Part one of my writing will place greater emphasis on “Public Procurement Must Balance Efficiency with Human Dignity.”

This opinion piece is inspired by the Namibian Sun article titled “Local Businesses Slam ‘Exclusion’ as SOEs Secure Govt Contracts,” written by Phillipus Josef and Nikanor Nangolo and published on 26 June 2026.

The article highlights private businesses’ concerns over growing exclusion from government contracts as SOEs expand into private-sector sectors. It also reports that the government is considering awarding the school feeding tender to the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), though the Ministry of Education has not made a final decision. The views are those of the author, aiming to foster public discussion.

Government procurement is seen as a technical process governed by laws and procedures. However, behind every contract, there’s a deeper impact on businesses, workers, families, suppliers, and communities depending on public institutions’ decisions. The debate on government contracts isn’t just about state-owned vs. private companies; it’s fundamentally about Namibia’s economic development, employment, social justice, and the kind of economy it aims to build.

Private businesses’ concerns, as reported by Namibian Sun, need thoughtful national reflection rather than emotional or political reactions. Similarly, government must responsibly manage public resources and ensure state-owned enterprises meet their mandates. These positions need not be mutually exclusive. Namibia needs capable public institutions and a vibrant private sector working together for sustainable growth. Policymakers must ensure public procurement supports both sectors without weakening one. At the centre of this discussion lies an important question: Should public procurement focus only on legal compliance, competition, and value for money, or should it also protect employment, human dignity, and welfare of those who work for public institutions? The Public Procurement Act, 2015 establishes principles like transparency, fairness, accountability, competition, and value for money that govern public funds.

These promote public confidence, reduce corruption, and ensure responsible use of taxpayers’ money. Procurement shouldn’t be judged solely by legal compliance; good governance requires more. Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution mandates the State to promote citizens’ welfare through policies supporting dignity, health, and decent living standards. While legislation governs contract awards, it reminds us that government exists to improve citizens’ lives.

This principle warrants more attention when procurement impacts employment. A compliant tender can still cause hardships for workers. Legality and justice aren’t always the same. A company can lose a government contract legally, but the impact goes beyond money. Workers who have worked for years face uncertainty, not because of fault, but because a different procurement outcome. For them, procurement isn’t just legal; it’s about putting food on the table, paying school fees, rent, transport, and medical costs. This human dimension is often overlooked in procurement debates focused solely on compliance. Namibia’s 2023 Census shows a 36.9% unemployment rate, about 320 442 unemployed from a labour force of 867 247, with a broader underutilisation rate of 54.8%, highlighting employment challenges. Protecting existing jobs should be a national priority alongside creating new ones.

Employment underpins families and communities. Namibia’s private sector, key to growth, spans agriculture, trade, manufacturing, tourism, transport, construction, and services, offering livelihoods, boosting tax revenue, attracting investment, and supporting SMEs.

Private businesses do more than earn profits. They employ, train, purchase locally, support communities, and pay taxes like corporate income tax, PAYE, VAT, Social Security, and municipal rates, helping fund public services. Procurement decisions in the private sector aren’t just financial; their broader economic effects matter too. The debate over NTA’s role in the school feeding program highlights this.

Public reports indicate the government considered using the NTA for school hostel catering during broader procurement processes. The Education Ministry says this aims to ensure uninterrupted food supplies and that no final decision has been made on long-term procurement.Ensuring uninterrupted meals for learners is a government duty; no child should face procurement delays or disputes. However, concerns from private caterers shouldn’t be ignored, as they’ve invested heavily and employ many dependent on contracts. When governments rely on public entities for services typically provided by private businesses, policymakers must evaluate financial and broader economic impacts. Procurement should consider legal, operational, employment, entrepreneurship, investor confidence, and local development effects. This doesn’t exclude state-owned enterprises (SOEs), which are vital for growth, public services, supporting programs, and investing in market gaps. SOEs should compete fairly if capable and skilled. Namibia should adopt a procurement framework enabling public-private collaboration for national development. While procurement decisions impact contracts, directors or shareholders are rarely the first to suffer.

They are ordinary workers like security guards, cleaners, drivers, cooks, technicians, administrators, and support staff facing retrenchment, reduced hours, or job uncertainty. The impact quickly spreads beyond households.

 *Absalom Kamutjemo is a resident of Epako, Gobabis. He can be reached at akamutjemo@yahoo.com