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Namibia: Keetmanshoop Chamber of Commerce Takes On Government
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The Namibian (Windhoek)
28 April 2008
Posted to the web 28 April 2008
Luqman Cloete
Windhoek
The Keetmanshoop Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) says the Namibian Government's "shameful silence" over what is happening in neighbouring Zimbabwe has damaged investor confidence in the country and Africa as a whole.
During the KCCI's annual general meeting at Keetmanshoop on Wednesday, Chairman Willie Kotze lambasted the Government for its silence on what he called Africa's crisis.
Kotze said the failure by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to flex its economic muscle against Robert Mugabe and China's failure to refrain from military involvement in Zimbabwe amounted to "sunset over Africa".
"Zimbabwe's future is made in China and the Namibian Government is tight-lipped like the Zimbabwean Election Commission," Kotze added.
Kotze also lashed out against NamPower for failing to come up with a solution to the looming electricity shortage in Namibia.
This is despite the power utility's huge profits of N$119 million in the past fiscal year, Kotze added.
"There is no sign from NamPower on how to tackle the looming electricity crisis " Kotze said.
"Or is there no electricity crisis? Maybe President Thabo Mbeki can declare it, since he was wrongly quoted that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe," Kotze added.
Kotze also took a swipe at the Keetmanshoop Town Council for not taking disciplinary action in connection with the embezzlement of close to N$2 million at the municipality.
Two workers in the municipal finance department were arrested in connection of the missing money, but up to now the Town Council has not taken any disciplinary action against them.
This is despite Council promises at community meetings to act swiftly against the implicated workers.
Kotze also expressed disquiet over the municipality's NamWater debt of close to N$5 million.
He warned that the KCCI could mobilise businesspeople to boycott monthly water bill payments unless the council got its house in order.
Kotze said the continuous factional infighting in the council was hampering development at the town.
At Wednesday's meeting Kotze was re-elected as chairman and will be deputised by Dr Johnie Jacobs.
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The other new executive members are treasurer Skapie Kruger and additional members Trix Blaauw and Pieter Greef.
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