|
Importers of Japanese vehicle claim unfairness |
|
|
|
Written by Staff Reporters
|
|
Importers of Japanese second-hand vehicles say the ban by government has left them with no other option but to close down. “We are going to close down. There is no other way”, says the Lebanese second-hand car dealer at the Mosque in Eros. He and two other partners, who claim to be the agents for the Trust Company in Japan, say they will cease their operation by March or as soon as they have sold their whole stock at hand.
Throughout the interview, one could read between the lines about what they felt - that they are being harassed and victimised by the established second-hand dealers of South African-made cars. But it was an occasional slip of the tongue that revealed their passionate dislike for a specific dealer group. This group, they hinted, was manipulating the market by way of spreading misleading information about the imported second-hand Japanese cars.
“My friend, this whole thing is for the big guys. Not for the protection of the industry as they are saying. This government is not really thinking about the Namibian people but for the big guys”, complained the short Lebanese who refused to have his or his colleagues’ names mentioned. Apparently they fear how the “people” would react toward them if their names were to appear in the story. Two of them claim to be Namibians and hence qualify for a better and fairer treatment as Namibian small business people trying to make an honest living.
Asked whether there is any hope that they will remain in business, a tall Lebanese says that by March they will probably be closed - unless there is still some remaining stock.
Their stock still consists of plus/minus 30 cars. Most of them are Mitsubishi Pajero cars, model 1999. There are some vehicle that go back to 1998 and beyond. One wonders whether the cars will be registered if sold. The ban by government clearly stipulates that cars should not be older than five years. That means a 2000 model is also not permitted in the country.
But these three dealers, or “one of the largest importers of Japanese second-hand cars”, as they prefer to be called, say they heard rumours that the ban will be reviewed by March.
“But it is just a rumour. These people do not tell us anything. Even the ban, we read about it only in the paper. Then later we see the letters”.
They claim government officials held a meeting with Japanese car dealers and suggestions were made. And that was that.
“We are lucky to have use of this place [the mosque] as our showroom”, the tall Lebanese commented on the question of them not being well-organised. He added: “How much does it cost to have to rent or buy a piece of land in this town. We cannot afford that, we are not a large corporate company”.
In a parting shot they say; “Now cars will become expensive for poor people. Japanese cars and South African cars, all expensive. Do you know how much a less than five-year-old costs in Japan?”
|
