Jo-Mare Duddy
1 July 2009
AS Namibia plunges deeper into recession, there is no indication of when Government is going to implement its economic survival strategy, which was developed by the country's top financial minds.
Attempts by The Namibian to establish what the status of the blueprint is, were met by the same answer every time: "It's with the President."
Both Andries Hungamo, Under Secretary of the Department of Economic Policy and Advisory Services in the Office of the President, and Cabinet Secretary Frans Kapofi responded this way.
Trade and Industry Minister Hage Geingob when he told guests at the gala dinner of the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) on Saturday that the "strategy paper" has been submitted to President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
"I can't pre-empt what the President will do," Geingob said.
The report has been with Pohamba for at least a month.
It was compiled after he instructed Geingob as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Trade and Economic Development in February to devise a strategy to ensure that the Namibian economy stays afloat in the worldwide financial storm.
A national consultative meeting followed in the middle of that month, resulting in a flood of proposals from the various economic sectors.
Old Mutual Namibia Group Economist Robin Sherbourne then joined Trade and Industry Deputy Permanent Secretary Nghidinua Daniel for three weeks, assessing the mass of proposals and compiling a paper with recommendations.
This was presented to Cabinet, who added their views before the final strategy landed on the President's desk.
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