Zorena Jantze
IN an about turn from last week’s violent invasion of China Town the self confessed Namibian branch of the Malema EFF activists bolstered by members of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) and Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement continued their demand that Chinese businesses must close and added Indian businesses to their list of foreigners exploiting Namibians.
In orderly activism without any disruption or incidents members of the Namibian EFF political party and AR activists accompanied by police handed in several petitions against the importation of counterfeit goods by Chinese and Indian nationals and especially demanded the closure of all Chinese retailers, saying the “regime” (Namibian Government) protects the interests of these foreign nationals, as well as Indians, at the expense of Namibians.
The bail hearing of NEFF politician Michael Amushulelo and the AR activist Dee Nauyoma is continuing in Windhoek while EFF-leader in South Africa Julius Malema threatened the Namibian government in a demand to release the two alleged anarchists that were arrested for inciting violence and causing public disorder.
At their first stop, the vice president of the NEFF read out a petition to Chinese business women Stina Wu who owns several complexes in China Town. The other owner of the complexes, Jack Wang, was a no show.
“We express our dissatisfaction with the imported and locally manufactured counterfeit goods by the Chinese businesses based in Namibia, while they are still allowed to trade with those with no objection from the authorities,” Kalimbo Iipumbu stated.
The vice president of the NEFF further spoke out against the exploitation of Namibian workers employed at China shops who he stated earns as low as N$400 per month.
Iipumbu further accused Chinese business owners of tax evasion and money laundering, stating that there are specific shops where money is kept in store rooms and then shipped off to China Town. He stated that this cheats the Namibian government from benefiting from tax returns.
“Chinese business owners have no regard for our constitution, labour law and no dignity for human rights. We demand labour employment contracts for all workers employed here,” Iipumbu demanded.
The Chinese tycoon Wu, however, did not have time for comment and left the scene after receiving the petition. As a parting shot, she stated that Namibia is a friendly and peaceful country and added that is why she opted to do many developments here.
At their next stop, the protestors handed in a petition to the deputy minister of trade and industrialization and demanded the strict regulation of the registration and operations of companies by foreign nationals.
The NEFF further demanded the closure of all Chinese retailers and stated that they should only be allowed to trade as wholesalers.
“We demand for the deregistration of foreign businesses that do not pay tax, do not bank with our local banks and do not comply with our tax laws. They must pack and leave,” Iipumbu said.
At the revenue agency, the protestors were received by Sam Shivute, the CEO (Commissioner) of NamRA. The NEFF demanded the reduction of NamRA senior officials by 40%, adding that privileged people like Shivute receive over N$2 million annually excluding bonuses and other benefits.
“We call on NamRA to institute an operation against the counterfeit products at the China Town complex. We call on NamRA to conduct tax audits of the Chinese owned businesses particularly China Town and elsewhere in the country,” Iipumbu read.
Furthermore, the NEFF demanded the refund of products burned by NamRA at the value of N$5 million which belongs to the “order with me generation”.
Iipumbu further demanded that Shivute declare his assets as it is alleged that he owns two shops in China Town.
All the institutions were given until Tuesday 31 May 2022 to meet the demands.
