Africa-Press – Namibia. SMALL importer SME’s, commonly known as “Order with Me” businesses, have imported over 684 million worth of goods, and contributed N$23 million worth of tax to the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) from April to 12 December 2022 alone.
The sector, which has provided much-needed employment to Namibians that have not been absorbed into other private sector businesses, has come down guns blazing on the revenue agency, which they accused of confiscating goods without giving written notice, as well as long delays in the clearance of goods to be received.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement held at the NamPower convention sector, one of the disgruntled SME importers, who simply identified herself as Mariana said” the items have been taken by NamRa, however, how are we going to believe this without any physical indication or written proof that these many things were taken by NamRa”.
The entrepreneurs further complained that there is no regulation on what is at times considered a counterfeit good and what is an acceptable product as one of the SME importers, who referred to herself as Darling, noted that she also lost a consignment of unbranded hair valued at 15 000, and that she has since been riddled with debt as she is unable to pay back all her customers.
Another SME importer, Nestor Shindinge, explained that it used to take one week to have items cleared, which have been imported, but the process now takes up to three weeks.
He further reverberated the above commentary and added that there is written proof needed for items that have been confiscated by the revenue agency as they are at times accused of fraud by clients who believe that they did not order goods, and just ate the money up.
Another SME importer, Elizabeth charged:” When we get our parcels, you can even show your customers because of the way it is torn open. It is not given back to us in a respectful manner, give us our packages respectfully wrapped like the Chinese do”.
The “Order with me” businesses also demanded that NamRa refund their money on confiscated items as they have paid for them in full, including the shipping costs.
Responding to the barrage of complaints, Abner David, Manager of Customs Operations in the central region, clarified that the revenue agency issues notice of detention of goods to clearing agents, and added that if these are not provided to the “Order with me” SME’s, there is a need for investigation.
He thus urged those who have lost their parcels to visit his office to determine whether the confiscated goods were returned to agents, so that they may, if the goods were returned to them, explain where the items are.
The commissioner of the revenue agency, Sam Shivute, also speaking at the event, rubbished claims that the revenue agency burned goods of the local businesses earlier this year, which led to widespread protests.
“There is no way someone in NamRa in their right mind will burn your goods. I will donate my whole years’ salary, that on 10th May 2022, to someone that will proof that NamRa burned those items. Someone created a false narrative and said that NamRa burned downed the goods belonging to small importer SME’s owned by Namibians commonly known as ‘Order with Me’,” Shivute said.
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