IPC Demands Transparency on China-Funded Smart City Project
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has called on the government to publicly disclose the full details of a N$245 million Smart City grant from China, warning that a lack of transparency could put Namibia’s digital independence at risk.
In a statement issued on Thursday, IPC Shadow Minister of International Relations and Trade, Rodney Cloete, said Namibians deserve to know the conditions attached to the funding before the project is implemented.
The party questioned who will own and control the Smart City technology, where data collected through the system will be stored, and whether foreign companies will have access to critical public infrastructure.
According to the IPC, while the grant may support technological development, the government must ensure that Namibia retains full ownership and control of its digital infrastructure and the data generated through the project.
The opposition party also argued that the value of the grant is relatively small compared to the more than N$40 billion in annual trade between Namibia and China, saying the country should negotiate agreements that deliver greater long-term economic benefits.
In addition, the IPC criticised the government’s praise of China’s zero-tariff access for Namibian exports, contending that the policy will have limited impact unless Namibia expands local manufacturing and exports more value-added products instead of raw minerals.
The party has urged President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Ministry of International Relations and Trade to release the full terms of the grant agreement, including provisions relating to data ownership, procurement and infrastructure control, saying public confidence depends on transparency over projects involving critical national infrastructure.
