Namibian construction federation urges action on industry bill
The Construction Industries Federation of Namibia says a new bill could establish a construction council after more than a decade of delays.
The Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) is calling for concrete action on the long-awaited construction industries bill. Works minister Veikko Nekundi announced the legislation is nearing submission to the Cabinet’s legislation committee. CIF chief executive Bärbel Kirchner stated that this announcement has renewed hopes for establishing a construction council, over 10 years after the bill was first presented to parliament.
Kirchner noted that previous unfulfilled promises warrant caution, recalling that an earlier bill reached the National Assembly in 2010. She mentioned a government promise at the 2019 economic growth summit to establish a construction council by the end of the 2019/20 financial year. Further work on the legislation involved consultations facilitated by then deputy minister James Sankwasa, with a revised draft reaching the Cabinet in 2022.
The CIF hopes the renewed momentum will lead to legislation and implementation, suggesting measures like contractor registration and matching project sizes to local capacity. Kirchner added that an effective council could have supported these measures years ago, potentially widening participation and strengthening local businesses. The federation also highlighted skills shortages at technical, supervisory, and senior levels across the industry.
Why it mattersNamibian construction businesses and workers are affected by delays in establishing a construction council that could support local capacity and address skills shortages.