Africa-Press – Namibia. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Namibians to reject being bullied for their natural resources, saying the country must learn to negotiate from a position of strength and confidence when dealing with international investors.
Speaking at the inaugural Namibia Public-Private Forum (NPPF) in Windhoek on Thursday, themed ‘Public-Private Dialogue to Drive Decent and Sustainable Job Creation: Enhancing Namibia’s Competitiveness’, the President urged for national self-worth, self-reliance and purposeful collaboration between government and the private sector.
In her keynote address, she said Namibia must no longer engage the world with a “poverty mentality,” but rather with confidence and unity of purpose.
“We cannot be beggars in the international community when we have resources. We must take advantage of the situation and even bring them to the point where they can beg us. It’s possible. It depends on how you approach it,” she declared.
The President’s remarks drew a standing ovation from the audience of government leaders, business executives and development partners.
Her speech, filled with both urgency and optimism, was described by many in attendance as one of her strongest calls for Namibians to take charge of their own destiny.
Partnership
The Namibia Public-Private Forum aims to institutionalise dialogue and cooperation between the public and private sectors to drive national development and job creation.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the forum must not be just another talk shop, but a “partnership of purpose”, a bridge between government and businesses, united by the shared goal of building a prosperous Namibia.
She emphasised that the success of this new forum would not be measured by how many workshops are held or how many documents are produced, but by how deeply the results improve the lives of ordinary Namibians.
“Our coming together will not be judged by how many meetings we hold. It will be judged by how our decisions touch the lives of our people,” she said.
Reject
Reiterating her administration’s reformist stance, President Nandi- Ndaitwah said she is determined to lead a government and a nation that rejects “business as usual.”
She called on both the public and private sectors to act with urgency and purpose in tackling the country’s biggest challenges: unemployment, inequality, and poverty.
ThePresident said her government’s bold goal is to create 500 000 jobs within five years, adding that this will only be possible if the private sector plays its full role.
“Job creation should not be solely the responsibility of government. The government’s responsibility is to create an environment in which businesses can grow and hire,” she said.
She encouraged business leaders to make bold and practical proposals during the two-day forum and assured them of the government’s commitment to take their ideas seriously.
“Don’t please me. Make me angry if that is the way to break the ceiling to reach prosperity in our country. I want all of us to open our minds and do what is best for our people,” she pleaded.
Within reach
President Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) provides a clear path to achieving Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into an industrialised and prosperous nation.
She outlined agriculture, sports, youth empowerment, health, education, housing, and creative industries as top national priorities. She also mentions key enablers that support the national priorities: mining, tourism, fisheries, oil and gas, infrastructure, and logistics.
“These are the building blocks that will enable Namibia to stand on the feet of resilience and confidence in its dealings in the international community,” she said.
Drawing from her diplomatic experience, the President urged Namibians to approach international engagements with confidence. “When others come to bargain with us, we must bargain with strength. Don’t be bullied in your own country,” she confidently said.
NIPDB
Echoing the President’s sense of urgency, Nangula Uaandja, CEO of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), said unemployment remains the country’s most painful challenge.
She painted a sobering picture of despair faced by thousands of job seekers across the country.
“About 400 000 Namibians might have cried themselves to bed, wondering where their job will come from. Some have finished travelling this country from pole to pole, applying for positions, getting interviews, and then receiving letters that say, ‘We regret,’ Uaandja said.
Quoting the Namibia Statistics Agency, added that more than 380 000 unemployed Namibians have given up looking for work.
“That is why our strict unemployment rate is about 36%, but when broad unemployment is measured, it is over 50%,” she added. Like the President, Uaandja said she shared the frustration over persistent poverty and inequality in a country blessed with resources and opportunity.
“We are a country endowed with resources and even millionaires, yet so many of our people still live in poverty. That is why we are here today to find the missing link,” Uaandja said.
She added that the Public- Private Forum provides that missing link — a coordinated space where the government, business, labour, and development partners work together on clear solutions.
She explained that the forum’s coordination commit tee, which she chairs, includes representatives from both sectors, labour unions, and development partners. The goal is to make the dialogue annual and results-driven. She urged participants to focus on what unites them, mainly unemployment and poverty, and to work with one heart and one purpose.
“Today in this room, we have some of the brightest minds in Namibia. If we differ on 99 things, let us agree on one unemployment and poverty and face that common enemy together,” she said.
NCCI
Titus Nampala, vice president of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, praised the initiative as a turning point in rebuilding trust between the government and businesses.
“Too many Namibians have lost faith that dialogue can deliver real growth. The fatigue between policy and practice, between planning and progress, is too glaring to ignore. But here we are, in the same room, on the same side of the table, not to restate our differences, but to rediscover our shared responsibility,” Nampala said.
Nampala warned that Namibia stands at a crossroads, facing youth unemployment, idle infrastructure, and sluggish growth. Yet, he said, the nation’s promise remains intact if reforms are deliberate and focused.
Calling for smarter, data-driven policymaking, Nampala said Namibia’s regulators and ministries must break free from silos. “We speak of a modern economy, but we’re still governed by laws from our distant past. Simplifying and harmonising regulation will create more jobs than any subsidy could.,” he added.
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