Speakers at a tripartite conference taking place in Windhoek said economic empowerment, long delayed, needed to begin in earnest.

"The history of the world teaches us that when a distinguishable majority are denied both ownership and a sense of ownership over an equitable proportion of society's assets ... then no such society can prosper," said Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Leake Hangala.

In a speech that set the tone for much of the day's proceedings, Hangala warned indigenous business people to stop putting each other down, as they often did, and avoid an "entitlement mentality".

Black businesses often lacked "institutional discipline" and good corporate governance, said Hangala.

"Too often we forget to follow the example of single-minded hard work set by our own Frans Indongo, Harold Pupkewitz and the late Werner List, just to mention a few," he said.

Minister of Trade and Industry Jesaya Nyamu said much could be learned from other countries, including the US, South Africa and Malaysia. "We don't want to repeat the mistakes of others," he said.

He denied that Government had done little to promote the disadvantaged in the economy, pointing to its investments in education and housing. And new initiates were planned. These would include an empowerment fund that will "warehouse" shares of State-owned companies when a percentage of shares were "divested", so indigenous entrepreneurs could buy into them.

"I will use the word 'divestiture', not 'privatisation'," said Nyamu, hinting at the huge gaps that exist between business and labour on the issue.

He also said Government would set "targets and timeframes" for BEE, and would take the recommendations of its social partners seriously.

In a sobering message, National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) President Risto Kapenda said much BEE so far had consisted of "rent a darkie" schemes.

"Empowerment should be defined in a broad manner," said Kapenda. "It should not mean transfer of ownership only." He said any empowerment law also needed to insist on a better deal for black women.

The union leader berated Government for its slow pace in setting up specific BEE laws. "After 12 years we can see no single legislation," he said.

True empowerment would "not take from the strong and strengthen the weak, but strengthen the weak and maintain the strong", Kapenda added.

He felt that State companies should remain in State hands.
Unlike some, Kapenda did not seem to feel that privatisation was needed to create a black business class. "There is already a huge number of projects (to invest in) in the existing private sector," he said dismissively.

Derrick Msibi, Executive Director of Old Mutual Asset Managers, said BEE deals in southern Africa were often perceived as linked to cronyism.

"You hear of 'deals being hatched at state house', by those with friends in high places, and ask, where are the entrepreneurs?'" he said.

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