Title: Tenderpreneurship in Namibia: is it productive, unproductive or destructive?

Authors: Wilfred Isak April; Daniel Ileni Itenge

Addresses: University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia ' Enegti Signs, P.O. Box 27919, Namibia

Abstract: The Republic of Namibia is faced with numerous pressing problems such as youth unemployment which stands at 34%. The major challenge of tenders to developing nations such as Namibia, with a very high level of inequality is that the rich get richer and the poorer get worse off. This paper explores whether tenderpreneurship is productive, unproductive or destructive to a nation. Regardless of whether the latter mentioned three variables apply, this paper endeavours to explore how Namibians can still be empowered regardless of the challenges tenderpreneurship brings about. In addition, how can these tenderpreneurial tendencies be turned into an effective entrepreneurial strategy. Tenderpreneurship has been cited as some of the reasons why businesses collapsed in some provinces in South Africa and this situation is also today evident in an independent Namibia. This study is qualitative in nature and will make use of in-depth interviews and storytelling with 20 tenderpreneurs and entrepreneurs in Namibia.

Keywords: tenderpreneurship; Namibia; productive; contract; tender; unproductive; destructive; COVID-19.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2023.135872

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2023 Vol.35 No.4, pp.488 - 505

Accepted: 07 May 2020
Published online: 09 Jan 2024 *

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