Old car import ban backfires – finance minister

The government is reconsidering a ban on importing vehicles older than 12 years after the minister of finance admitted this policy may have merely driven up costs without achieving its intended purpose.

Finance minister Ericah Shafudah said this during an engagement with ‘order with me’ operators in Windhoek on Saturday.

Shafudah said the policy was introduced years ago after concerns from vehicle dealers that allowing large numbers of older vehicles into Namibia could affect local businesses.

She, however, said the policy may not have achieved its intended purpose.

“This policy did not stop these vehicles from entering the market,” she said.