By Albertina Kashuupulwa- Malwa
KPMG says “Namibia has an opportunity to shape a modern, inclusive and future-ready mobility sector through balanced regulation that supports innovation while protecting public interests”.
The report titled, Mobility Regulation: Enabling inclusive growth through regulation” explores the rapid evolution of the ride-hailing sector and the regulatory challenges emerging from its expansion.
The report further examines how countries across Europe, Latin America and Africa are responding to the rapid growth of digital ride-hailing platforms and evolving transport systems. The study highlights that regulatory models which encourage innovation while maintaining safety and accountability tend to deliver stronger economic and social outcomes.
For Namibia, the findings arrive at a time when conversations around digital transformation, youth employment and urban mobility continue to gain momentum. The report suggests that future-ready mobility regulation can support national development priorities by encouraging entrepreneurship, expanding access to transport services and improving integration between technology and governance systems.
The study also points to the importance of collaboration between policymakers, regulators and mobility stakeholders in shaping sustainable transport ecosystems that respond to changing urban and economic realities.
As Namibia continues to modernize its economy and public services, the report positions balanced mobility regulation as an important consideration in building efficient, inclusive and digitally enabled transport systems for the future.
Over just a few years, ride-hailing platforms have significantly reshaped urban mobility. Their development has enabled:
- Improved coverage of areas that were previously underserved,
- The creation of new economic opportunities for thousands of drivers,
- The progressive digitalization and formalization of a sector long characterized by informality,
- A better alignment with user expectations regarding safety, reliability, and transparency.
Yet this remarkable growth raises critical questions for public authorities and transport stakeholders:
- Should ride-hailing be treated like taxis, or as a new service altogether?
- Should drivers be employees or entrepreneurs?
- Should platforms collect taxes automatically, or leave it to individuals?
Governments must therefore strike a balance between two key objectives:
- Enable economic opportunity, and
- Protect the public interest
About KPMG in Francophone Africa
Founded in 1860, KPMG is one of the world’s leading networks of member firms, providing audit, advisory, and tax & legal services to major international groups, regional and local companies, governments, international organizations, and development partners.
Building on this global reputation, KPMG Côte d’Ivoire — a regional hub — is today one of the leading firms in Audit, Tax & Legal, and Advisory across Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa. The firm prioritizes close client engagement to ensure high-quality service delivery and relies on a strong regional footprint (Abidjan, Bamako, Cotonou, Douala, Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, Conakry, Libreville, Malabo, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Dakar, and Lomé), covering 21 countries with more than 600 professionals.
KPMG Côte d’Ivoire also supports public- and private-sector organizations in strengthening capacities and improving performance.