Namibia: SA Xenophobia Disrupts 'Order With Me' ... Traders Will Meet PM Tomorrow

Namibian entrepreneurs who rely on the popular 'order with me' model say xenophobic attacks in South Africa are threatening their livelihoods, forcing some to halt trips to the neighbouring country over safety concerns.

The concerns arise ahead of tomorrow's meeting between Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare and informal traders, where customs duties, taxation and regulatory challenges are expected to dominate the agenda. The engagement will take place at the Namibia University of Science and Technology main campus in Windhoek.

Selma Uutoni (27), owner of Tirana boutique, said the attacks have already affected her business operations.

"We stopped travelling to South Africa because we fear for our lives. What happened to others that we are reading in the newspapers can also happen to us," she said.

Uutoni previously travelled to South Africa with business partners to purchase stock directly from suppliers before returning to Namibia to resell the goods.

However, she said, the deteriorating situation has made this increasingly difficult.

"Some shops closed, especially those owned by foreigners. Even though we sometimes rely on South African runners to buy goods on our behalf, it is now difficult," she said. As a result, Uutoni said several customer orders remain outstanding, while some funds are still tied up with runners in South Africa. She fears that prolonged unrest could leave many traders without stock.

"If the attacks continue, we will eventually run out of the little stock we have and be forced to close our businesses," she said.

Uutoni also hopes Saturday's meeting will address what she described as excessive customs charges imposed by the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA).

She said high customs duties remain one of the biggest obstacles preventing small traders from growing their businesses.

Another trader, Kronelia Ismael of Global Fetch, said her business relies on South Africa's postal services to receive products ordered through international online retailer Shein. Although she has not yet experienced delays linked to the unrest, she echoed concerns over customs duties.

"We are not saying that we should not pay tax. However, it is too high, and we end up not making a profit," she said.

According to Ismael, some importers are required to pay between N$3 000 and N$4 000 in customs charges on products such as an iPhone 15.

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