PDM’s Hengari blasts anti-business tax laws
Govt urged to consider conducive policies
Namibian parliamentarian warns government that it is self-defeating to encourage Namibians to start businesses while simultaneously creating anti-business policies.
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker Inna Hengari has urged government to remove tax policies that hinder the growth of businesses, particularly those set up by Namibia’s youth.
She said these policies stifle growth.
Hengari made the comments during a budget debate discussion at the National Assembly and said it was contradictory to encourage young, unemployed Namibians to start businesses when the country’s laws and policies are restrictive.
Launching a salvo at the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa), Hengari said the implementation of tax policies stifled the ease at which local traders could import goods into Namibia for onward selling.
“On the issue of NamRa, our young who run 'order with me' businesses, where they import goods for sale, have been struggling due to the stringent operations of NamRa. It is my humble plea that when employing measures, we also consider the delays they may have on businesses, especially youth-run businesses,” Hengari said.
Conducive measures critical
In 2022, NamRa seized goods belonging to traders that were imported into the country. The move, however, left many self-employed Namibians disgruntled.
Touching on the seizures, Hengari encouraged government to create conducive pro-business tax policies.
“When measures are taken to curb tax evasion to ensure that foreign companies, especially, follow the law, it is also my plea that these measures consider the impact on an ordinary Namibian youth who is running an 'order with me' business,” she said.
According to Hengari, it is self-defeating for government to encourage unemployed Namibians to start businesses and, at the same time, create anti-business policies.
“We can’t come here every day and say many people must say young people must start businesses and at the end of the day, when they start businesses, we put all these stringent measures in place that make it difficult for them to thrive,” she said.
She said these policies stifle growth.
Hengari made the comments during a budget debate discussion at the National Assembly and said it was contradictory to encourage young, unemployed Namibians to start businesses when the country’s laws and policies are restrictive.
Launching a salvo at the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa), Hengari said the implementation of tax policies stifled the ease at which local traders could import goods into Namibia for onward selling.
“On the issue of NamRa, our young who run 'order with me' businesses, where they import goods for sale, have been struggling due to the stringent operations of NamRa. It is my humble plea that when employing measures, we also consider the delays they may have on businesses, especially youth-run businesses,” Hengari said.
Conducive measures critical
In 2022, NamRa seized goods belonging to traders that were imported into the country. The move, however, left many self-employed Namibians disgruntled.
Touching on the seizures, Hengari encouraged government to create conducive pro-business tax policies.
“When measures are taken to curb tax evasion to ensure that foreign companies, especially, follow the law, it is also my plea that these measures consider the impact on an ordinary Namibian youth who is running an 'order with me' business,” she said.
According to Hengari, it is self-defeating for government to encourage unemployed Namibians to start businesses and, at the same time, create anti-business policies.
“We can’t come here every day and say many people must say young people must start businesses and at the end of the day, when they start businesses, we put all these stringent measures in place that make it difficult for them to thrive,” she said.
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Namibian Sun
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