The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has questioned how the government intends to deliver on president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s promise to create 500 000 jobs, saying jobs cannot be created through speeches, agreements and diplomatic ceremonies alone.
IPC shadow minister of international relations and trade Rodney Cloete says jobs must come from businesses expanding, factories processing goods, farmers accessing markets, infrastructure moving freight and investments becoming operating businesses.
Cloete questions the government’s progress under the African Continental Free Trade Area, noting that Namibia has reportedly issued only nine certificates of origin for exports to Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria since launching trading under the agreement in June 2025.
He made the remarks in a statement issued on Wednesday evening.
“Where is the economic machine that will produce these 500 000 jobs?” Cloete asks.
The party has also raised concerns over rail infrastructure, saying TransNamib’s last recorded train movement between Ondangwa and Oshikango was on 12 July 2024, despite the railway reportedly being usable and maintained.
Cloete says the government’s explanation that there is insufficient cargo to make short trains commercially viable raises questions about how Namibia will increase economic activity and create jobs.
The IPC also points to the US$753 million financing secured for the Lobito railway in Angola, warning that cargo will follow routes that are cheaper, faster and more reliable.
Cloete calls for a more proactive approach to economic diplomacy, saying diplomats should focus on opening markets, removing trade barriers, securing orders for Namibian companies and attracting investments that create jobs.
He says IPC would judge the government’s economic diplomacy by “conversions” of agreements into markets, exports, factories and, ultimately, jobs.
