President urges regulatory reset

During a high-profile visit to Dinapama Manufacturing and Supplies, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah underscored that policy interventions alone are insufficient to transform the Namibian economy without a fundamental shift in national mindset. Addressing stakeholders, she argued that mental and economic transformation are inseparable pillars of progress.

"Economic and mind transformation have to go hand in hand, because if we cannot transform ourselves mentally, no matter how many policies we implement, they will be useless," she said.

The President suggested that Namibia’s primary hurdles are not necessarily financial, but are instead rooted in attitude and approach. “Money is not the problem in this country, mindset is,” she noted, calling for a collective effort to rethink how individuals contribute to national productivity and development.

During her tour of the facility, the President observed a visible sense of pride among the workforce, which she directly linked to higher productivity and a healthier operational environment. “You can really see people who are in an industry they are proud of. And when you have people at that level, your production will definitely be high,” she remarked.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also raised concerns regarding the country’s regulatory landscape, describing the legal framework as overly restrictive for a burgeoning economy. ”Our laws are just too cumbersome. They are not really meant for developing countries,” she said, adding that urgent reforms are required to create a more enabling environment for the private sector.

She further highlighted the necessity of alignment between the public and private sectors, warning that inefficiencies within the state apparatus could stifle broader progress. “The public and the private sector have to align… it needs everybody to reform their minds,” she emphasised.

As a key player in Namibia’s industrial sector, Dinapama Manufacturing and Supplies remains a significant contributor to local production and employment. The President’s visit served to underscore the critical importance of supporting and expanding the country’s domestic economic base.