The lack of public awareness about the government’s COVID-19 relief loan scheme of N$500 million aimed to back small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the pandemic’s economic and social impact, has hindered the maximum disbursement of the funds. This is contained in the Business Rescue Task Force (BRTF) report handed over to President Hage Geingob last week at State House. According to the report, only N$20 million of the N$500 million of the COVID-19 SME loan scheme have been disbursed to SMEs since the funds were made available through commercial banks between August and September 2021. The funds were made available to the commercial banks with little or no advertising, it said. Geingob appointed the BRTF in July 2021 to review global and domestic business laws, policies and frameworks to find the preferred path for businesses in financial distress in Namibia. Government in April 2020 announced the commencement of the COVID-19 SME loan scheme of N$500 million through the Bank of Namibia in partnership with commercial banks to disburse loans to qualifying SMEs who suffered from the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns.