FlyWestair April 2021

FlyWestair www.flywestair.com

Your free copy

April 2021

wineries in cape town | shop local-ish |

bush cooking | royal hustlers | economic pulse | looking global | art-ist

At Namdeb, we are passionate about creating positive long-term shared value for the communities impacted by our operations.

GOOD TODAY. BETTER TOMORROW.

from the publisher

Stories in FlyWestair Magazine.

FIRE

Read this issue online!

A

is for Awesome... and Ads. To advertise in FlyWestair magazine contact fly@venture.com.na.

“But how could you live and have no story to tell?”

- Fyodor Dostoevsky

Venture Publications (Pty) Ltd. PO Box 21593 Windhoek Namibia info@venture.com.na

Cover image:

Ravianus Shambeni See more on pg. 24

This is us. extraordinary Namibian stories. publishing. content generation. content marketing. print. film. digital.

CONTENT IS

are compiled by Venture Media’s content team, in partnership with Tribefire Studios and freelance contributors.

and also

by Tribefire Studios

1

contents Table of

CONTENT IS FIRE 10

01

And collaboration is the future. FlyWestair Magazine is a compilation of Namibian stories sourced by Venture Media that entertain and surprise with interesting topics, introducing you to a new generation of trendsetters and Namibian influencers.

WELCOME ON BOARD

07

What a wonderful time to see Namibia from the air.

WHEN IN CAPE TOWN

10

Visit South Africa’s Sauvignon blanc country.

BUSH COOKING

15

It’s all about the sauce!

WELLNESS WITH KIRSTY

17

Kirsty Watermeyer on the importance of resilience.

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN TIMES OF CRISIS 18

18

The effect of the pandemic on Namibia’s Community-based Natural Resource Management programme.

ART-IST

22

Martha Mukaiwa goes to her first art auction.

SHOP LOCAL-ISH

24

Shopping local is so much more rewarding. Have a look at what some hot local Namibian and South African brands have to offer.

AMARYAH COLLECTION ART

27

A one-gal startup driven by a calling.

FASHION FIERCE

Chanté Bock has established herself as an eco-conscious designer who puts sustainability at the core of her production process.

24 2

28

ECONOMIC PULSE

32

Recovery and prudent fiscal policy guiding the national budget.

LOOKING GLOBAL

34

28

Are vaccine passports the future of travel?

SHARE YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL STORIES

37

Stories that matter through the eyes of our readers.

A LONG PAUSE

39

Remy Ngamije reflects on life amidst a pandemic.

ROYAL HUSTLERS

41

Taking a look at the career journey and life lessons that helped to shape Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth & National Service, Emma Kantema-Gaomas.

15 MIN SWEAT SET WITH ENA

43

An exercise set to do at home if you’re low on time, travelling, or unable to go to the gym.

THE TRIBE

44

44

Namib Yaantu - spreading love, compassion and hope.

EYES TO WINDHOEK’S SKY

47

Don’t forget to look up and enjoy the view.

STARTUP NAM

49

StartUp Namibia opens a Pop-Up Camp in Swakop.

THE LAST FREE RHINOS

50

A conservation success story.

50 3

BUILD BRIDGES NOT WALLS Access RMB’s funding to unlock infrastructure opportunities.

Rebuilding our economy starts now.

www.rmb.com.na

CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANKING 4

NEED TO KNOWS. with www.flywestair.com

How to buy

a ticket online

More options for the perfect trip

Choose your ticket

Select which tickets you would like to purchase. We offer multiple fare options such as: Saver, Classic or Premium

Baggage policy, sporting equipment, over weight luggage or to add an additional bag(s)

Additional flight information / rules

Passenger details Please enter names as they appear on passport or travel documentation

Read up on all our additional information reagarding terms and conditions, and tick the selection box once completed to continue.

LOGIN to upload passenger details from previous booking.

Confirmation Mail

Payment

Transaction confirmation will be sent to passenger email entered.

Fill in your payment details in our DPO paygate to make final payment.

How can you make

a payment?

Cash payment at:

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)

Eros Airport, Ondangwa Airport, Oranjemund Airport

Online card transaction

Immigration procedure Final Destination OMD

Oranjemund Exit

Windhoek Eros Airport Office SkyLounge Eros Ondangwa airport office Oranjemund airport office All major travel agents

restrictions Items NOT allowed in hand luggage: Lotions and aerosols above 100ml, flammable aerosol, sharp objects, i.e. nail files, nail scissors, Leatherman, matches.

MAX 20kg Per person

prior to flight

Departures Immagration

Online check-in opens 24hours before departure of the flight on www.flywestair.com Check-in opens 1h 30min before domestic flight and 2 hours before international flight.

Coffee Shop

Toilets

• • • • •

Check-in

Arrivals Immagration

Arrival Gate

from:

Luggage

Oranjemund Airport Final Destination CPT / ERS

You can also purchase

Office

Check-in CLOSES 30min prior to flight

Departure Gate

fly@westair.com.na | +264 81 207 6688 | +264 83 937 8247

5

Ondangwa - Toivo ya Toivo

Eros Airport

Cape Town 6

Welcome on Board Welcome to your FlyWestair flight.

Namibia has been blessed with exceptional rain this season. It has transformed the landscape into a beautiful lush green playground and it has brought various forms of life back to areas that only four months ago looked like vast wastelands unable to support any living being.

What a wonderful time to fly!

Seeing Namibia from the air in times like these is a privilege and we at FlyWestair are overjoyed to share this experience with you.

As always we are excited that you chose to share your journey with us.

Sit back, look out the window and enjoy your flight.

FROM

TO

DAYS

DEPARTURE

ARRIVAL

Eros Windhoek

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Tues

07:30

08:30

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Eros Windhoek

Tues

09:00

10:00

Eros Windhoek

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Thur, Fri and Sun

15:15

16:15

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Eros Windhoek

Thur, Fri and Sun

16:50

17:50

Windhoek - Hosea Kutako

Cape Town

Mon, Fri

08:30

10:30

Cape Town

Windhoek- Hosea Kutako

Mon, Fri

12:30

14:30

Schedule as per date of going to print. Please check the FlyWestair website to stay updated on flight destinations, routes and schedules.

CAPITAL: Windhoek

INDEPENDENCE: 21 March 1990

CURRENT PRESIDENT: Hage Geingob

Secular state

Multiparty parliament Democratic Division of power between constitution executive, freedom of religion legislature and

90%

Christian

judiciary

Freedom of the press/media

MAIN SECTORS:

BIGGEST EMPLOYER:

46%

Agriculture

MINING:

FASTEST-GROWING SECTOR: Tourism Diamonds, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, magnesium, cadmium, arsenic, pyrites, silver, gold, lithium minerals, dimension stones (granite, marble, blue sodalite) and many semiprecious stones

MONEY MATTERS

17%

NATURE RESERVES:

of surface area

HIGHEST MOUNTAIN: Brandberg OTHER PROMINENT MOUNTAINS: Spitzkoppe, Moltkeblick, Gamsberg PERENNIAL RIVERS: Orange, Kunene, Okavango, Zambezi and Kwando/Linyanti/Chobe

EPHEMERAL RIVERS:

Numerous, including Fish, Kuiseb, Swakop and Ugab

CURRENCY:

The Namibia Dollar (N$) is fixed to and on par with the SA Rand. The South African Rand is also legal tender.

Foreign currency, international Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club credit cards are accepted.

TAX AND CUSTOMS

All goods and services are priced to include value-added 15% tax of 15%. Visitors may reclaim VAT.

ENQUIRIES: Ministry of Finance

Tel (+264 61) 23 0773 in Windhoek

TRANSPORT

Public transport is NOT available to all tourist destinations in Namibia.

There are bus services from Windhoek to Swakopmund as well as Cape Town/Johannesburg/Vic Falls.

Namibia’s main railway line runs from the South African border, connecting Windhoek to Swakopmund in the west and Tsumeb in the north.

There is an extensive network of international and regional flights from Windhoek and domestic charters to all destinations.

5,450 km tarred

LIVING FOSSIL PLANT:

BIG GAME:

Elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, leopard, giraffe antelope species mammal species (14 endemic)

reptile species frog species bird species

ENDEMIC BIRDS including Herero Chat, Rockrunner, Damara Tern, Monteiro’s Hornbill and Dune Lark

DRINKING WATER Most tap water is purified and safe to drink.

Visitors should exercise caution in rural areas.

37,000 km gravel

HARBOURS:

Walvis Bay, Lüderitz

46

MAIN AIRPORTS: Hosea

airstrips Kutako International Airport,

Eros Airport

RAIL NETWORK: 2,382 km

narrow gauge

TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Direct-dialling facilities to

100 inhabitants

Welwitschia mirabilis

20 240 250 50 676

ROADS:

lines per

200 ENDEMIC 14 vegetation zones plant species 120 100+ species species of lichen of trees

INFRASTRUCTURE

6.2 telephone

FLORA

ECONOMY Mining, fishing, tourism and agriculture

ENVIRONMENT

PHYSICAL

824,268 km²

FAUNA

GENERAL

SURFACE AREA:

ON NAMIBIA

MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM: GSM agreements with

221 countries

117 countries / 255 networks

INFRASTRUCTURE

SOCIAL

FAST FACTS

13,650 people 4 medical doctor per

privately run hospitals in Windhoek with intensive-care units

Medical practitioners (world standard) 24-hour medical emergency services

POPULATION

2.5 million 400 000 inhabitants in Windhoek (15% of total)

ADULT LITERACY RATE:

85%

DENSITY: 2.2 per km²

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE:

English

14 regions 13 ethnic cultures 16 languages and dialects POPULATION GROWTH RATE:

2.6%

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS:

over 1,700 schools, various vocational and tertiary institutions

TIME ZONES GMT + 2 hours

ELECTRICITY 220 volts AC, 50hz, with outlets for round three-pin type plugs

www.travelnewsnamibia.com

FOREIGN REPRESENTATION More than 50 countries have Namibian consular or embassy representation in Windhoek.

2021

Tour 1:

23 - 27 June

Tour 2:

28 June - 2 July

Join this life-changing four-day mountain-biking safari in Namibia's enigmatic Damaraland.

Cost: N$ 18 000 pp sharing Four night stay at a luxury Wilderness Safaris lodge.

All inclusive.

Contact elzanne@venture.com.na to book or visit www.venture.com.na for more info.

9

When in Cape Town…

Go Taste Some Durbanville Wines

10

O

ne of the best things to do when visiting Cape Town is to go on a wine tour, comparing vintages, cultivars and blends from one farm to the next and even pretending to know more than you do. A quick swirl and a sniff before taking a sip and then trying to identify the different flavours our taste buds pick up. Great fun!

The best-known wine routes usually attract the most visitors – such as the Constantia Wine Route where South Africa’s very first wine farm was established in 1685. Klein Constantia is still renowned for its Vin de Constance, once favoured by heavyweights such as Frederick the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, George IV of England and Otto von Bismarck. Franschhoek produces sought after, full-bodied Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon wines as well as some excellent MCCs. The most famous wine-producing region and home of some of the leading wineries, Stellenbosch is renowned for the quality of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Bordeaux blends. It is also the birthplace of the only South African cultivar – Pinotage. Yet, a quick 25-minute

drive out of Cape Town will take you to the often forgotten Durbanville Wine Route.

The Durbanville Wine Valley is nestled in the Tygerberg Hills between Bloubergstrand and Durbanville, one of the northern suburbs. This wine route offers beautiful views of Table Mountain and excellent wines complemented by restaurants that range from rustic country kitchens to some of the best fine dining establishments found in Cape Town.

The gently rolling hills of the area offer different microclimates and combined with the cooling breeze from the nearby ocean create a terroir suited for stunning Sauvignon Blancs known for tropical aromas of grenadilla, guava as well as some green grass and more herbaceous flavours. No wonder Durbanville is known as “Sauvignon Blanc country.”

While known mostly for its Sauvignon Blancs, the warmer north-facing slopes are perfect for complex Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

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The gently rolling hills of the area offer different microclimates and combined with the cooling breeze from the nearby ocean create a terroir suited for stunning Sauvignon Blancs known for tropical aromas of grenadilla, guava as well as some green grass and more herbaceous flavours.

WHICH WINERIES TO VISIT

With 15 wineries to choose from, it is easy to get lost there for an entire day. Here are three to start with: Durbanville Hills Together with the best views of Table Mountain and Table Bay, Durbanville Hills offers a wide selection of wines ranging from Honeysuckle Demi-Sec sparkling wine (100% Chenin Blanc) to Pinotage and various white wines, including Sauvignon Blanc of course.

Hillcrest Estate A boutique winery that is known for its delicious Atlantic Slopes Hornfels Bordeaux blend as well as stand-alone Bordeaux varieties. The single-vineyard Saartjie range offers some of the most mouthwatering small-batch wines, especially the Semillon. Oh, and don’t forget to try the olives.

D’Aria Very popular over weekends, the tasting room at D’Aria is a great place to spend a lazy afternoon.

Its flagship Songbird Sauvignon Blanc is a definite must-taste while the three restaurants – Patina Steak & Fine Wine, Botany and The Terrace – cater to all tastes.

Le Roux van Schalkwyk

13

IT’S TIME FOR THE PERFECT BEER

SCAN TO DISCOVER our full range of perfect beers available in 16 countries worldwide. For more information contact nblexport@ol.na

Bush Cooking MARINADE FOR DIVINE SPARE RIBS These ribs are pre-cooked and then marinated. At that point you can keep them for a few days in the marinade or freeze until needed.

12 pieces of pork rib (± 2 kg)

STOCK Water, salt, pepper, sweet basil, oregano, bay leaves, garlic and ginger

SAUCE / MARINADE 125 ml honey 90 ml soya sauce 90 ml tomato sauce 125 ml white vinegar A few drops of Tabasco sauce 6 cloves of garlic, crushed Juice of one orange 10 ml mustard powder 5 ml paprika Salt and pepper to taste

Meat lasts much longer when properly marinated

• • • • • Hentie Burger

•

Bring all the ingredients for the stock to the boil.

Pre-cook spare ribs in the stock for about 15 minutes.

For the marinade put all the ingredients for the sauce into a big pot and bring to the boil.

Add the pre-cooked, warm ribs to the marinade and boil for another 15 minutes.

Cool down and refrigerate overnight or for up to 3 days.

Braai on medium coals until browned and tender.

Life on a Table Antoinette De Chavonnes Vrugt

Discover more of Antoinette's delicious recipes in Life on a Table and My Hungry Heart To order your copy contact Bonn Nortjé at Venture Publications: bonn@venture.com.na

15

“My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon.”

- Mizuta Masahide (17th century Japanese poet and samurai)

S

omething we all share is that we have recently had an opportunity to test our levels of personal resilience, thanks to the global pandemic.

In fact, it turns out that our traumas and adversities in previous years were actually great training for the pandemic, for political and social upheaval or for the economic and financial uncertainty we face, and much more.

This is because we only really develop resilience when given a chance to work through difficult problems or hardships.

So whether we failed at the challenge or thrived on it, we have all had an opportunity recently to reflect on where we stand when it comes to our personal resilience. Most of us, if we are honest with ourselves, found the experience really hard and it showed us our lack of resilience. The good news is that there is no time like the present to work on those areas of yourself where there is strain or struggle, and resilience is in fact something you can develop.

Our resilience is our bounce-back ability. It’s not just how we recover from setbacks, but how well we recover. Being resilient does not mean you do not feel the distress or avoid the pain, but rather it is about how we deal with the cards we are dealt. What is more, a trait of a balanced and mentally healthy person is resilience.

While there is no simple to-do list to work through adversity, there are factors that contribute to building resilience. We all process trauma and adversity in different ways, but there are certain protective factors that help us build resilience by improving our coping skills and adaptability. These protective factors include our support structure, our sense of self, our coping mechanisms and our emotional regulation. It has been shown that a strong support network is an incredible tool for overcoming difficulty. How strong is your support network?

It has also been shown that what we think about ourselves enables us to face adversity. What do you think about yourself?

The list of protective factors in building resilience contains, for the most part, factors over which we have some level

of control. We can build up our social support networks or learn to reframe our negative thoughts about ourselves or develop new and better coping mechanisms. Learning to be resilient doesn’t mean figuring out how to “grin and bear it” or simply “get over it.” It is about finding safe and healthy coping mechanisms that assist you in your time of need. It involves a combination of inner strength and outer resources, and there is no universal formula for becoming more resilient.

We can, however, take heart in the fact that we are not alone in adversity. Difficulties are universal, and we all have had to endure this particular one. What is more, many people have taken their adversities and used them as the platform to launch their dreams. As J.K. Rowling (author of the Harry Potter series) has been quoted as saying “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

We also have more ability for resilience than we give ourselves credit for. Jodi Picoult wrote in her book My Sister’s Keeper, “The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.”

So much of what goes into building resilience is how we frame our situations in our own minds. There is an old story of two boys who grew up with an alcoholic father. One of them became a great success and the other a great failure.

When asked why their life turned out this way, each boy responded “I watched my father.” How you frame a situation in your own mind has a huge impact on the choices you will make, and the life you will live.

And if you are still unsure about why it is a good idea to work towards building your resilience, research shows us that resilience can reduce the negative effect that stress has on the immune system. Studies have shown that low resilience is associated with worsening of disease, whereas high resilience is associated with a better quality of life.

Kirsty Watermeyer

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COMMUNITY RESILIENCE in times of crisis

I

t is now officially more than a year since we all started tumbling around in this global maelstrom of chaos and confusion. The pandemic has surely affected each and every one of us in some way or another. Some economies and industries may have fared better than others, but as a global collective we have certainly suffered. And because we are so incredibly connected to each other through the digital realm, and by default each other’s problems, we are indelibly aware of each other’s problems. Each other’s state of mind. A global anxiety still permeates the air and we’re all on edge, whether we are facing hardships personally, professionally or maybe even none at all. We’re anxious because the world around us is. This anxiety is global news and we are all very aware of it.

What, then, becomes of those individuals and communities who may not be as connected to the global digital consciousness as we are? Those communities who live simpler lives in simpler places. Those who are not connected to formal businesses, do not live in cities with high infection rates, and are not fed a constant stream of anxiety via smartphones and Zoom meetings.

Has this global disorder affected them as much as it has us? The answer: of course it has.

How has the pandemic affected Namibia’s rural communities, and its conservancy programmes which are responsible for much of the country’s conservation drives.

Rural communities in Namibia survive largely on economic opportunities related to their natural environment. Whether it is tourism, conservation hunting or sustainable use, their livelihoods are built on Namibia’s strong natural wealth.

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Namibia’s conservation success to date stems, to a large extent, from the success of its world-renowned Communitybased Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme.

Established in the mid-90s, it gives rural communities rights to the natural resources they live among. Through the establishment of legal entities known as conservancies, communities organise and formalise systems of governance. These communal conservancies allow rural people to generate income, create jobs and boost their livelihoods through the sustainable use of their natural resources. Examples of such uses include photographic tourism, conservation trophy hunting, harvesting of indigenous plants and the creation and sale of arts and crafts. These communities are in turn tasked with the protection of their natural resources. They are incentivised to do so. They are the first line of defence.

In 2019 alone, the CBNRM sector was able to generate around N$ 156 million in revenue. Between 1990 and 2019, CBNRM contributed more than N$ 9.7 billion to Namibia’s net income.

Whether it is tourism, conservation hunting or sustainable use, their livelihoods are built on Namibia’s strong natural wealth.

The pandemic poses a significant threat to CBNRM in Namibia. Lack of tourism, conservation hunting and free movement has debilitated a sector that has been thriving for almost three decades. It is sad to realise that a programme such as this could be completely dissolved as a result of the pandemic.

What would this mean for Namibia’s communities and conservation?

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The money collected from these sources goes towards operational costs and community benefit projects. If communities had to diversify their income sources, many may opt to turn to less conservation-friendly practices such as larger-scale agriculture or illegal mining to replace the lost income stream.

In response to the threats posed to the CBNRM sector as a result of the pandemic, Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism launched the Conservation Relief, Recovery and Resilience Facility (CRRRF) in May 2020. The fund was established by MEFT through funds raised by the Environmental Investment Fund, the Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and with pledges of support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Nedbank Namibia. The aim of the facility is to provide relief to the CBNRM and conservation sectors in Namibia to ensure job security, the continuation of humanwildlife conflict mitigation projects as well as wildlife crime prevention initiatives and conservation projects.

While these efforts will help conservancies weather the storm, true recovery will only begin once Namibia’s successful and crucial industries such as tourism and conservation hunting regain their footing.

Elzanne McCulloch

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art-ist

GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE

The Rhino Cecilia Smith

Emmanuel Enkara

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Photography: Martha Mukaiwa

Three Sisters Nambowa Malua and Hage Nasheotwalwa

Mekuru Nambowa Malua

Roho Nyeusi Alison Musodza

Writer Martha Mukaiwa buys her first Namibian artwork at a Definition: Art auction in the capital city.

N

othing makes you sweat quite like flinging your bidding paddle in the air at your very first auction.

what have I done!”

People stare. Your hands get a little clammy. The air gets twice as thick and there’s really no decent way to lower your bid in horror, yelling: “Good Lord,

Mingling after the Definition: Art auction at The Village Opera House two months ago, a woman dressed to the nines in a sleek Chinese cheongsam congratulates me on my purchase.

We’re sipping large glasses of the complimentary wine we scooped up at the door. A mad mix of Gorillaz, Timbaland, James Brown and Madonna trickles from the wide gallery door and two women stagger by balancing a large-scale painting by Nambowa Malua between them, presumably headed for the parking lot.

For auction host and owner of Definition: Art, Emmanuel Enkara, the event is one step of many towards an exciting expansion of local arts culture. The idea is that with each monthly auction, Namibians will get to experience art in a novel and revolving setting while getting to know the scene’s rising stars.

Three auctions in, Enkara and his team have sold 15 artworks and that’s no easy feat.

I know this because the reason why I flung my paddle in the air (my bank account screaming in protest) is not simply because the piece I purchased is a rare collaboration between Nambowa Malua and Hage Nasheotwalwa, nor because it’s called ‘Three Sisters’ which reminds me of my own but, frankly, because things were getting awkward.

“The house rests.”

Fun fact: There are only so many times you can cringe through an auctioneer saying this before you send your paddle soaring towards bankruptcy. Thus, being the valiant, ice-breaking woman that I am, it’s no surprise that mine is the first bid of the day. Clammy hands and screaming bank accounts aside, the thing I’ve learnt

about auctions is that as soon as someone breaks the ice, it’s all gravy, baby.

The bids drizzle in.

People loosen up. They sip a little wine. They dial a quick *140*000# to wince at what’s in there but, eventually, they get into it.

Enkara, who offers some commentary about the pieces and introduces work by artists such as Cecilia Smith, Michelle Isaak, Elizabeth Shinana, Kaleb Haipinge and Alison Musodza, says the self-consciousness will get better.

“I won’t kid anybody, the act of bidding does make people shy,” he says. “I think consistency is the key which is why we have an auction every month-end. Ultimately, consistency will build a little more comfort and create a demand for these auctions.” Clearly, Enkara is in it for the long haul and his mission is to make art collectors of us all.

And in the world this scrappy art dealer is diligently building, Namibians bid like they were born to do it. Office buildings, private homes, hotels and lodges are absolutely adorned with local art. Tourists make sure to plan their trips to hit the monthly auction and our local artists are able to make a tidy living from their talent. “I want people to appreciate art more and to appreciate the artist more,” Enkara says at Definition: Art’s Maerua Mall pop-up where my purchase is still on show.

I haven’t collected ‘Three Sisters’ just yet.

I’m still geeking about having bought anything at all.

I’m still remembering the proud and lingering glory of becoming a Namibian art collector and I’m still grinning about being the bidder below those iconic words…

“Going once, going twice…SOLD!” Martha Mukaiwa is a columnist and writer based in Windhoek, Namibia, between short, spirited sojourns around the world. Her narrative nonfiction, personal essays, travel writing and short stories have appeared in Travel Africa, Quartz, Fields & Stations, Holiday, The Africa Report, Truthdig, Matador Network, Africa is a Country, The Mail & Guardian, The Namibian & The Kalahari Review. Martha is an honorary writing fellow at the University of Iowa. Read more at marthamukaiwa.com

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AMARYAH COLLECTION Anesia Joseph is a BCom graduate and the entrepreneur behind Amaryah Collection. She is best known for her unique authentic art which also symbolises the meaning of her business name.

Amaryah means promise by God and her goal is to portray pure, captive and aesthetic art which will leave you breathless. Her work is done with great tenderness and love, with room to tell stories from her heart.

You can find her art on Facebook and Instagram or contact her by email: anesiajoseph@gmail.com. Phone: +264 81 354 8808 @amaryahcollection @amaryah_collection_art

SHOP LOCAL-ish

The most unique local lifestyle brands and products that will guide, motivate and inspire you to express your identity.

LED Leon Engelbrecht Design is a small, proudly Namibian design studio that creates handcrafted leather goods and provides professional interior design services for private and corporate clients. Leon’s creative journey started over four years ago when he jumped the corporate ship and forged a fresh and creative path for himself.

All leather items are individually handcrafted and sewn by hand using traditional tools and methods. LED’s focus is on creating items and products that last and also reintroduce you to the artisan – so you know where, how and by whose hands your products get made. They are shipped worldwide. leonengelbrechtdesign

NGUNI LIFESTYLE APPAREL Made in South Africa, Nguni Apparel is inspired by the iconic Nguni cattle found across southern Africa. Their multi-coloured hides are a beautiful reflection and representation of Africa and its people. The range of t-shirts, long-sleeve tops, crewnecks, sweaters and hats is the brainchild of partners Thoko and Anja who hail from the Drakensberg and Boland of South Africa.

Available @ nguniapparel.co.za in SA or you can order via Whatsapp +264 81 705 1360 in Nam @ngunicapetownsa

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Ravianus Shambeni

NAMIBWEAR Take contemporary casual fashion, fuse it with authentic Namibian culture and themes, add a dash of pride and a whole lot of love, and voilà, there you have Namibwear: A casual clothing brand that celebrates the Namibian way of life, a diverse heritage and of course the country’s unique and beautiful features in the form of landscapes, wildlife and its people. Namibwear offers a wide range of unique casual fashion products including t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, caps, flip-flops, wooden phone covers and more.

Available @ www.namibwear.com @namibwear @namibwear

UNTOLD JEWELLERY A custom costume jewellery brand designed and made in Namibia for all budgets and all occasions.

Untold Jewellery helps you express yourself without saying a word and caters to the over-the-top diva, detail oriented bride as well as the girl-next-door with simpler tastes. Available at The Collective Boutique and Ilana’s Hair Gallery in Swakopmund as well as on Facebook or Instagram. @untoldjewellery

Are you a Nam or SA-based small business lifestyle brand? List your label with us for only N$750 per month. fly@venture.com.na

EMSSENCE This Windhoek-based body & skincare brand is the first of its kind in Namibia! Their signature PURE range boasts natural ingredients (stuff you can actually pronounce) and is small-batch-made with great consideration for fragrance. Plus discount in refills when you return the container? Yes please! Their body range features 7 fragrances inspired by indigenous plants and includes everything from bath soaks to body butter. Psstt!! They’re great as gifts!

Available @ www.emssence.com @ems.sence

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The Etosha Oberland Lodge, located in a 5000 hectare game reserve that shares a ten kilometre border with the Etosha National Park, combines luxury with a lot of privacy. The main area and restaurant of the Lodge is nestled in a wild, ancient “garden” and is surrounded by big trees.

www.ondili.com

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AMARYAH COLLECTION ART n the past year, Namibia has celebrated a number of locals who proved to be innovative during the pandemic. But imagine trading the financial security of a monthly salary for a one-gal startup driven only by a ‘calling’, and then the world changes. Anesia Prior is a young woman who took the leap of faith right before the country was hit with COVID-19. She stuck it out and now her art has made it to our homes and to the walls of corporate companies.

Anesia is a 25-year-old Namibian, in the very “thankful position”, as she describes it, to be doing what she loves and making a living out of it. She is an artist, not by qualification, but by talent, developed skill and most importantly – heart.

Amaryah Collection was born after her father suddenly died in 2020. The business started out on the sideline, commissioning work for family friends until she could barely manage both the demand for her art and her nine-to-five job. She woke up one morning and decided to resign from her corporate job, a decision her mother immediately backed. Her father, too, had always supported her dreams and “It’s a good feeling knowing that he’s looking down and is proud of me”.

Artsy at a young age, Anesia always knew she had a hand to draw and she enjoyed attending art classes once a week when she was in primary school. Regarding further education in art, that was where it ended – in primary school. No art classes during high school, and at university she studied for a BCom. “Looking back, I regret not continuing with art classes or studying art after school, but throughout my life I’ve always had an urge to spend time artistically as I find it quite therapeutic and relaxing.”

On her way to hopefully host an art exhibition at the end of the year, Anesia’s workmanship using a number of mediums can be admired: charcoal, pastel, graphite, watercolour, acrylic paint, oil and ink. Many clients approach Anesia looking for custom pieces, and her most requested pieces at the moment are, to my surprise, oil paintings. On Instagram, I get lost scrolling through her single line sketches which also seem to be crazily popular and I just could not help myself – I’m expecting delivery of my order soon!

Amaryah means let it be done as God has promised. Anesia says it is what carries her through the moments of self-doubt and difficult days.

Keep up with Anesia’s talent via all the socials - Amaryah Collection Art on Instagram and Facebook, or to become an owner of one of her pieces or purchase one as a special and bespoke gift, contact anesiajoseph@gmail.com. Instagram: @amaryah_collection_art Ena Visagie

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Finding the essence of sustainable style and design

Photography: Photon Photography

Chanté Bock

F

our years ago, Chanté Bock released her graduate collection as a final year university student.

The collection was so impressive, it made The Namibian newspaper’s list of Three Fashion Students to Look Out For In The Future.

In the few years since presenting that collection, talented Chanté has come into her own, establishing herself as an eco-conscious designer who puts sustainability at the core of her production process. I caught up with her to talk about responsible fashion, her cool personal style and her hopes for the Namibian fashion industry.

Where it all started As far as she can remember, fashion has always been a central point in her life.

Like many Namibian girls who love fashion from a young age, one of Chanté’s favourite things to do was to draw paper dolls and create clothes as cut-outs to attach to the figures.

“As I got older it obviously evolved into more refined designs, where I started taking inspiration from my surroundings and used it to develop proper designs,” she says.

Finding her voice Since graduating from university, Chanté’s perception of fashion (particularly the way in which the industry operates) has changed significantly. She now looks at emerging trends in a different way. She consciously reflects on her carbon footprint as a consumer as well as designer and continuously evaluates her contribution to the industry. Her work features sustainable textiles and natural dyes as she strives to be ethical and eco-friendly as much as she is creative.

On whether she feels that she has found her voice as a fashion designer, she says that it remains a work-in-progress. “I have spent the last three years searching for a new perspective and a voice in design. I had to revisit my business model so many times, and one thing that has definitely had a huge shift is the way I design and how it affects the environment.

Sustainability has been a growing focus in my work lately.”

One interesting fact about the young designer is that the number one influence on her personal style is her hair. Follow her on Instagram and see in her carefully curated feed exactly how it changes colours and themes with every new hairstyle that she spots. She explains the interesting relationship between her hair and her wardrobe:

Chanté, the Style Star!

While she hasn’t yet found her voice as a designer, Chanté has already established her personal style which she describes as completely different from her fashion brand. “The only similarity between the two”, she says, “would be my minimal approach to ‘colour’.”

“I often find that whenever I change my hair, whether colour or style, there is a slight change in my way of dressing. I’m currently blonde, and all of a sudden I only want to dress in whites and nudes. Of course, I still fuse it with my grungy pieces. I’ve tried to move away from the edgy look to a more chic style, but I guess I can’t change who I am (lol).”

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Chanté loves bringing fabric to life with prints and dyes that show off her artistic flair.

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Her hope for the local fashion scene is to see Namibians move towards a sustainable fashion future and for it to be a space that continues to be available for creativity and development.

Her personal style is completely different from her fashion brand and it switches up with every new hairstyle.

An advocate for sustainable fashion Another cool thing about this bright star’s Instagram are the constant hacks, tips and information pieces that she shares with her followers. You’re bound to see her advice on going minimalist, upcycling or repeating outfits.

Her hope for the local fashion scene is to see Namibians move towards a sustainable fashion future and for it to be a space that continues to be available for creativity and development.

She also wishes to see more interdisciplinary collaborations like fine arts and fashion, or music and fashion. She also hopes that young fashion creatives in Namibia will one day be able to pursue niche careers. “A lot of people might have their strengths in something very niche but at the moment the industry doesn’t allow us to explore that.”

Her top tips for consuming fashion sustainably?

• Shop second-hand • Repair instead of replacing • Quality over quantity (where possible, opt for natural fabrics such as organic cotton, wool, silk – satin is not silk – and cashmere) • Have a capsule collection of garments that you can wear season to season.

Follow Chanté’s fashion story on Instagram @chantejenae.

Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Concept Engineer, PR Consultant, and fashion writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @rukeeveni.

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Budget Matters

T

he Minister of Finance, Ipumbu Shiimi, tabled Namibia’s 2021/22 national budget on 17 March. His budget speech in parliament was entitled “Boosting Resilience and Recovery”, alluding to the present state of the Namibian economy and assessing the new financial year. After four long years of economic stagnation between 2016 and 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant economic turmoil plunged the Namibian economy into the deepest contraction since independence. Namibia’s real GDP is estimated to have contracted by 7.3% in 2020 and is not expected to reach 2019 levels of output before 2023. Even in 2023 real GDP will likely be lower than it was in 2015, eight years earlier. Thus, with the tabling of this budget there is much need for “Recovery” and prudent fiscal policy.

The 2021/22 national budget, thankfully, keeps the expenditure ceiling in check at roughly pre-pandemic levels.

While ideally the government would have been in a position to raise this ceiling in order to stimulate economic recovery, a lack of fiscal restraint in previous years meant larger deficits and the accumulation of more government debt, something the government can ill afford after eight years of large deficits. Thus expenditure is far from stimulative at N$67.9 billion, i.e. N$4.16 billion less than in the 2020/21 fiscal year, and down by about N$600 million from 2019/20.

Government revenue for 2021/22 is expected to be N$52.07 billion, i.e. N$3.39 billion less than in the year ended March 2021 and N$6.36 billion less than in the 2019/20 fiscal year. In fact, government revenue peaked in 2017/18 at N$58.66 billion. Revenue contracting over four years is a clear indication of economic decay, more severe than stagnation. Revenue as a proportion of GDP declined from 34.2% in 2017/18 to an expected 28.2% in 2021/22, which is high by global standards but not when compared to Namibia’s expenditure profile.

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The expected decline in revenue, coupled with inflated expenditure, means that the budget deficit for 2021/22 will be substantial yet again at N$15.9 billion, or 8.6% of GDP. This is down from last year’s deficit of 9.5% of GDP, but it is still one of the largest deficits on record.

A substantial budget deficit needs to be funded of course, which means debt, and lots of it. The lack of fiscal restraint and reform in the previous ten years also means that there is already a large government debt stock that needs to be serviced and which makes new debt more expensive. Currently, government debt stands at N$109.5 billion, excluding the various guarantees that the government extends to public enterprises from time to time. This debt stock is expected to reach N$158.8 billion or 77.0% of GDP by the 2023/24 fiscal year which ends in March 2024. This debt costs more to service annually than the amount allocated to development in the coming year. And this growing debt burden causes some real concerns.

US President Herbert Hoover put it aptly when he said, “Blessed are the young, for they will inherit the national debt.” The Namibian debt burden, accumulated over the last eight years, is bordering on unsustainability and poses growing challenges, especially given that there is no end

Economic Pulse

in sight to government’s reliance on debt. From a debt-toGDP perspective, Namibia’s current level of around 63% is not that high by international standards. However, debtto-GDP is a very vague measure of fiscal sustainability. Of much greater importance are debt service costs. What does that N$109.5 billion cost annually and what must be sacrificed to pay those costs?

This new fiscal year will see the Namibian government pay around N$8.5 billion, or 16.3% of revenue, towards interest costs. That figure is expected to grow to N$9.8 billion, or 17.6% of revenue, by 2023/24. Thus the government will be spending a significant amount of the money it receives just on servicing debt. This obviously means that less tax revenue will be allocated to developmental projects aimed at increasing the productive capacity of the country. That, as president Hoover pointed out, should be particularly concerning to the youth who will need to generate the tax revenues necessary to service this debt in the future.

And if the substantial budget commitments going forward are not spent on building Namibia’s balance sheet, and continue to be expensed on the income statement, then there will be even less government revenue to be allocated to the development of infrastructure. It is not hard to imagine where this spiral leads.

Thankfully, the budget is as conservative as is reasonably possible, meaning that the next few years may see upside surprises in terms of smaller than expected deficits and better budget allocations. It remains a bleak picture but there are signs that a lot of work has been done in the background to stabilise the expenditure profile and grow revenues. In terms of the work done by the minister of finance and his team, given the less than ideal starting point, there is reason to be optimistic and to believe that from a fiscal perspective the year may lead to improved “Resilience”.

Eric van Zyl

Eric van Zyl is the head of research at IJG, an established Namibian financial services market leader. IJG believes in tailoring their services to a client’s personal and business needs. For more information, visit www.ijg.net.

To sign up for the Economic Pulse newsletter, send an email to: daleen@venture.com.na www.namibiatradedirectory.com

NETWORK

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Are Vaccine Passports

the Answer?

V

accinations against the dreaded COVID-19 virus have caused hope for a world returning to a sense of “normal” and for the revival of economies that have been brought to their knees by this pandemic. In Namibia, especially the tourism industry is holding its breath and keeping fingers and toes crossed that travel will start to recover from the middle of the year. Many countries, including Namibia, require a negative test result for entry, but this could change to allow entry exclusively to vaccinated individuals. To simplify this process, vaccine passports are widely advocated and such passes could be essential to kickstarting the tourism industry rather sooner than later.

What are vaccine passports?

A vaccination pass (or passport) is a document which proves that an individual has been vaccinated against COVID-19 and shows test results. The biggest advantage would be for easing international travel. The document takes the form of a free mobile app that allows immigration officials to check a passenger’s status at a glance. The reason for going digital instead of issuing paper certificates is to prevent fraud.

Covid vaccination certificates and even the vaccinations themselves are already for sale on the darkweb.

Another reason why vaccine passports are being advocated

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is that they would allow entry into public spaces where close proximity to others cannot be avoided, e.g. restaurants and gyms, or attending concerts and sporting events. There is even talk that schools could require vaccine passports for learners and that employers should make them mandatory for their employees in order to reenter the office. Advocates are hopeful that vaccine passports will in some way return the state of the world to a time before Corona and, more importantly, fully reopen economies.

Various governments including those of the US and EU member countries are busy researching the implementation and usage of these passports. Denmark is heading the rollout plans and intends to introduce digital passes in the next three to four months. The world leader in vaccination rates, Israel, has already launched its own “green passport” that allows holders access to certain places, like hotels, theatres and synagogues.

Airlines, hit extremely hard by the pandemic, have also seen their potential to make air travel easier and recover the industry.

Vaccine passports are expected to make travelling safer and give passengers a restful mind knowing that everyone on board has been vaccinated and/or tested negative.

Currently existing apps IATA, the International Air Transport Association, has developed an app that Etihad Airways and Emirates are said

Looking Global

lead to a dangerous false sense of security and the potential risk of unknowingly spreading the virus further.

Vaccine passports also have the very real potential to result in inequality and discrimination. Coming from developing countries like Namibia, where access to vaccines is hard to come by, it would make travel to first world countries very difficult if not vaccinated. Even in developed countries, healthy young people may not get their shots for months and thus face restrictions on where they can go in their own city or country. Besides, banning people from entering certain public places and the requirement of carrying a pass hits very close to home for Namibia and South Africa.

Furthermore, pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions cannot be vaccinated. Should they be discriminated against by not allowing them access to a variety of places and activities? Then there are communities who refuse vaccines for religious or cultural reasons, or individuals who decide against being jabbed because of an informed choice they make. to roll out soon. The app allows passengers to easily share their vaccination dates and test results with airlines. IBM has developed its own app, named Digital Health Pass, which apart from offering similar services for air travel also gives holders access to public locations like sports stadiums or just the workplace. CommonPass was created by the nonprofit Commons Project. Since October 2020 it is internationally in use for COVID test results. Apart from test data it also holds vaccine documentation and has a scannable QR Code with a link to the holder’s information.

The biggest challenge, however, is to standardise an app or platform that is accepted globally, offers legitimate privacy protection and is easily accessible to anyone even where access to smartphones is limited. It is also unclear which vaccines would qualify. To prevent potential chaos, countries will have to agree on which vaccines will be accepted.

Having a vaccine passport is great. What could go wrong?

As simple as the vaccine passport seems, on closer inspection the concept holds potential pitfalls. The biggest being that a vaccine passport does not prove immunity. Vaccinations provide some protection against COVID but are not necessarily 100 percent effective. In addition, it is unclear for how long the protection from the vaccines lasts. Research on whether vaccinated people can still carry and spread the virus is lacking at this early stage. Vaccine passports could

Privacy issues regarding the security of these apps are a valid concern. Loaded with personal data, these apps are prime targets for hackers or can lead to misuse. Is sharing sensitive information a worthy trade-off for a holiday overseas?

What does the WHO say?

“At the present time, it is WHO’s position that national authorities and conveyance operators should not introduce requirements of proof of COVID-19 vaccination for international travel as a condition for departure or entry, given that there are still critical unknowns regarding the efficacy of vaccination in reducing transmission,” reads a statement released on 5 February. Whether you agree with how the WHO has dealt with the pandemic thus far is entirely up to you. That being said, the organisation clearly appreciates the risks associated with vaccine passports.

What now?

We all want life to return to a sense of pre-pandemic “normalcy” as soon as possible but introducing a vaccine passport too early and without properly addressing all the potential negative effects could be irresponsible. Currently, the world’s state of affairs is fragile enough as it is without introducing a new form of discrimination.

Le Roux van Schalkwyk

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38

A Long Pause

O

On 2021 not really starting just yet.

ne year on from the global lockdowns and curfews that came into effect after the COVID-19 pandemic raged out of control, 2021 continues to feel strange: it is a new year, yes, but the plagues and ghosts of the previous year are still around. Nightly curfews continue to restrict movement – dinner reservations, nights out with friends, and early morning jogs are tricky undertakings; event sizes remain curtailed – weddings and funerals are smaller and exclusionary; concerts and sports games have vanished off social calendars; travel remains uncertain – lodges and hotels are empty; and employment opportunities remain scarce and tenuous wherever they exists – the fear and uncertainty 2020 bred has become a new constant.

In and around this complex state of world affairs is the feeling that time has not really moved. Sure, it is 2021, but is it? It is quite easy to see that the days, weeks, and months have peeled themselves off the calendar and the seasons have changed – but without any change in the daily rhythms of life, without meaningful human contact and adventurous movement, it could as well be March 2020 at the start of the long pause in the season of worry. Then November. Then December. And then, and then, and then.

What remained unchanged was the shrinking of life, the husking out of human routines. Everything felt smaller, slower, drearier – dull.

recklessly they devolved into competitive chaos, and how late they went on. I recall the feeling of going to a cinema when a blockbuster was premiering – the long popcorn queues seem like things from another time and place, another world completely. Remember the electric atmosphere of a dance party, with loud music and close contact? How alien does that seem nowadays? Are university students even able to have wild years or times in this new world? I wonder when it will be safe to take public transport again, or when my hands will not smell like sanitiser. I miss not having my glasses fogged up by the collection of masks I own. Handshakes? What are those?

Hugs? No thank you.

It is strange, then, to realise how much the experience and enjoyment of time centred around contact and the possibility of encounter. Days were different when you could define who you had met or seen, and who you had not. The weeks were differentiated from each other based on the things one could do, or the things they could not. January and June used to be not the same because of the change in one’s social calendar – summer and winter activities helped to portion off chunks of time. And it was possible, back then, to map out a year and accurately describe what one had done, track achievements and progress, trace one’s movement between various social communities, and plan for new projects and adventures.

The hope, then, is to hold on long enough to be around for the anticipated press the play button, when everything will snap back into energetic motion.

What is a town without crowded parks, streets, restaurants, or bars? Is a city still a city without clubs, parties, and music festivals? What is a family without boisterous gatherings filled with distant aunts, uncles, and cousins from near and faraway places?

What is life without community and the continued creation and experience of culture? These questions remain unanswered. Or maybe the responses are well-known, perhaps the fear lies in exposing their inevitable truths.

Contact and community – they were snatched from us at the beginning of 2020. Without their long overdue return it feels as though we are still in those early days of lockdown, with little else to look forward to besides endless days of television streaming, carefully scheduled grocery shopping trips, and nostalgic remembrances of days past.

I am thinking about how easy it was to meet friends for dinner, how eagerly games nights were arranged, how

Sadly, though, the times have changed. Or have they?

The distinct absence of community is bemoaned. But also anticipated. Because, surely, those times, or better ones, will come around again somehow. And, hopefully, soon.

This state of limbo cannot be all there is to living, right? Surely, even long pauses must come to a stop. The hope, then, is to hold on long enough to be around for the anticipated press the play button, when everything will snap back into energetic motion. That day cannot come quickly enough. Nor can the resumption of all the activities which will help to mark the passage of meaningful time.

Rémy is a Rwandan-born Namibian writer and photographer.

He is the founder, chairperson, and artministrator of Doek, an independent arts organisation in Namibia supporting the literary arts. He is also the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Doek! Literary Magazine, Namibia’s first and only literary magazine. His debut novel “The Eternal Audience Of One” is forthcoming from Scout Press (S&S).

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D E L U X E C O F F E E WO R K S WINDHOEK, NA Our espresso bar has become the hub where we roast, blend and serve our famous House Blend. We don’t follow many rules when it comes to our coffee. In fact, there aren’t a lot rules that we follow in general. We are passionate about coffee and that's a good enough reason for us to do what we do: roast, supply and serve coffee in the best way we know. We believe in having a great place where this all comes together and where you can enjoy our coffee. That’s why our coffee roastery is the way it is. You won’t find any fancy food or wifi here. That’s not our vibe. A lot of good music, interesting people and great coffee. We like to give you coffee the way we would like to receive it. That’s what we’re all about.

Founded in Church Street, Cape Town by Carl Wessel and Judd Nicolay, doing 400 cups of coffee a day and roasting shifts into the wee hours of the morning, Deluxe has gone from strength to strength. When Carl and his cousin and local partner, Willem Bodenstein, sealed the deal for a fullyfledged Namibian roastery, they created the espresso bar that “explores the global but respects the local”.

Deluxe Coffeeworks imports only the finest green beans sourced from around the world. Our coffee bean suppliers

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have long established relationships with coffee farms across the globe, guaranteeing consistency in tastes and aromas for every roast.

We believe firmly in the fact that coffee should be made with freshly roasted beans. We roast five days a week to ensure that each bag you pick up is as fresh as possible.

Our signature House Blend is specifically blended to create a versatile well-balanced experience using the best characteristics of each of the single origins used therein, hailing respectively from Brazil, Guatemala and Ethiopia.

Initial acidity leans to oranges or naartjies, followed by dark chocolate taste and raw cocoa in the finish.

And now… Aroma is in the air! We bring you a new and exciting partnership between Westair and Deluxe – it just works!

So, sit back, enjoy the flight and ask for it by name, we serve Deluxe!

Deluxe Coffeeworks is situated at Shop 3, Mutual Tower, 223 Independence Avenue. Opening hours are 07h00 to 16h30 from Monday to Friday.

+264 81 871 4434 COFFEE@DELUXECOFFEEWORKS.COM WWW.DELUXECOFFEEWORKS.COM

@deluxecoffeeworks.na

Since Independence Day 2017 and, coincidently, in Independence Avenue, we do strictly coffee!

ROYAL HUSTLERS Emma Kantema-Gaomas - Driven to serve

B

orn and raised in the Kavango region during the height of the liberation movement, she was one of the thousands of children introduced to the Swapo party through its youth wing – the Swapo Pioneers.

Today, Emma Kantema-Gaomas has earned her stripes as a member of the government of the Republic of Namibia, currently serving as the Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth & National Service.

In this special interview for the Royal Hustlers segment on 99FM, she speaks about the challenges and dynamics of being a woman in governance. She also shares her career journey and the life lessons that helped to shape her.

Poised to lead Even as a child, Emma saw the prevailing inequalities in society and wanted an opportunity to change the status quo. “All I dreamt of was to be in a position to effect change, especially to uplift the Namibian girl,” she says while reflecting on her dreams as a pioneer.

Coming from an underprivileged background, she faced the daily struggles that many disadvantaged children face. “I grew up like an ordinary Namibian girl”, she says.

As the firstborn of five girls, she became the “deputy parent” to her sisters and despite living in a hugely patriarchal society, her parents were strict on their expectation that she take her academics seriously. They instilled in her a passion to study hard and the belief that being a girl should never be a limitation in her dreams. Because of this backing she grew into an ambitious young woman who was determined to succeed.

A Royal Hustler in the making, young Emma became a library prefect in school as a teen, working in the school library while her peers enjoyed their lunch breaks. “It wasn’t a paid job but again, I always wanted to serve, I wanted to be part of a solution,” she says proudly.

She later became a school prefect and continued showing diligence and resolve to succeed. She excelled in her studies.

Grounded Years later, Emma is as grounded as she was in her youth.

Describing herself as a religious person, she says the one daily activity she never goes without is prayer.

She credits this sense of grounding to her parents who she says taught her to respect others – especially elders – to have self-discipline, and to be disciplined.

Determined to serve “We need to deliver service to the people, and that drives me,” Emma says.

While she acknowledges that there are challenges which make it difficult for the government to deliver on promises, she says that there is potential for more to be done. She is passionate about effecting change and is grateful for the opportunity to do so through her work. In her current role she strives to motivate her staff to do their part in delivering on the promises that the government has made to Namibians.

“I always try to surround myself with people who have value to add, I believe that everyone in the office has a role to play in delivering service to the people,” she says.

Taking note of the gender barriers that women face in taking up leadership positions, she encourages those who do make it to help other women access those same opportunities.

“Us as women in leading positions should strive to create ladders for other women to climb – creating ladders by removing the barriers,” she notes.

As for Namibians in general, she reiterates the need to be hopeful that the country will go further.

These are her words of wisdom for Namibians at large: “Remember we have a Namibia to build. Whether you’re in the private sector or the public sector, let’s get on and let’s all be part of this Namibian house that we want to build.”

Tune in to The Royal Hustlers on 99FM every Monday to Friday from 07h35, with Namibian Royal Hustlers featured on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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Windhoek 99FM | Rehoboth Okahandja 99FM | Swakopmund Walvis Bay 99.4FM Otjiwarongo 94.1 FM | Oshakati Ondangwa Ongwediva 104.5 FM

But first Do the work!

99fm.com.na

15 min sweat set with Ena

I

t’s 2021 and the majority of us are more healthconscious than ever. There are so many ways to try our take at a healthy lifestyle with new fad diets every month and teatoxes that are still trying to make a stand in the market. While chatting about diets is a whole column (or three) on its own, and I shouldn’t even have to begin to tell you why teatoxes are not worth your penny, it all comes down to an active lifestyle and eating healthy, most of the time.

The number one thing I promote when it comes to fitness and health, is sustainability. I advocate constant, small and realistic changes and implementations toward a better and healthier lifestyle, not a cold-turkey approach that will have clients burnt out within the first few weeks!

Flappy Bird

Below, I have created an exercise session that is easy to incorporate into your day, especially if you are low on time, travelling, or not in the mood to go to gym. We don’t need 60 minutes and more for a workout to be worth it! This workout is for anyone (whether you are a beginner or an athlete), anytime and anywhere – no equipment needed!

Exercise Tips: • Both warm-up and cool-down stretching is vital • Always remember to keep your core engaged • Take sufficient breaths!

Mountain Climbers

For more content on sustainable health and fitness, you can find Ena on Instagram (@fervent_wellness & @enavisagie_8).

Ena Visagie is a qualified Personal Trainer, training individuals through online coaching, while sharing her journey and passion for fitness on social media. She has also obtained a degree in Marketing and Business Management.

Full-Body Sweat Session You will need: • 15 minutes • Water (stay hydrated!)

Squat Jumps

Each exercise = 30 seconds Rest = 1 minute, after the 8th exercise Complete the circuit 3 times (and if you have time, challenge yourself to a 4th round) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Superman Lifts

Jumping Jacks Push Ups Superman Lifts Squat Jumps Side Plank (Right) Side Plank (Left) Mountain Climbers Flappy Bird

You can incorporate this Sweat Session into your morning or evening routine, daily, or starting with 2 - 3 times a week, or you can do it in addition to your regular exercise program.

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THE TRIBE

The Tribe Exclusive featuring Namib Yaantu

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A

t the age of 15, Toshi Haufiku, who is popularly known as Namib Yaantu, was introduced to music at the Art Performance Centre (APC) in Tsumeb.

Those early days of discovery saw her try out different instruments including the piano and the violin until she eventually settled for the guitar. “They taught me the basics and from there I grew into my own style,” she says, reminiscing of her days as a music student.

Today, the budding musician won’t be seen anywhere without her guitar over her shoulder.

Growing up, she was also quite athletic, playing both soccer and basketball in school, but now she has made strides in her guitar skill and is known for her soulful singing.

As she puts it, she wants to “bring the light back into the music world.”

Many may not know it or even guess it when they see her come alive on stage but this vibrant singer started out as a teacher. She quit her teaching job to pursue her first love, music - a decision that she admits wasn’t received well by some people in her life. Despite the objections, though, she pushed on with her music and hasn’t looked back since.

Spreading love, compassion and hope A songwriter of note, Namib Yaantu is passionate about poetry and uses her music to spread the message of love and compassion. Her songwriting journey continuously evolves alongside her spiritual growth and she captures this through her music.

Namib Yaantu is all about sending out the right messages and inspiring hope in young Namibians. “What I wanna do with my music is preach about love. If we had more love in the world, we wouldn’t have some of the things happening today,” she says.

Pushing through the challenges Like many upcoming musicians, Namib Yaantu goes through her fair share of challenges. She singles out limitations like lack of financing for studio time as one of the biggest roadblocks she faces. “As an artist, I had to revert to doing odd jobs to make ends meet,” she says.

One of the odd jobs that she often finds herself doing to raise funds is teaching music, something that comes naturally to her considering her teaching background.

She has also ventured into the film industry, making music for local productions. Recently she produced a documentary on her life with sponsorship from the Namibian Film Commission. In this production she shares her story of struggle and triumph, giving a glimpse into her life as a musician and as a person.

When it’s all said and done, Namib Yaantu wants to leave a legacy for younger girls who wish to venture into music. She wants girls across Namibia to know that with their dreams and hopes set high, they can achieve whatever they want in life.

Find Namib Yaantu on Instagram @namib_yaantu, on Facebook and Youtube: Namib Yaantu Watch The Tribe on One Africa TV (GOtv 90, DStv 284, DStv Now) every Friday at 18h30 with repeat shows on Saturdays at 17h30, and Mondays at 21h00.

Alternatively, listen to The Tribe on 99FM every Friday at 19h00, and follow The Tribe on Instagram @thetribenamibia and on Facebook @TheTribeNamibia.

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EYES TO

WINDHOEK’S SKY

W

e may not have any skyscrapers.

We may be lacking in towering cathedrals and strangely shaped highrises or enigmatic sculpture-like structures that stretch towards the heavens, but Windhoek’s skyline has its own sense of wonder.

dramatic. The acacias flower - those pretty, yellow balls. So do the Jacarandas and all the other trees that line the city streets. The mountains around the city are our true skyline Eros, Auas and the Khomas Hochland. The air is sometimes so hazy in spring that you can barely see them, but as the sun sets over this mountainous horizon, the sky is saturated with bright yellows, oranges and reds.

Have you ever taken some time to truly appreciate how beautiful a city Namibia’s capital is? Clean (we have been voted the cleanest capital city in Africa several times), green (in summer) and rich in both history and modernity.

Windhoek is a wonderfully dynamic, culturally diverse and intriguing African metropolis.

Our showpiece buildings may not be as iconic as the Chrysler of New York, that weird cucumber-shaped thing in London or the Eiffel of Paris, but we do have a few that add to the picturesque cityscape which is changing year by year. The Christuskirche is probably the most famous of those, with the Independence Museum right next to it. Some say it looks like a perculator, and they’re not wrong, but it has sort of grown on me in recent years. I was driving into Windhoek on the A1 from the north recently and the setting sun hit the golden pinnacle that is the Independence Museum in such an interesting way. How bright it was! Reflecting the sun and casting a glorious glow. I thought something near the CBD was on fire!

My favourite time of day in my hometown is that hour or so just before sunset. I’m usually either at home (in the summer months) or on my way there.

In summer, especially this year, the sky is often thick with heavy clouds. They reflect the last rays of the day in a prism of incredible light. Their voluptuous edges turn pink and purple, and everything around seems more beautiful.

Summer also means that the city’s various wild spaces, of which there are thankfully still many, turn lush and green.

The swarthak bushes and candle-pod acacias in rivers and along hillsides are a verdant green and the city feels healthy and welcoming. In autumn, some of the vegetation in residential areas start to shake off their feathers (read: leaves) and many sport those quintessential autumn hues.

In winter, though the vegetation becomes more stark, the season brings its own charms with it.

Spring might just be my favourite season in Windhoek. The sky is always hazy with dust and the sunsets are incredibly

More and more new buildings are popping up around the city.

May they hopefully add not only to our economic growth but also to the beauty of our cherished capital city.

So take some time this April to look up once in a while.

Whether at a beautiful building, old or modern cool, or at the splendour of the sky (hopefully still cloudy for a while). If you’re in the seat of one of FlyWestair’s Embraers, make sure to peer out your window during take-off and landing. There are brilliant sites awaiting you in Windhoek.

Elzanne McCulloch

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Yolandi Botes, Oasis Health & Beauty

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Anelie Eniola, Beehive Communications

STARTUP NAMIBIA

keeping Swakop on its Toes

S

tartUp Namibia has not only been supporting various startups in the quaint coastal town of Swakopmund but since December it has also been offering coworking space for these and other entrepreneurs.

Oasis Health & Beauty was started by Yolandi Botes and specialises in beauty treatments, wellness, nutrition and fitness. Her passion is to get women back to a happier, healthier way of living with the aid of her knowledgeable coaching.

Situated in the Atrium Lifestyle Centre in Hendrik Witbooi opposite the well-known Hansa Hotel, the Swakopmund Pop-Up Camp offers a coworking community office space for local startups. It also provides an excellent platform to connect, engage and develop ideas in the middle of Swakop’s CBD.

Anelie Eniola is the mastermind behind Beehive Communications, a public relations firm catering especially for SMEs as well as individuals like influencers to build brands and develop marketing strategies. Beehive wants to make sure that clients realise their full potential by communicating in the best possible way with them.

Pop-Up Camp creates a working space that contains all the elements of a productive office from working desks, WiFi internet, a client meeting area to delicious bottomless coffee provided by Two Beards Coffee. Different packages for the use of the coworking space are available depending on what best suits individual needs. Be it a daily desk space, just three times a week or the full monthly package for the hardcore hustlers.

StartUp Namibia. A technical cooperation project implemented by GIZ together with the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, the City of Windhoek and the Ministry of Higher Education, Innovation and Technology funded by the German government, the project’s aim is to improve conditions for establishing and growing startups in selected regions of Namibia. The project supports startup development from the seeds of an idea, through prototyping and incubation up to accelerating rapid growth and expansion into new markets.

Startups currently supported in Swakopmund include EcoGliding Tours, a first for Namibia, the guided Segway tours take you on an informative and scenic excursion around the picturesque town. Best of all is with the battery-operated Segways. The tour is eco friendly and almost noise-free.

Le Roux van Schalkwyk

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The Last Free

Rhinos

N

amibia’s northwestern Damaraland, which stretches across the Kunene and Erongo regions, forms the homerange of the desert-adapted black rhino, Diceros bicornis bicornis. After a shocking decline of 98% due to poaching between 1960 and 1995, the population stabilised towards the end of the 90s, followed by a resurgence in poaching in the years 2012 to 2017.

Today, Namibia is home to the last free-roaming population of black rhinos outside official protected areas.

Behind this conservation success story is the visionary approach of the government of Namibia to allow communities to become custodians of the endangered black rhino. This has been supported by an efficient coordinated response from non-governmental organisations to help apply the technical demands of meeting this responsibility. The backbone of these operations is government and law enforcement. This component ensures that perpetrators of wildlife crime are stopped, sometimes before they can even start. The multiple

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arrests over the past three to four years, many of which were preemptive, are evidence of the value of supportive government and law enforcement personnel in the fight against wildlife crime. Without this critical factor the extensive work to protect the iconic black rhino of the Kunene and Erongo regions would be in vain.

Ultimately though, this approach only works because of the local communities who have chosen to embrace conservation and create a space for wildlife in an otherwise marginal area.

Namibia has over 20% of its land dedicated to community conservation, which means that today one in four rural Namibians are choosing to live with, and conserve, wildlife.

These communities are the eyes and ears everywhere, and the first line of defence against wildlife crime.

No one in the world needs a rhino horn but a rhino.

In March 2021, a new four-part documentary series was launched that delves deeper into the partnerships and collaboration that formed the foundation of this conservation success story.

The Last Free Rhinos follows the tale of Namibia’s rhino conservation community and how collaborative efforts have resulted in this tremendous achievement and curbed wildlife crime in the region.

The producer of the docu-series is the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) with contributions from World Wildlife Fund Namibia (WWF), Save the Rhino Trust Namibia, and the Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC).

The series elevates rural voices, recognising their efforts, and helps build pride among the communities that live with wildlife and are the true custodians of nature.

The docu-series was created by Venture Media and Kirsty Watermeyer and funded and endorsed by USAID - US Agency for International Development.

No one in the world needs a rhino horn but a rhino.

Watch The Last Free Rhinos here: www.thisisnamibia.com/this-is-namibia-tv Elzanne McCulloch

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VACANCY We offer an opportunity for a dynamic attorney to join our well established law firm in Windhoek.

Experience in civil litigation in the High Court of Namibia and the drafting of contracts will be an advantage.

Requirements: LLB or similar recognized law degree Admitted legal practitioner -

If you are interested please email your CV to: rista@ferasmuslaw.com.na Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

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NAMIBIA

If you are looking for an exciting and unique way to experience the nature of this beautiful country you are at the right place! We have a wide range of 4x4 vehicles that are suitable for your self-drive tour through Namibia. With no set timetable you can work out the tour that suits your interests and experience the best parts of our country with one of our luxury 4x4s!

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NAKARA SHOP WINDHOEK Gustav Voigts Centre Independence Avenue 131 Tel/Fax 061 224 209 Email: info@nakara.na NAKARA SWAKOPMUND The Arcade, Tel/Fax: +264 64 405 907 NAKARA FACTORY WINDHOEK 3 Solingen Str. Northern Industrial Tel +264 61 429 100

www.nakara-namibia.com

www.debmarinenamibia.com

COVID-19 has put great pressure on our nation’s health system. To halt its spread, we partnered with the University of Namibia School of Medicine (Hage Geingob Campus) and donated a fully-equipped and licensed PCR testing equipment laboratory. To improve our nation’s response to this pandemic at a time when it needs #ActsOfBrilliance the most.