timely and well-informed.
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