SPYL condemns giving tenders to foreigners

THE SWAPO Party Youth League has blasted the government and parastatals for awarding construction and other economic opportunities to foreigners, especially Chinese companies.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the youth league said they have been engaging ministers on a variety of issues facing the public, one of them being the economic situation in the country, and economic opportunities to benefit Namibians.

However, the youth league said these deliberations yielded no results in making opportunities available to Namibians.

Secretary for information at the youth league Gerson Dumeni said this unpatriotic way of operating costs jobs, skills, wealth and investments to Namibians.

“We want to put it on record that we do not support the awarding of construction, health or any tenders or contracts to companies not owned by Namibians as we don’t see any Namibian-owned company getting jobs in foreign countries,” the statement read.

Dumeni further said they would like to remind the ministers and government agencies of Swapo’s manifesto and current agenda of economic emancipation they swore to implement and spearhead.

“SPYL will not lie low and watch our party leaders do the contrary, and in the interest of individual benefit at the expense of Namibians. We will defend the Namibian people’s cause,” he stated.

The youth league said the last straw came when only Chinese companies were shortlisted for the awarding of billion-dollar contracts for infrastructure development of the Hosea Kutako International Airport dual carriageway and the upgrade of the railway project at Walvis Bay.

SPYL directed the Swapo-led government to stop the bidding process and restart it entirely for Namibian companies only.

“The conditions on all these government projects should be relaxed and be tailor-made to suit Namibian companies only,” Dumeni said.

The youth league furthermore asked that with immediate effect, all loan agreements entered into between the government and lenders or any development partners be revised and realigned to favour Namibian companies in terms of actual implementation.

“The SPYL directs Swapo to hold ministers and deployed cadres accountable, going forward, in terms of economic opportunities, and to deliberate methods to empower Namibian businesses and workers,” the statement read.

Dumeni said the youth league propagates for the establishment of a committee to be headed by its secretary of economic affairs to revise, evaluate and scrutinise the party’s economic policies.

SPYL said they will hold a peaceful demonstration on 5 March in solidarity with Namibian entrepreneurs and workers.

“We ask all our rank and file to wear Swapo attire, and join us as we stand firm that our resources should benefit ourselves and not non-Namibians,” he urged.