The Law Society of Namibia (LSN) and the Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC) have formalised a partnership to enhance the country’s legal framework.

This collaboration aims to uphold justice by sharing resources and engaging in joint capacity-building initiatives, recognising that neither entity can operate in isolation.

The framework for this cooperation is outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed on Tuesday.

At the signing ceremony, the LSN was represented by its director, Neliswa Tjahikika, while the NaCC was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Vitalis Ndalikokule.

Ndalikokule said that the agreement is cementing the regulatory mandate of the two institutions, ensuring stronger enforcement of legal and competition frameworks in Namibia.

“Among others, the main aim of this MoU is to provide a basis for developing and undertaking collaborative activities and to establish a programme of technical cooperation. We anticipate that this agreement will contribute to the promotion of fair competition, transparency and the strengthening of legal frameworks. As one of its objectives, the LSN, and equally, the Commission promotes applied research in the development of the law and participates in the reform of law by the government and other regulatory agencies.”

Law Society of Namibia Director Neliswa Thahikika said she recognises that there are crucial aspects of the work by the two institutions that cannot be achieved alone.

She said that collaboration ensures that the institutions can work together effectively.

“It was already said that it is not just about the findings, but it is more about creating a framework that will enable these two sister institutions to work together, guided by the terms of the MOU. So we’re looking forward to the journey ahead together with the Namibian Communications Commission, which we believe incorporates very important aspects that we, as the law society, on our own, would not be able to do. Hence, it becomes important that we must collaborate and work together with institutions. And I think this is the language, generally in Namibia, that you can never work in isolation.”