国际英语资讯:Proposed economic empowerment law for Namibia needs time: official

WINDHOEK, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Law Reform and Development Commission of Namibia chairperson Yvonne Dausab has cast a shadow of uncertainty on the proposed New Economic Equitable Empowerment Framework.

Dausab's comment came after President Hage Geingob told a meeting in the United States last week that Namibia would still push for the proposed economic reforms meant to empower the previously disadvantaged people by roping them into existing companies.

If enacted, the law will compel all companies to give 25 percent shares to previously disadvantaged blacks as well as reserving 50 percent of managerial position for them.

Although several groups have raised concern with some clauses of the proposed law, the government is adamant that they will make sure they pass it.

Speaking for the first time after consultations, Dausab, who heads the commission whose duty is to draft and research on proposed laws, said the framework might need time.

"There is probably need for more research and benchmarking to ensure we get this economic transformation process right the first time," she said.

Dausab admitted that most people are not happy with the current framing of the law and its possible effect on the economy.

She said making ownership equity and management compulsory in the manner the framework proposes may not be the best vehicle to achieve economic emancipation and empowerment.

According to Dausab, the best way forward is to strike balance between addressing the economic empowerment and the need to keep and attract foreign investors.

"The government is genuinely worried about the state of the economy but also feels anxious about the continued income disparity. That is where we want to take the conversation forward," she said.

Dausab said the consultation process that has been going on since February was informative and the commission was still getting more views from the international and other communities.

"We have received a plethora of suggestions and recommendations on how to make the framework a better law," she further said.

German academic Matthias Herdegen who heads the Konrad Adenauer Foundation has said what the Namibian government wants to do is against international law.

Herdegen said the framework interferes with the ownership of private property and the constitutional provision of the willing-buyer willing-seller policy.

According to Herdegen, the government should drop the mandatory ownership and management clauses and adopt policies of developing the marginalized communities through jobs and human resources.

Economist Suta Kavari, who is also the chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia described the framework as retrogressive.

Kavari charged that the empowerment policy will not have any impact on the status of the previously disadvantaged in the country.

"It will suck the life out of already starving people. If you want real economic empowerment, it should be based on merit and a space for investment and business opportunities," he said.