Patience Makwele
Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) chief executive officer Fidelis Mwazi has called for a major overhaul of the country’s fragmented crop-sector policy and regulatory framework, arguing that consolidating functions under a single institutional authority could unlock investment, strengthen agricultural value chains and accelerate food security.
Mwazi made the proposal during the Public Enterprises Chief Executive Officers Forum breakfast dialogue with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Windhoek on Thursday.
He identified institutional fragmentation as a key barrier to agricultural development and proposed that government consider consolidating crop-related policies and legislation under a harmonised framework.
“The single most transformative reform that is required is a comprehensive package of institutional and policy reform to enable the agricultural sector to function properly,” Mwazi said.
He said responsibilities affecting the crop value chain are currently spread across different laws and institutions, citing fertiliser regulation and seed legislation as examples.
Under his proposed model, these functions could be harmonised under one institutional authority, potentially allowing NAB to evolve into a broader crop value-development authority responsible for investment promotion, value-chain development, trade facilitation, market access, innovation and farmer support.
Mwazi argued that such an arrangement could provide a clearer investment environment for the private sector while reducing fragmentation across the agricultural value chain.
He also called for targeted incentives to make agricultural production and agro-processing more competitive, including relief on selected agricultural inputs and measures to reduce electricity costs for farmers and agro-processors.
Lowering production costs, he said, would help attract private investment, increase local production and create jobs across agricultural value chains.
His proposal comes as Namibia seeks to expand domestic agricultural production and reduce reliance on imported food, while strengthening agro-processing and creating opportunities for private investment.
The need for institutional and regulatory reform was also raised by Hangala Group founder Leake Hangala, who addressed the dialogue on public enterprise governance.
Hangala argued that public institutions should be designed to function effectively regardless of the personalities occupying political and executive positions, warning that unclear relationships between government, boards and executives can undermine institutional effectiveness.
He also called for outdated regulations to be modernised to improve decision-making, attract investment and encourage innovation while maintaining accountability.
Meanwhile, Namport chief executive Andrew Kanime said public enterprises should explore private capital rather than rely solely on government funding for major infrastructure projects.
Kanime said Namport was pursuing a landlord-port model that would create an enabling environment for private-sector investment while retaining the state’s strategic role.
At TransNamib, chief executive Desmond van Jaarsveld identified ageing infrastructure and rolling stock as major constraints, saying about 80% of the company’s locomotive fleet is more than 50 years old.
NamWater chief executive Abraham Nehemia similarly highlighted ageing infrastructure, saying the utility needs to replace old systems while expanding water supply to support population and economic growth.
The discussions come as Nandi-Ndaitwah has instructed public enterprises to identify one strategic investment project ready for implementation within the next 24 months, as well as one reform capable of unlocking their respective institutions.
She also challenged them to identify laws, regulations and other constraints requiring Cabinet or presidential intervention and to demonstrate how proposed reforms would translate into jobs and greater participation by Namibian businesses.
