Cloete demands value addition to move beyond speeches

Namibia’s push for mineral beneficiation and industrialisation must move beyond summit declarations and speeches, the Independent Patriots for Change says.

The party’s shadow minister of international relations and trade, Rodney Cloete, says the recent Southern African Development Community summit in Durban, South Africa, highlighted mineral value addition and the Trans-Kalahari Railway, but warns that Namibia’s trade figures show the urgency of turning commitments into action.

Namibia recorded a N$5.5 billion merchandise trade deficit in June, with imports reaching N$18.3 billion against exports of N$12.9 billion.

The first half of 2026 recorded a cumulative deficit of N$19.94 billion.

Cloete says minerals continue to dominate exports, while refined fuel and manufactured goods account for a significant share of imports.

The Sixth National Development Plan aims to increase manufacturing’s contribution from 10.6% to 18% of the gross domestic product and raise manufactured goods from 42% to 60% of merchandise exports by 2030.

However, Cloete says the country lacks the industrial foundation needed to achieve these targets, including affordable and reliable electricity, financing, predictable inputs and engineering capacity.

“You do not build a smelter with a speech. You build it on a workshop floor that can meet specifications every day,” he says.

He calls for the government to publish data showing what mines and offshore rigs procure annually and how much of that spending remains in Namibia.

Cloete also urges the government to unbundle contracts so local engineering companies can compete, enforce 30-day payment terms and measure local value retained rather than simply counting locally registered companies.

“Build that base and deeper beneficiation becomes possible. Skip it and Namibia will reach 2030 with a larger promise and the same weak foundation,” he says.