Namibia construction bill faces calls for action

The Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) is calling for concrete action on the construction industries bill, which works minister Veikko Nekundi says is nearing submission to the Cabinet’s legislation committee. CIF chief executive Bärbel Kirchner stated that the announcement renews hopes for establishing a construction council, over a decade after the bill was first presented to parliament. Kirchner noted previous unfulfilled promises warrant caution, recalling an earlier bill that reached the National Assembly in 2010.

Kirchner mentioned that the government promised a construction council by the end of the 2019/20 financial year, a commitment also stated in parliament by former prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. Further legislative work followed consultations facilitated by then works deputy minister James Sankwasa, with a revised draft reaching the Cabinet in 2022. The CIF hopes this renewed momentum will lead to legislation and implementation, enabling measures like contractor registration and categorisation to match project sizes with local capacity.

The CIF believes an effective council could have supported measures like dividing large contracts into manageable lots to widen participation and strengthen local businesses. The federation also welcomed the local contractors development programme for SMEs. Kirchner highlighted skills shortages at technical, supervisory, and senior levels, arguing that skills development must extend beyond small contractors to prepare the sector for new projects and retain experienced personnel.

Why it mattersNamibian construction businesses and their employees are affected by the potential establishment of a construction council and the implementation of measures to support local contractors and address skills shortages.

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