Mukwiilongo accuses Swapo SG of favouring foreign businesses

By: Ludorf Iyambo

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) leader Epafras Mukwiilongo is engaged in a heated online exchange, accusing SWAPO Secretary-General Sophia Shaningwa of being an enemy of local businesses.

In a WhatsApp group named Okutsa Nodhikwa, Mukwiilongo shared a voice note claiming Shaningwa enables foreign businesses to operate the country, leading to local businesses to collapse due to the influx of foreign-owned enterprises—specifically Chinese, Indian, and Zimbabwean.

“Shaningwa is the biggest enemy of local businesses. She played a major role in bringing Indians and Chinese into the country. She supports them in establishing their businesses anywhere they want, and no one is allowed to disturb them,” claimed Mukwiilongo.

He further said local businesses tend to pay decent salaries compared to foreign-owned ones, but they lack government support due to certain politicians backing foreigners.

“We have businesses in Namibia such as Omahafo Trading and Kambwela Eland that have a record of paying better than foreign businesses. For example, compare a cashier at Kambwela Trading to one at Rani Group—there is a big difference in salaries. Most workers at local businesses even live on the premises and don’t pay rent, water, or electricity,” Mukwiilongo added.

He added that Indian-owned businesses are known for offering low-paying jobs, despite their employees being registered through labour hire companies.

“People are being paid as little as N$1 500, and from that, they must pay for transport, rent, and all their basic needs,” he said.

Shaningwa denied the allegation, saying she is not corrupt and has no authority over the immigration or business licensing of foreign nationals.

“I am not a thief. I do not work for the Ministry of Home Affairs, which gives permission to Indians, Chinese, and Zimbabweans to operate businesses in Namibia. Go ask the ministers who are responsible for those ministries. Leave my name out of it,” she said.

“With due respect to your complaint about road tenders being awarded to Chinese companies—I don’t work for the Ministry of Works and Transport. I have never been a minister of that ministry. And regarding trading matters, I was never Minister of Trade and Industry. Go to those responsible and stop dragging my name into this,” Shaningwa responded.

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The post Mukwiilongo accuses Swapo SG of favouring foreign businesses first appeared on Future Media News.

The post Mukwiilongo accuses Swapo SG of favouring foreign businesses appeared first on Future Media News.