BEE not about tokenism

BLACK economic empowerment (BEE) transformation should not be done haphazardly but should be carried out in a way that will truly see the previously disadvantaged Namibians benefiting from the economy.

Contributing in the latest IPPR BEE report unveiled last week, local business personality, Dr Leake Hangala said the glaring imbalance of five per cent of Namibians owning and controlling most of the country’s wealth, while 95 per cent of the black population wallowed in poverty had to be addressed. He, however, warned against ‘arranged BEE marriages’, entitlements, tokenism and ‘rent-a-darkie; types schemes, but said redressing in inequality should be broad based and cater for unique differences.He also said BEE was the only solution to Namibia’s economic and social ills.Hangala said broad based BEE had to be carried out in a manner which would ensure that previously disadvantaged Namibians would be facilitated to participate in the management, planning, ownership and benefit from the economy.””The process of bringing and uplifting the standard of living of people is complex, broad and there is no one size fits all.therefore, BEE is not the only means to empower previously disadvantaged people.”It is a variable in a complex economic situation that has for example to do with the extension of basic infrastructure such as the provision of quality education, water, electricity, basic health system to a majority of Namibians as part of other interventions in redressing inequality,” he said.Hangala said if given the opportunity, local business people would excel in their various trade and the Namibian economy would then benefit as wealth created would be distributed, invested and spent inside the country.Going further on this, Hangala, said it was imperative that a national BEE policy came into place, and did not mince his words when castigating the Government for taking its time to put in place the important legislative framework, and ensuring its implementation.”After 17 years of independence, Government’s record on this matter has been , to say the least, characterised by indecisiveness and a hide-and-seek attitude.Like all matters of national importance, and similarly on the issue of a national BEE policy and legislative framework, Government is expected to be clear, consistent, focused and to provide strong leadership.”He added that although it would have been best if the BEE policy was already in place, now it was a matter of settling for ‘better late than never’.The national BEE policy is expected to be in place by April next year.He, however, warned against ‘arranged BEE marriages’, entitlements, tokenism and ‘rent-a-darkie; types schemes, but said redressing in inequality should be broad based and cater for unique differences.He also said BEE was the only solution to Namibia’s economic and social ills.Hangala said broad based BEE had to be carried out in a manner which would ensure that previously disadvantaged Namibians would be facilitated to participate in the management, planning, ownership and benefit from the economy.””The process of bringing and uplifting the standard of living of people is complex, broad and there is no one size fits all.therefore, BEE is not the only means to empower previously disadvantaged people.”It is a variable in a complex economic situation that has for example to do with the extension of basic infrastructure such as the provision of quality education, water, electricity, basic health system to a majority of Namibians as part of other interventions in redressing inequality,” he said.Hangala said if given the opportunity, local business people would excel in their various trade and the Namibian economy would then benefit as wealth created would be distributed, invested and spent inside the country.Going further on this, Hangala, said it was imperative that a national BEE policy came into place, and did not mince his words when castigating the Government for taking its time to put in place the important legislative framework, and ensuring its implementation.”After 17 years of independence, Government’s record on this matter has been , to say the least, characterised by indecisiveness and a hide-and-seek attitude.Like all matters of national importance, and similarly on the issue of a national BEE policy and legislative framework, Government is expected to be clear, consistent, focused and to provide strong leadership.”He added that although it would have been best if the BEE policy was already in place, now it was a matter of settling for ‘better late than never’.The national BEE policy is expected to be in place by April next year.