The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) and the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in promoting fair competition, transparency and integrity within Namibia’s public procurement system.
The MoU was signed on Monday, 14 September 2026 in Windhoek and establishes a formal framework for the two institutions to prevent, detect and address anti-competitive practices that may undermine competition in public procurement and the effective use of public resources.
Strengthening Cooperation in Public Procurement
The partnership brings together the respective mandates and expertise of CPBN and NaCC, with a focus on addressing practices such as collusive tendering, bid-rigging, abuse of dominance and tailored bidding specifications that may restrict competition and affect value for public resources. The MoU provides for information and intelligence sharing, joint research on market behaviour and sectors vulnerable to collusion, awareness programmes, workshops and seminars, as well as training, technical cooperation and knowledge sharing. A Joint Working Committee will coordinate joint activities, monitor implementation, identify emerging challenges and recommend measures to strengthen the partnership. The MoU also provides mechanisms for handling complaints, concurrent jurisdiction, confidentiality and dispute resolution, while maintaining the independence and statutory mandates of both institutions.
A Shared Commitment to Fair and Competitive Markets
Speaking at the signing ceremony, CPBN Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Idi Itope, said the partnership reflects the alignment between the two institutions’ mandates and their shared objective of supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Mr. Itope noted that procurement integrity cannot be safeguarded through procurement law alone where conduct such as bidder collusion, price fixing, market allocation or restrictive specifications is involved. “This MoU is simply the road that connects” the two institutions’ shared ambition of a dynamic procurement system and a dynamic marketplace, Mr. Itope said.
NaCC Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Vitalis Ndalikokule, said the MoU represents an important milestone in strengthening fair competition, transparency and integrity within Namibia’s economy. According to Mr. Ndalikokule, the agreement is also a direct deliverable of the National Competition Policy 2020–2025, which calls for a cooperation mechanism between the NaCC and the public procurement authority to enhance competition in public tenders and reduce bidrigging practices.
Promoting Effective and Accountable Procurement
The collaboration is expected to strengthen the ability of both institutions to identify and address restrictive business practices affecting public procurement, while improving institutional capacity and understanding of competition and procurement principles. Through the MoU, CPBN and NaCC reaffirm their commitment to procurement processes that protect public resources, promote fair opportunities for businesses and contribute to sustainable economic development.