Stefanus Nashama
The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) Leader, Epafras Mukwiilongo, yesterday said the visa-free entry for Chinese nationals in Namibia for 30 days will affect the Namibian business industry and increase the high unemployment rate among the youth of the country.
Mukwiilongo said he understands that the Chinese are protected by their government in Namibia while the Namibian Government is sleeping on duty to protect its citizens in China.
He stressed that the visa-free entry for Chinese nationals is not in the interest of Namibians, that it is in the interest of the Chinese themselves because Namibian citizens do not have the same privilege in China.
He said the concern of the Namibian people about free-visa entry for Chinses nationals is not only limited to the business and opportunity perspectives, adding that it will give rise to rhino poaching, mistreatment and exploitation of workers.
“Chinese are killing rhinos in Namibia, and they are the reason why poaching has increased in the country. They are mistreating and paying people peanuts, and if you talk about this the government will say you hate them, the Chinese nationals. We cannot look at things like this and keep quiet,” he stated.He believes free-visa entry for Chinese in Namibia will affect the local businesses, especially for the young people who are unemployed and trying hard to work on their own and employ others.
“Chinese companies are all over this country, especially in the construction industry. They took the tenders and employ each other while paying Namibians peanuts. Our local businesses are turned down and will no longer have good opportunities to make business as they are opposed to. This is affecting the poor and unemployed youth, not the elite,” he stressed.
Mukwiilongo claimed the government does not care about its people by putting the interest of the Chinese nationals first while already disadvantaged marginalized communities, and unemployed youth have limited access to the available opportunities.
“The government should prioritize the interest of its people. Namibians are entitled to all privileges of the country. If the government cares for its people, it could have ensured the same privilege for Namibian citizens in China,” he said.
He also claimed that the government is bribed to make everything possible in the interest of Chinese nationals living in the country.
“Namibians are not doing business in China as compared to the number of Chinese doing business all over Namibia. It is difficult for Namibians to get a license to do business in China unlike in Namibia. How many Namibians are exporting business items from China into Namibia to do business,”he questioned.
According to Mukwiilongo, the Namibian government is fighting for things that do not matter instead of looking at the burning issues.
“There are many things happening in this country. The young innocent Michael Amushelelo was arrested and put in jail while fighting for unemployment and the exploitation of workers, but the government is busy with things that do not matter,” he reiterated.
He suggested that the government should provide capital for unemployed youth to start their business if it prioritizes the interest of the people “You cannot care about Chinese when you have your people complaining at home”.
Meanwhile, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) also challenged the free-visa entry for Chinese nationals saying Namibians should also be accorded the same privilege by the Chinese government.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Albert Kawana, on 22 May wrote to the Labour Ministry about the proposed exemption of visa requirements between Namibia and China for holders of diplomatic, service, public affairs, and ordinary passports.
Kawana was then faced with questions by fellow Parliamentarians to clarify the agreement and answer the questions for public interest.
During the Parliament session this week, Kawana said visa requirements will still apply to those who intend to stay longer than 30 days or those who want to study or work in Namibia.
He also explained that the negotiations for a visa exemption agreement with China started in 2019. According to Minister Kawana, the agreement states that Chinese nationals with valid diplomatic, service, public affairs, or ordinary passports are exempted from visa requirement to enter Namibia, for not more than 30 days and the same rule will apply to Namibians who leave for China.
