Namibia Local Business Association (NALOBA) today turned one year old.

This, according to NALOBA’s vice-president Mr Peter Kanu Amadhila, is a milestone worthy of celebrating.

On 25 February 2022 hundreds of business people gathered in Ongwediva to witness the launching of an association of business owners which would “protect, promote, and localise the economy of Namibia”.

With northern-based prominent businessman Dr. Erastus Chicco Shapumba as its president, the association set out to be the voice of native business people, who mostly felt threatened by the domination of foreign owned business entities across all sectors of the economy.

“When NALOBA was launched, its future was very bleak and unpredictable due to many challenges it faced, among them was operational capital,” Mr Amadhila said.

“But today, through the sacrifices of our members, especially the Executive and Management Committees we are celebrating the first anniversary of this powerful non-profit business organisation.”

“Today NALOBA has 3247 members and continue to mobilise business community especially natives to join the association in order to have a strong and bold voice.”

Although the one year anniversary event was not as well attended as the association’s launching event a year ago, Amadhila said that the future of the association “looks promising”.

He stated that NALOBA has achieved a lot in a short period of one year, “and most of these achievements were done through consultations and negotiations.”

During the first year of its existence NALOBA had an audience with the head of state Dr. Hage Geingob.

The association also had a talk with Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, consulted with Industrialisation and Trade minister Lucia Ipumbu, met up with Mines and Energy minister Tom Alweendo, as well as with Minister of Agriculture and Water Calle Schlettwein, Environment and Tourism minister Pohamba Shifemba, as well as consulting with NamRA, NIPDB, Namport, Banks, Regional Governors, etc.

“During 2023 NALOBA’s main strategy is to continue to grow as an association and mainly among others, prioritise to nationalise the country’s mineral resources and to be self-sufficient in food production as a country.”

The association’s president Dr. Shapumba called on local business people to unite and speak with one voice, “or else they will trample down on you and be able to control you”.

In the photo: NALOBA president Dr. Erastus Shapumba speaking at the association’s anniversary in Ongwediva.