By Marx Itamalo /
While the trade between Namibia and neighbouring Angola is significantly small in comparison to the trade between Namibia and South Africa, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of northern Namibia are increasingly turning to Angola for stock.
This is becoming common with SMEs in towns near the border with Angola such as Outapi, Oshikango and Eenhana.
People looking for products to buy in bulk travel to Ondjiva, a town about 25 km north of the border, which is the capital of Angola’s Cunene province.
Namibians buy second hand clothes bundles, liquor crates and boxes, cigarette boxes, goats, pigs, chicken, vegetables, fruits and frozen raw products.
All these items come at amazingly low prices in comparison to Namibian prices for the same or similar products.
For instance, while a fully-grown goat for slaughter cost around N$1000 in Namibia, one can buy it for Kwanza 20 000 (N$400) in Angola.
A box of frozen chicken that costs N$600 in Namibia, can be bought for Kwanza 15 000, which is about N$300.
A box of baby nappies that would otherwise cost N$200 in Namibia, the Angolans sell it for half that amount at Kwanza 5000 which is just N$100.
With such cheap prices and the border at Oshikango now operating on a 24 hours basis, many Namibians are crossing into Angola even for their daily grocery shopping.
“The thing has just become crazy. Angola is cheap and even people can go there after hours to buy food to cook for dinner,” observes Naftal Henghali a border clearance agent.
Alcohol is one of the cheap products which drive droves of Namibians into Angola daily. Angolan beer and whisky is so cheap that it is now threatening the sale of Namibian and South African branded liquor in Oshikango and other border areas of Namibia.
A ‘Cuca’(a 440ml dumpie) bottle of Angolan beer has become popular in Oshikango and surrounding areas because of its cheaper price. A bottle costs Kwanza 20, which is just about N$3.50. A similar bottle of Namibian beer retails for N$19.00 in Namibia, thus losing its popularity amongst border people.
A crate of this Angolan beer, containing 24 bottles is sold for Kwanza 4 500 which is an equivalent of N$90.00.
Namibian authorities last year announced that Namibians would be permitted to buy Angolan food and bring it in the country without paying custom duties as long as the items are for own consumption.
However, merchandise for business purposes would be subjected to custom fees.
Cheap Angolan liquor and cigarettes, however, remain banned in the country. Many crates of Angolan beer and boxes of cigarettes are confiscated by the police and Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) officials on a daily basis.
Confiscated contraband is kept either at the Oshikango police station or at NamRa warehouse. The items normally get crushed or burnt.
Despite this, Namibians and Angolans alike, always find ways of smuggling the items into the country.
“There are no strict measures of control when it comes to the prevention of bringing alcohol, cigarettes and other items in Namibia. It depends on connections,” states Henghali.
“We have vehicles crossing the border each night to ferry the merchandise into Namibia. Even during the day.”
In the photo: Business in Angola is the heartbeat of life, even young boys and girls who otherwise should have to be in school are seen everywhere selling stuff.
