The Landless People’s Movement has accused the government of allowing Chinese contractors to dominate Namibia’s construction sector, with billions of dollars in major infrastructure projects allegedly awarded to Chinese companies.

The party’s operative secretary, Dawid Eigub, says about N$6.7 billion in construction projects have allegedly all been dominated by Chinese contractors.

“About 40% of key government projects in the road, rail and water sectors are now controlled by Chinese contractors, while Namibian companies struggle to compete,” Eigub says.

The party cites the Swakopmund-Walvis Bay highway, valued at N$967 million, the Kranzberg-Walvis Bay railway line project at about N$1 billion, and the Windhoek-Hosea Kutako Airport road at N$1 billion.

Other projects cited include the Mariental-Keetmanshoop road at N$530 million, the Rosh Pinah solar plant at N$1.4 billion, the Oshakati water purification plant at N$935 million and the rail materials works project at N$868 million.

He says Namibian contractors are increasingly reduced to subcontracting, sometimes receiving only 25% of the contracts they should be leading.

“Namibian contractors have been pushed out of the construction sector,” he says, arguing that development should be measured not only by completed infrastructure but by how much economic benefit remains with Namibians.

The party warns that the government’s failure to stimulate the private sector is worsening unemployment and weakening local participation in the economy.

Source: https://www.namibian.com.na/billions-in-projects-going-to-chinese-contractors-lpm/