Martin Endjala
Namibia Local Businesses Association (NALOBA) is deeply concerned by certain Regional Councils that are not adhering to conditions or requirements established by the Office of the Prime Minister to procure vehicles to distribute drought relief for the 2023/24 program.
These concerns were raised by NALOBA vice-president Peter Amadhila yesterday
“On 27 October 2023, the Office of the Prime Minister issued a clear directive, and all Regional Councils countrywide were just supposed to pass on the requirements to the public to submit quotations without any delays.
Instead, Some Regional Councils such as Omusati and Oshikoto altered the requirements and made them more cumbersome and unaffordable for reasons known to themselves,” stressed Amadila.
His stance is that drought is an emergency that requires exemptions of the procurement policies to deliver food to the people urgently, and he believes that the Office of the Prime Minister made the requirements simple.
He argued that the opportunity is supposed to benefit small businesses and individuals within their respective constituencies while denoting that the opportunity did not necessitate an individual to have a registered company and all relevant good standing certificates as altered by the Regional Councils.
Amadhila explains that an individual with a bakkie and a trailer was supposed to benefit from the government opportunity.
In the Office of the Prime Minister’s directive on drought relief, Amadila pointed out that it recommended a truck with three tons and above. In comparison, Regional Councils specified seven tons and above.
He said people are swimming in a pool of hunger while those trusted with responsibilities in government offices do not foresee the urgency of the matter. He lamented that people are going to bed with empty stomachs and the situation is very worrisome.
Hence, he opines that it is high time that those who try to fail the government’s clear objectives are brought to task.
Amadhila adamantly argued that they want to see this process shortened and fast-tracked to distribute drought relief equipment countrywide without any delays.
“It is for this reason that Naloba is urging all Regional Councils to adhere to directives as issued by the Office of the Prime Minister to hire private vehicles for draught relief programs without delay,” he urged.
