THE German ambassador to Namibia, Arne Freiherr von Kittlitz, has warned Namibia to be wary of its relationship with Zimbabwe on the land issue, in terms of attracting investors to the country.
Addressing businesspeople who gathered for a breakfast meeting organised by the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) on Tuesday, von Kittlitz said the land reform issue was crucial matter and key indicator for investors to where the country was headed. “As Ambassador I tell German visitors and potential investors that the assurances of the Namibian Government concerning the respect for the rule of law are reliable and trustworthy.”But you all know that perceptions are hard to argue against.Any impression that link Namibia and Zimbabwe on the land reform issue is poison,” he said.Von Kittlitz’s comments come after last week’s four-day state visit to Namibia by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.Mugabe’s government has been isolated by the West after his controversial land reform programme which sought to address land imbalances through giving land to the blacks.This move has been blamed for the current economic crisis that Zimbabwe is now suffering.The European Union and IMF have imposed economic sanctions onto the southern African country – once known as the region’s breadbasket.Namibia and Germany have an investment protection treaty, and exports to Germany in 2006 reached 94,1 million euros (N$912,77 million) of which over 56 million was from copper and copper products alone.German’s direct exports to Namibia were worth around 61,6 million euros (N$597,52 million).The ambassador also said from his short stint in Namibia, it had emerged that business opportunities in the country were attractive to foreign investment.Said von Kittlitz: “The German-Namibian economic relations have a solid foundation, and yet there is room for development.””As Ambassador I tell German visitors and potential investors that the assurances of the Namibian Government concerning the respect for the rule of law are reliable and trustworthy.”But you all know that perceptions are hard to argue against.Any impression that link Namibia and Zimbabwe on the land reform issue is poison,” he said.Von Kittlitz’s comments come after last week’s four-day state visit to Namibia by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.Mugabe’s government has been isolated by the West after his controversial land reform programme which sought to address land imbalances through giving land to the blacks.This move has been blamed for the current economic crisis that Zimbabwe is now suffering.The European Union and IMF have imposed economic sanctions onto the southern African country – once known as the region’s breadbasket.Namibia and Germany have an investment protection treaty, and exports to Germany in 2006 reached 94,1 million euros (N$912,77 million) of which over 56 million was from copper and copper products alone.German’s direct exports to Namibia were worth around 61,6 million euros (N$597,52 million). The ambassador also said from his short stint in Namibia, it had emerged that business opportunities in the country were attractive to foreign investment.Said von Kittlitz: “The German-Namibian economic relations have a solid foundation, and yet there is room for development.”
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!