The minerals investment environment in Namibia : aftermath of SADC harmonisation attempts

Abstract

Namibia has since gaining independence managed to build a strong mining industry and a solid regulatory framework to govern it. Namibia is a founding member of the Southern African Development Community. As such it has ratified the SADC Treaty and also acceded to the SADC Protocol on mining. The aforementioned instruments lay a foundation for the harmonization landscape within the SADC mining sector. This study will argue that Namibian government has not created an enabling minerals’ investment environment. The country has not put in place appropriate and effective policies and strategies for purpose of attracting, absorbing and sustaining substantial inflow of FDI into the Namibian economy as result of the pursuance of the outlined harmonization initiatives.