The Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Neukndi, says a memorandum of agreement between the Roads Contractor Company (RCC) and the Roads Authority (RA) is currently being finalised to strengthen the RCC's capacity to operate sustainably.

Nekundi's statement follows accusations from NEFF leader Longinus Iipumbu, who claimed that the Roads Contractor Company often sidelines local contractors through partnerships with foreign companies.

Iipumbu said arrangements undermine local empowerment and economic transformation.

He also called on the ministry to provide a forensic audit of RCC foreign partnerships since 2015, which the minister labelled far-fetched and impractical.

"You will not expect a 15-year or 15-year period now, going to 15, for a forensic audit to be conducted in six months. It will not be realistic. And I will never commit to impossible things, which will hold me accountable later on. It is not possible, and I offer you the tender to do that for me in six months to come and report back," responded Nekundi. 

In terms of local participation, Nekundi stated that provisions to give preference to partnerships with the majority of Namibian-owned companies can be incorporated into the Public Procurement Act of 2015.

"We must be cognisant that the state companies must run their affairs in the most prudent fashion, primarily informed by the benefits they will derive from such partnerships, not just because they're Namibian-owned companies. This approach will strengthen local content implementation across all state construction entities, while ensuring alignment with national procurement principles and sustainable economic empowerment objectives, without compromising prudency in the administration and management thereof."