A number of Chinese-owned businesses at Oshikuku in the Omusati region are refusing to accept Namibian coins and this has angered customers visiting their shops, as the coins serve as legal tender throughout Namibia.

Two nameless shops near the FNB ATM at Oshikuku are some of the Chinese shops identified as the culprits. The manager of one of the shops, a certain Janet, told Informanté that there is nothing sinister about their refusal to accept the coins.
“We only refuse to accept ten and five cents, because they are too much to handle. We don’t like the small money since our customers also do not want to accept them. There is no official decision to be against the Namibian monetary policy, but this happened only because of the operational difficulties we have with handling small money, “said Janet.

Asked as to why her shop has no name, she said it is only known as the Chinese shop near Apollo Eleven. She said the owner of Apollo Eleven has no problem with his shop being referred to in connection with the Chinese businesses nearby.
Another nameless Chinese shop situated nearby, managed by a certain Wanna, gave the same reasons for refusing the coins. Perhaps after consulting with the company management, Wanna called back to say that her shop would in future accept any type of Namibian coins.
Approached for comment, the spokesperson of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), Thomas Indji, said that if the allegations are true, such conduct is not acceptable.
‘If proven to be true, such practice is contrary to the country’s monetary policy and the Chinese are violating the laws of Namibia. The allegations need to be investigated by the Bank of Namibia,” he noted.