FlyWestair February 2020
www.flywestair.com
Onwards and upwards in 2020. At Capricorn Private Wealth, we continuously evolve to provide you with a consistent level of service. No matter where you land this year, we are here to partner with you to achieve your goals. It’s what you value. It’s what we deliver.
Capricorn Private Wealth, a combined offering of Bank Windhoek Ltd and Capricorn Asset Management (Pty) Ltd, members of the Capricorn Group.
from the publisher
Stories in FlyWestair Magazine.
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FlyWestair December 2019
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GENERATION WANDERLUST
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NAMIBIA'S TAKE ON A 'FOREST"
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CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN NAMIBIA
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VOLUME 28 No 1 | SUMMER 2019/20
YEARS OF
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is for Awesome... and Ads.
TRAVEL NEWS
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NAMIBIA TRADE DIRECTORY 2019/20
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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.
THE SECRET LIVES OF WILD ANIMALS
and also
by Tribefire Studios
1
contents
Table of
CONTENT IS FIRE
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.
28
WELCOME ON BOARD
05
Read more about travelling with FlyWestair – a scheduled passenger service by Namibian-owned Westair, the first private company to achieve this historic milestone.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND FLYWESTAIR
06
We share the stories of the individuals who are the real force driving the success of the airline, from the pilots to the crew to the maintenance team.
10 MINUTES WITH LOCAL TASTE MAKERS
11
We sit down with Namibian influencer Beauty Boois and chat lifestyle and self-love.
CRAFT GIN FROM WALVIS BAY
13
Be pleasantly surprised by the growing industry of unique culinary and beverage artisans to be found in Namibia. We introduce you to Copper and Coal Distillery’s Desolate Gin.
WHAT’S HAPPENING 16
14
Update your calendar with 2020’s must-attend events. Send us your event suggestion to fly@venture.com.na and we will be sure to feature it in upcoming issues. Please note that event suggestions need to be sent two months in advance.
LUX LIVING
16
We take a peek at 5 of Namibia’s favourite and most fabulous spas.
ART-IST
19
Ollie Reissner and the dark art of barbering.
ROYAL HUSTLERS
20
Meet Dennis de Wet. The man behind Namibia’s most loved coffee brand; Slowtown Coffee Roasters.
THE TRIBE 13 2
22
Meet the Queen of The Tribe, Ché Ulenga - the powerhouse behind the show shares her journey on Namibia’s only music and entertainment radio and TV show.
ECONOMIC PULSE
24
Economic researchers from IJG discuss why you need to leave 2019 behind and look to the future, in the Namibia Trade Network’s Economic Pulse, a monthly series on finance and the economy.
FASHION FIERCE
28
Deon Mathias uses his cultural heritage to create modern fashion that is rooted in the rich history of the Aawambo people.
WELLNESS ON FLYWESTAIR
11
31
Kirsty Watermeyer takes a look at mindfulness and leaving fear and anxiety behind.
LOOKING GLOBAL
32
Global issues with local impact. Seasoned Namibian journalist Willie Olivier looks at the current big gun in pollution: The Single-use Plastics Problem.
HOME IS THE PLACE YOU MISS FROM FAR
35
Remy The Quill entertains us with his take on Windhoek. Engaging, funny and off-beat; his unique writing style and honesty is a breath of fresh air.
3 SUPRISING REASONS YOU’RE NOT LOSING WEIGHT 37 Klara motivates tired, uninspired urbanites to take back their personal health. She (mostly) practices what she preaches.
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURE
37 40
Mark-Peter van Wyk shows off his photography chops.
MASTER YOUR DESTINY
47
Zodidi Gaseb breaks stereotypes, embraces life and celebrates the beauty of natural hair in this interview with MYD.
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
48
Where did the design for Namibia’s national flag really come from?
INSTAFAMOUS
51
Featuring the smiling faces, beautiful pics and stunning selfies of our #flywestair photo competition winners.
40 3
NEED TO KNOWS. with www.flywestair.com
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Check-in CLOSES 30min prior to flight
Welcome on Board
FlyWestair
O
nwards and upwards, as they say. As we speed headfirst into this new decade we find ourselves compelled to take some time to look back at the months that have passed. In a meeting with our marketing team we recently explored the dynamics of our flights and clients. On the boardroom’s screen was a beautiful graph, one that showed a selection of lines steadily growing upward from left to right. Sure, there are specific peaks in this graph, especially after the introduction of new destinations such as Cape Town to our flight portfolio, but the steady growth has remained constant. And for that we have our clients to thank.
increase your flight options. Which is why, as of 20 February 2020, we will offer flights to all our scheduled destinations every single weekday and on Sundays as well. Giving you more choices and more time.
We know that the new and unknown can sometimes be daunting. Believe us, starting a new airline was no easy feat. But FlyWestair has found an ever-increasing positive voice among the Namibian public. We couldn’t be more grateful for that. From the start, our mission has been to give Namibians and foreigners alike another option when it comes to their flying partner. An option that is selfsustaining and does not bleed any government coffers. The option of time, convenience, and most of all, choice.
We trust that you will enjoy this edition of our in-flight magazine, which is dedicated to entertaining you with fresh, urban and dynamic stories of Namibia. Lifestyle, art, health, business - and the people behind it all. Proving yet again that Namibia is not just a country on the rise, but that it has already risen. The ever-changing and developing spirit we wish to embody here at FlyWestair is a true reflection of our country and her people. Proudly Namibian in every way, and always up for a new challenge.
That being said, we at FlyWestair would like to once again
We welcome you on board this FlyWestair journey with us.
Constantly changing, you may wonder? But isn’t that what the future is about? Growth and change and development. That is what we will continuously strive for at FlyWestair. Updating the client experience every step of the way. So, now you can fly with us every day of the week, and on Sundays, to make sure you’re back in time for that often dreaded early morning meeting on Monday. You can now also search for and book your accommodation in Windhoek and Cape Town directly on our website. As easy as that.
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Who is the Real Force behind Westair? In the next few months those who make FlyWestair possible will be introduced to you, one by one. You will meet our pilots, our ground-crew, those who work behind the scenes in finance and operations, in maintenance, as trainees and strategists, deal-makers and groundbreakers. Meet the first of many faces behind Westair.
Tanja Kaufmann – Chief Cabin Crew
Tjivaripo Kapi – First Officer: Turbines
The perfect person to have on any flight is Tanja Kaufmann. She sees to it that everything is top-notch, especially the safety before, during and after a trip. But more than that, she sees to it that passengers are happy. “I love sharing the pleasure of flying. When I see people getting off the plane, it’s great to see them smile,” Tanya says. She has been in aviation practically since she was a baby, when her parents started a charter company at Eros Airport which she eventually joined. After the death of her father, Tanya and her mother continued running the business, but when it was time for her mother to retire, Tanya decided to join the Westair team. Her coworkers are like family and her frequent fliers are her friends. She radiates positivity, a mindset she hopes inspires the people around her.
Born in Opuwo, Kaokoland, Kapi grew up in his home village, herding goats. At the age of twelve he went to school for the first time and skipped two years to catch up. After passing his matric examination he went to Russia to study medicine on a scholarship. He would have liked to become a pilot, but the training was too expensive. Not even the combined salaries of all the members of his family would have covered the tuition fees. Later he found out that scholarships for aviation were available from the NCAA and applied. “I wouldn’t have dropped out of medical school if it hadn’t been for what I really wanted to do”, Tjivaripo says. Since he wanted to increase his night hours and get hands-on experience, he received the opportunity to fly charters at Westair. “You get to fly to lodges, eat for free, stay there for free, and they call it work...” he grins. “You also meet people from all over the world and learn from them. Meeting clients is where hospitality starts, welcoming people to Namibia. Their stay starts with you, their expectations start with you, it’s all up to you. All of the guests I have flown are my friends now.”
Pauli Witt – Aircraft Maintenance Engineer & Quality Controller
Jonas Swartbooi – General Worker
In his younger years Pauli Witt was the flight engineer, positioned close to the pilot and the co-pilot, on a massive four-engine DC6, as they flew food aid into Angola. His position was a big responsibility - monitoring all the aircraft systems - and it was a little bit scary. He had joined the Air Force straight after school for his conscripted military training. When peace came, Pauli found that his airforce licence wasn’t valid in the civil sector and had to do his training all over again. Today he is probably the oldest maintenance engineer at Westair. He sees it as an opportunity to teach the next generation.
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“When my children see a plane flying in the sky, they say: ‘Daddy worked on that’.” Jonas Swartbooi is from Maltahöhe. He left school after grade 10 to play soccer for his local team. As a young boy, Jonas often visited his grandfather on the farm during weekends and worked next to him, watching and learning. When his soccer team broke up, Jonas had to find work in Windhoek and started at Westair as a cleaner. However, his skilful hands soon got noticed by maintenance engineer Pauli Witt, who took him under his wing and trained him to assist in the workshop. Today, Jonas loves learning as much as he can, enhancing his capabilities and passing on knowledge. After all, knowledge is life-changing.
TAIR S E W Y ION FLDUFFLE T I D E IAL VEL A SPECHENN TR A MO
How to Enter: Take an awesome photo on your flight with us (the view, yourself, our crew, anything!) In the caption, tell us why you fly with FlyWestair Tag FlyWestair on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (or send your image to fly@venture.com.na) The winning image will be selected by a panel of FlyWestair judges. You can enter as many times as you want. Entries close 27 March and the winners will be announced on 3 April 2020. Follow @mohenn_ on Instagram to check out his stunning range of luxury leather goods.
It’s about time. 7
Ondangwa - Toivo ya Toivo
Eros Airport
Oranjemund
W! NE Cape Town 8
NE W
!
now fl yi weekd n g every ay a nd Sund ays
FLIGHT SCHEDULE: (as of 20 February 2020)
FROM
TO
DAYS
DEPARTURE
ARRIVAL
Eros Windhoek
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Mon-Fri
06:30
07:30
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Eros Windhoek
Mon-Fri
08:00
09:00
Eros Windhoek
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Mon-Fri
17:45
18:45
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Eros Windhoek
Mon-Fri
19:15
20:15
Eros Windhoek
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Sun
17:00
18:00
Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo
Eros Windhoek
Sun
18:30
19:30
Eros Windhoek
Oranjemund
Mon-Fri
09:30
10:40
Oranjemund
Cape Town
Mon-Fri
11:15
12:30
Cape Town
Oranjemund
Mon-Fri
14:20
15:30
Oranjemund
Eros Windhoek
Mon-Fri
16:00
17:10
Eros Windhoek
Oranjemund
Sun
13:00
14:10
Oranjemund
Cape Town
Sun
14:40
15:55
Cape Town
Oranjemund
Sun
16:50
18:00
Oranjemund
Eros Windhoek
Sun
18:30
19:40
Schedule as per date of going to print. Please check the FlyWestair website to stay updated on flight destinations, routes and schedules.
STRAND
H O T E L S W A K O P M U N D
THE HEART OF SWAKOPMUND Where the Atlantic’s soft mist meets the dunes of the Namib Desert, right on the edge of the historical Swakopmund Mole, the Strand Hotel welcomes its guests with a luxuriously warm Namibian experience. With a variety of world-class facilities, four ocean-facing restaurants and easy access to everything Swakopmund has to offer, Strand Hotel truly stands at the heart of it all.
T +264 61 411 4000 | E strand.res@ol.na | W www.strandhotelswakopmund.com
10 minutes
with local taste makers
A
s our date at the Garden Café dawns, I skip over to Ferreira’s nursery where I’m to meet Beauty Boois. The distant drag of a concertina prompts me to look up from the pavement and, lo and behold, the source of the song is a man sitting on a barstool under a red beach umbrella. Within a five metre radius is a street food vendor and a local craftsman sitting cross-legged, à la George Clooney, only he’s not sipping a Nespresso but busy with a new wire and bead creation. This already ought to give you an indication of the kind of woman I’m meeting - weird and wonderful - not at all what you expected, but exactly what you needed. She rocks up with hair larger than life itself and Damien, her 8-year-old son, on her heels. Beauty digs this cafe. It’s hidden and humble and the cobblestone walk through the nursery makes her giddy. She’s a self-proclaimed Plant Slut - sprouting from her heyday chore of watering her mom’s macramé-supported life forms. The sound of water trickling through the soil fascinates her to this day. “It’s the plants saying thank you.” Beauty, who is Windhoek born and bred, wears many hats. Or yoga pants. After she had unfortunately been rejected by her dream school in Cape Town, she put her dreams of drama and film on hold. And opted for the next best thing marketing. Very much like mushrooms sprinkle their spores, she came back home and pursued a degree in Psychological Counselling. Opening her very own practice and closing it two years later. It takes its toll: listening to an unparalleled metric of problems, day in and day out.
She’s shifted her seven chakras to self-love. And not to the bath bomb, collagen face mask, expensive red wine kind, but the kind of care that led her to chant “I am free” because she genuinely is. So free, in fact, that she and Damien are booked on a one-way flight to Cambodia to begin a new life teaching English and doing sun-salutations to her heart’s desire. My hardest-hitting question - how to maintain a plantbased diet in a land of biltong and braais - was met with a clarifying answer. “Plant-based” has become somewhat of a yuppie word-of-the-moment that I for one struggled to comprehend. But Beauty bluntly describes it as having plenty of plate-fulls of fruit and veggies and not saying no to droëwors - her kryptonite. Her poetry performances and surf expeditions are more frequent - sufficiently stimulating her restless soul. Plus her psychological counselling services have migrated online where she can give guidance from anywhere in the world. She’s taste-made her somewhat 3k followers in captivating IGTV videos, covering topics we can all learn a thing or two from. Like unlearning people-pleasing behaviour and how accountability and taking responsibility can set you free. My fifth and final question: how the hell does she pull off black lipstick? Her answer? The same way MY boss pulls off red lipstick on the daily - with the confidence that comes from loving yourself, your freedom, the planet and its plants. And droëwors. Charene Labuschagne
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CONTINUING TO CREATE A POSITIVE LEGACY IN NAMIBIA TODAY AND TOMORROW.
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Throughout Namibia’s rich diamond history, Namdeb has played a significant role since 1994 in contributing to the socio economic development of the country. Every facet of our diamond mining process is aimed at creating value to make lasting contributions safely sustainably and responsibly. GOOD TODAY. BETTER TOMORROW.
H
CRAFT GIN From Walvis Bay
aving shed its well known grimy industrial look to grow a beard and sport a pipe, Walvis Bay is now rolling with the cool kids on their fixies and wearing ironic T-shirts. The change in appearance is thanks to the harbour town’s very own distillery that places it firmly on the bandwagon of the worldwide gin craze. Copper and Coal Distillery, founded in 2017, has quickly become the best-known of Namibia’s (three) gin distilleries.
With that said, Copper and Coal doesn’t subscribe to the above-mentioned methodology but rather aims to create well-rounded gins devoid of gimmicks. Crafted to be enjoyed for what it is, namely gin. Recipes fine-tuned and lovingly brought to life.
Desolate Classic 7 was the first to be released. Based on a recipe that includes a balance of seven selected botanicals to create a light, yet intricate easy-drinking gin. The Desolate Devil’s Claw Crystal Clear gin, as the name indicates, is centred around the Based on a recipe Namibian devil’s claw plant. Mustard, walnut leaves, black pepper and star anise add to that includes the distillery’s Namibian interpretation of a balance of gin. Lastly, the Desolate Devil’s Claw Oak Rested gin is the Crystal Clear matured in seven selected French oak casks to somewhat soften the harsher character of the devil’s claw. Newest botanicals to to the range is the Marula gin. Potstilled and create a light, infused with marula fruit hand-harvested from the Outjo region which gives tangyyet intricate sweet and sour flavours to this refreshing gin.
While gin, humble in origin, started as a spirit with juniper, its main ingredient, perfectly complemented by botanicals such as nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom, it has recently evolved into a melting pot for experimentation. It is no wonder that gin has become the most diverse liquor found on the market. Juniper is the only ingredient required for the spirit to be called a gin, after which distillers easy-drinking are free to add any botanicals or nonbotanicals they please. All in the name of Husband and wife team, Andries and gin. crafting the perfect gin, right? But as any Marizaan van Schalkwyk are the driving force hipster, i.e. non-conforming conformist behind Copper and Coal. With a focus on knows: you constantly need to overstep the boundaries of quality over quantity, every step of the production process what is considered the norm in order to be respected by from fermenting and distilling down to bottling and labelling your peers. The same peers who, just like you, tread on - is lovingly completed at the distillery in Walvis Bay. The the wrong side of the “normal” barrier. Thanks to these Copper and Coal range of gins can be found at most liquor absolute visionaries we are blessed with gins that contain outlets throughout Namibia. ants, asparagus, cannabis (damn hippies), beef, oysters, elephant dung, and thanks to some Australian genius Vegemite gin. Le Roux van Schalkwyk
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2020
What’s happening. So we hope that by now you have kicked that January slump to the curb. Have you stuck to any of those New Year’s Resolutions? You know the ones we’re talking about: no beer for 30 days, lose them 5 kg, go to yoga… Did we miss any? Well, while you were out there grabbing the new decade by the horns and probably not keeping any promises to yourself, we were once again collecting the coolest events to keep an eye out for this Tuesday of months.
1 February It may be hot outside, but we’ve got to stay active, so we hope you join the Venture Media team as we put our sporty pants on and hit the lawn at the DTS sports grounds on 1 February for the epic annual Windhoek Draught DTS Volleyball for All. Corporate, or just-for-fun, teams have been enjoying this day filled with family entertainment, goodnatured rivalry, and a lot of beer, for years. Don’t miss out on the festivities.
7 February
8 February For the rest of you Energiser bunnies: the annual Rössing National Marathon takes place in Swakopmund on 8 February. Enter the 10 km run or the half or full marathons to really get the endorphins flowing. There will also be a 10 km relay (2 runners – 5 km each) and a 5 km fun run for the not-so-fit-but-we-still-want-to-try. Sign up before 5 February to get your hat and tekkies in the race.
13 February Avani Windhoek Hotel and Casino hosts the MyMoney Project on 13 February, where Nyaradzo Chahuruva will guide couples in money-matters and how not to let the M-word break hearts. Tickets are available from EventsToday.
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If you’re not in the capital on that weekend, but still want to get your volleyball-supporting on, why not join Timeout Beach Volleyball Academy’s night league on 7 February, also at DTS. Check their Facebook page for times and future events.
0
21-24 February Want to step up your public speaking game to PRO level this year? Then be sure to check out the Global Speakers Summit hosted at The Dome in Swakopmund from 2124 February. The event will be a masterclass filled with presentations, breakout sessions and panel discussions. Local and international professional speakers from more than 15 countries will be handing out the real MVP-level advice on how to get your public speaking skills on point.
PHOTO COMPETITION Win a romantic getaway for two with our Valentine’s Photo Competition! Send a couple’s photo taken somewhere in beautiful Namibia to info@venture.com.na or tag Naturally Namibia on Facebook or Instagram and stand a chance to win one of three romantic getaways. Prizes: 1st Prize - A hot air balloon flight for 2 with Namib Sky Balloon Safaris 2nd Prize - 2 night stay for 2 guests sharing at Ai Aiba The Rock Painting Lodge (includes dinner, bed and breakfast and a nature drive) 3rd Prize - 1 night stay for 2 guests sharing at Villa Margherita (includes bed and breakfast) T&C’s apply.
28 February to 1 March Camp & Rock Festival celebrates its 5th birthday with a bash on Steinheim Game Farm, 45 km out of Windhoek, to wrap up the month. The event will shake up the quietness of the bush over the weekend of 28 February to 1 March. International and local artists are set to hit the stage, including DJ Costa from SA. Get your weekend passes, book that camping or even glamping spot and check out the line-up on the EventsToday website (www.today. com.na/events/camp-rock-2020-2).
What’s new? We’re always incredibly excited about anything new… Call us millenial for that, we don’t care. Introducing The Brewers Market. This cultural slash entertainment hub is opening its doors in February. Food, art, crafts and entertainment aimed at uplifting entrepreneurs and showcasing local talent will be their hook, and we’re ready to fall for that - hook, line and sinker. Located where the Warehouse Theatre used to be in Tal Street, we’re looking forward to everything this shiny new culture/art /entertainment pozzy has got to offer. You may choose to forget those resolutions, but don’t let yourself be bored this Feb. Januaries, like Mondays, can be a pain in the ass, but by Tuesday the ‘year’ is off to a running start! Elzanne McCulloch
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5
cool spas
to try in Namibia
A
visit to a spa is the perfect excuse to take time out for yourself and indulge in a session of relaxation and peace. It’s like the saying goes: you have to fill up your own cup first before you can fill up anyone else’s. And what better way to fill said cup than with soothing massages, therapeutic waters or mineral-rich mud.
Although the culture of going to spas has not yet become completely entrenched in Namibia, slowly but surely the activity is taking off in the population centres. The most popular and successful spas are still located mostly in Windhoek, but most lodges around the country have realised the importance of offering health facilities to guests. Some of the best spa experiences can be had at a luxury establishment in the middle of nowhere. For those who don’t have the time (and pocketbook) to travel into the wilderness for some R’nR, make a booking at any of the spas below and get ready to melt your stress and anxiety away in aromatic bliss.
Nomad African Spa This spa empowers women from underprivileged backgrounds - choosing especially those with visual impairment - by training them as therapists and employing them. Imagine you have just come back from a safari. You are elated but tired, inspired but in need of a little rest before your long flight home. Instead of waiting out the hours until you have to be at the airport, why not spend them rejuvenating at the spa, where you will be pampered with luxurious therapies and health-conscious dishes. The perfect way to end your stay in Namibia.
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Soulstice Day Spa Your spa experience starts the moment you walk through the door. A refreshing aroma wafting through the interior of the spa greets the nose. Wash your hands and wipe your face with the subtly fragranced wet cloths in a short ritual at the reception to welcome you. Find your name on your locker, which is stocked with a fluffy bathrobe and slippers, and thoughtfully a bite-size chocolate treat on top. From exfoliating mud rituals to pampering mommy-tobe packages, Soulstice Day Spa offers all the expected spa treatments, plus a few wholly unique ones.
Lux Living
GocheGanas Indulge in a deep-tissue massage out in the bush, as curious springbok walk past. Take a game drive to a clearing in the veld, where a therapy bed is set up, and let your soul become emulsified with the natural surroundings. Located on a private game reserve less than 30 km outside Windhoek, GocheGanas is close enough to the city for convenience yet far enough to feel like an escape. The Wellness Centre houses an atmospheric cave-like sauna and a large heated indoor swimming pool with views across the landscape. Atlantic Spa at Strand Hotel Swakopmund A pebble’s throw from the waves crashing on the beach, Strand Hotel Swakopmund has the ideal location on the boardwalk at the Mole. From its perch overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the hotel provides respite from the relentless desert heat and chilly ocean mists, and the convenient inhouse Atlantic Spa offers a wide range of dermatological and relaxation treatments to improve the skin and soothe frazzled souls. Nina van Zyl
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art-ist
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Jaybird and Blade - Art of the Cut
s a man, unless you’re going for that Tom After quitting his job as an industrial designer and completing Hanks in Castaway look of around 2000, a barbering course in Johannesburg, Ollie made his dream you’ll need to get that scruffy head of come true by opening his own barber shop on the lucky date yours cut or shaved every so often. I of Friday, the 13th of November 2015. Almost five years on and am certainly not speaking on behalf Jaybird and Blade has a loyal cult following of individuals of all Namibian men, but going to a young and old, all of them returning for the authentic hairdresser is far from being an exciting experience offered by Ollie and fellow barber Martin Fuhs. The prospect. It’s an experience that can popularity of Jaybird and Blade started the re-emergence of mostly be described as extremely average, leaving with a barber shops in Windhoek and the capital has since seen haircut that was not what you asked for and feeling like some new barbers opening their doors in recent years. you just got off some of flowers smelling shampoo assembly line in a gossip factory. Jaybird and Blade is an experience, not Personally, all I can think of during a session just a quick cut, trim or shave. The shop at the hairdresser is: when will this hell end Jaybird and Blade has a personality of its own, stacked with or why do they bother asking what hairstyle various curiosities, vintage salon chairs and is an experience, I want if they are going to cut my hair in a even some barber shop dogs. Above all, the not just a quick different style anyway? experience is about getting the best service cut, trim or shave. and the freshest cut to make you feel like a Enter Jaybird and Blade, a barbershop that is million dollars when you walk out. “The art The shop has a deeply rooted in the traditions of yesteryear of the cut is understanding that everyone personality of its yet caters for the modern gent. The brain is different. There is no cut that fits all. You behind it, Oliver Reisner, wanted to (and fully own, stacked with learn to know and understand every client’s succeeded in it) create a setting where the various curiosities, head and hair and in this way you are able dark arts of barbering could be enjoyed not to give the best haircut to each client.” To vintage salon only by his clients but by himself as well. this end, each appointment is for a whole hour to ensure that they leave with the exact chairs and even Barber shops and their inherent old school feel some barber shop hairstyle and cut they want. “I want people captivated Oliver, or Ollie as he is affectionately to enjoy the experience, I want time for us to dogs. known by friends and clients, from a young have proper chats with our clients and to do age. He still remembers the nostalgic feeling the best job we can. It is great to see guys of walking around Cape Town’s Waterfront as a boy and coming in every three to four weeks and becoming friends seeing an older gentleman getting a haircut while reading a with your clients. It’s not just a barbershop anymore but it newspaper at the popular Mr Cobbs The Barber. This image has grown into a community.” never completely left his mind and would only fully re-emerge later in life. In 2014 he started cutting his own hair out of To make an appointment phone Jaybird and Blade at 081 204 necessity. “I couldn’t find a place that would cut my hair the 2041 or visit them at 6 König Street, Klein Windhoek. Bookings way I wanted, so I started doing it myself. More and more are essential as no walk-ins can be accommodated. people started asking me where I got my haircut, so eventually I started cutting hair out of my garage after work as an extra source of income,” Ollie explains. Le Roux van Schalkwyk
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Dennis de Wet with his wife, Rechia, and sons Danie, Benjamin, Max and Beau.
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ROYAL HUSTLERS
D
Slowing down with the man behind Slowtown
o not underestimate the power of coffee and a man with a dream, they say...
pushing it in certain directions, and only when it has reached the ocean – it’s destination – can one see the bigger picture.”
Meet Dennis de Wet. The man behind Namibia’s best-loved coffee brand: Slowtown Coffee Roasters.
De Wet attributes a lot of the success of Slowtown to his faith in God and knowing that through Him, everything would work out. “There were times where I really thought of giving up, times when things just did not work out. People tend to want to see you fail and those darker times are what really counts – how you react when all seems lost. And having a wife who stands by you and faith in a living God who is the author of life is what really matters. So Slowtown and the brand it is today is only the fruit of all those experiences.”
Born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, De Wet grew up mainly in the coastal town of Swakopmund in Namibia. He attended the Deutsche Grundschule Swakopmund (the German primary school) and Duneside High School in Walvis Bay until his family moved to Cape Town. “I went to Fairmont High School in Durbanville and studied at Stellenbosch University. I worked in Stellenbosch, met my wife there and later we moved to the Isle of Man before deciding to return to Namibia. We’ve been back for 10 years now Namibia is my home and my heart is here,” Dennis says. He recalls that he wanted to be an astronaut at some point during his childhood. But the dream of going into space was soon replaced by the dream of becoming the President of Namibia. While he wasn’t a straight A student, he says that he did have a lot of potential which was sometimes affected by his social life. That did not stop him from eventually obtaining a university degree, however - earning a BComm Honours (Financial Analysis) and proving that “it wasn’t all play”.
About what keeps him motivated he says that being a responsible steward of everything God has placed in his hands - his wife, his four sons and his business - is what keeps him going. “I see Slowtown not as my own but rather as a vehicle. This does not mean that I know what the end will look like, but it also takes the pressure off me having to prove anything to anyone. I could lose it all tomorrow and that should not affect who I am.”
While I am in this country that I love, I choose to see the positive and choose to look for the opportunity.
De Wet already showed entrepreneurial potential when he traded empty bottles at a local corner shop in Walvis Bay as a child. At university he earned rental income from a property that he co-owned and thus funded his “social experiments”. “I was never someone to trade my time for money - rather figure out how to make money without selling time. What do they say: either money rules you or you rule money. I prefer the latter. My mind has always been set on doing things differently – figuring out how to let the system work for me instead of getting into that rat race,” he says. “On paper it seems simple – but the path and the decisions that led us to where we are today happened much more by chance, one could say. Timing and luck open doors,” says De Wet about what helped get Slowtown off the ground. He likens the process of starting the business to the flow of a stream: “It’s like water finding its path with many obstacles
His advice to anyone who wants to succeed is to work hard, to be passionate and to let go of self-doubt. “Surround yourself with positive people and see the tough times as opportunities to grow – never, never ever become a victim. You are responsible for your own life,” he adds.
For anyone who wishes to work at Slowtown or to partner with De Wet in future projects, his requirements are pretty simple. Good character, work ethic and integrity are the three qualities he looks for, more than an impressive CV. “I am by no means a micro manager, which has its pros and cons. I believe that if you are someone who likes responsibility then you should be self-motivated. I don’t necessarily believe that my role is to try and constantly motivate everyone around me. There are pitfalls in that strategy,” he explains. Looking at the state of the country, he sees more opportunities than challenges. “While I am in this country that I love, I choose to see the positive and choose to look for the opportunity.” This article is based on an interview with Dennis on 99FM. Tune in to The Royal Hustlers on 99 FM every Monday to Friday at 07h35.
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THE TRIB
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A moment with Ché Ulenga, Queen of The Tribe
s a multiplatform show that has been celebrating Namibian music since 2012, The Tribe has become an important player in the local music industry, propelling it to greater heights with authentic, raw conversations.
Ché Ulenga, the powerhouse behind the show, shares her journey on Namibia’s only music and entertainment radio and TV show. A passion for music Like many children growing up in Katutura in the 90s, music played a vital role in Ché’s upbringing. “It was part of family gatherings and social initiatives in our community and was used to share messages of hope, faith, love and peace. Namibia’s music was better, because it was closer to home and much more relatable than music from beyond,” says Ché. She never imagined, however, that a career that involves music would be on the cards for her. “I never thought I would have the opportunity to be a presenter on radio or TV. Looking back I now realise that I was being equipped for the role I find myself in today and the contribution I will make in future,” she says.
beat is Soukous/Kwassa, Oviritje or Rock. If you are telling authentic Namibian stories through music, then you have a place around the fire on The Tribe. With the show transitioning from radio to TV in 2018 it was time to do things differently. Ché describes the transition as “quick and easy”, mainly due to the existing relationship between 99FM and One Africa TV. The step from radio to television created a platform for the audience to engage with musicians and industry stakeholders on a personal level. The Tribe Exclusive was introduced to include interviews where industry insiders share insights on challenges in the industry while identifying areas in which it can grow. The show has also become a space where established artists and stakeholders share their musical journey and personal stories with Namibians and in so doing, empowering those who have dreams of becoming the next big name in the Land of the Brave.
The Tribe serves as a unifier of all the different tribes and cultures in Namibian music.
The journey The Tribe became a radio show when Ché joined 99FM. It started out as a way of creating a platform where Namibian music could thrive, and to challenge the music industry to create quality music that can air next to any other international hit on the charts. “The constant questions of ‘what tribe are you’ and ‘which group do you belong to’ are common among Namibians,” says Ché and adds that the question creates a further divide among people who have already been divided by segregation in the past. “But the music belongs to all of us as Namibians. It is our heritage of sounds, instruments and Namibian stories from all corners of the country that unite us as one beat. Music is the one thing that makes us one Tribe.” she says, explaining where the name of the show comes from. The Tribe serves as a unifier of all the different tribes and cultures in Namibian music. It does not matter which Namibian language you express yourself in, or whether your
The vibrant host is very optimistic about the future of Namibian music and says that things are looking promising.
“There is so much potential and true talent that can be harnessed, groomed and put on various platforms for purchase. Infrastructure and resources are a challenge and on top of that, investment in the industry is almost non-existent, but with the little it has and with investment from those who believe in the industry’s potential, it has expanded over the last 20+ years and breaks barriers every day,” she says. With people like Ché narrating the stories of Namibia’s rich music heritage, and shows like The Tribe capturing these stories, the future of Namibian music indeed looks promising. Watch The Tribe on One Africa TV (GoTV 90, DStv 284, DStv Now, TV2Africa.com) every Friday at 21h30 and repeat shows on Wednesdays at 07h00 and on Saturdays at 17h30. 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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Moving on Swiftly
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s February breaks and salaried employees give a collective sigh of relief after a long-awaited January payday, it is worth taking a moment to do a quick recap of 2019 and begin planning for the year ahead. Few would argue that 2019 was a far more tedious year than even 2017 or 2018, at least economically. While some Namibians may have recalibrated to a “new normal”, the extent of the drought combined with a depressed economic climate weighed on most. At least December brought some relief in the form of rain over much of the country, softening the blow of 2019.
The Namibia Statistics Agency’s (NSA) 3rd quarter National Accounts data, released in December, provided some colour to what the average Namibian experienced during the year. The data showed a fourth consecutive quarterly contraction in real GDP, the eighth such contraction in the last four years. On a year-to-date basis real domestic output was 2.4% lower than by the end of the 3rd quarter of 2018. What is more, output lagged all years post 2014. Therefore, on a real GDP basis, the economy performed at levels last seen in 2014. While that may have been a boom time, the fact is that more Namibians have entered the labour force and now rely on similar levels of output, and as a result unemployment and living standards deteriorated. Most Namibians will thus be happy to leave 2019 behind. Without dwelling on the past for much longer, it is also worth exploring the positives delivered by 2019. Despite the Namibia Dollar fluctuating above 2018’s closing level for most of the year, there were significant periods of strength in between and it ultimately ended the year 2.4% stronger against the US dollar. At the same time inflation moderated, trending down throughout the year, led by a considerable slowdown in food inflation and subdued housing-related cost increases. Currency strength and subdued core inflation in South Africa allowed the Reserve Bank (SARB) to cut interest rates by 25 basis points (0.25%) in an effort to support the economy. This in turn allowed the Bank of Namibia to cut interest rates in August, bringing slight relief to stretched Namibian borrowers. The Namibian economy was also largely spared from significant external shocks which may have resulted in further economic headwinds. The last quarter of 2019 served up #Fishrot as well as the most hotly contested general elections in Namibia’s short independent history. Both events were mired in controversy but we may view them through a positive lens (one might, however, need to unlock the deepest reserves of the imagination). While there is nothing positive about what took place in the Ministry of Fisheries or the state-owned fishing
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company for many years, six of the individuals involved are currently behind bars and significantly less comfortable than they have become accustomed to. This is more than can be said for the corrupt officials entangled in various scandalous acts south of Namibia’s borders. The fishing quota scandal has also resulted in an international spotlight falling on Namibia, which may make it all the more difficult for politicians to pursue questionable policies. 2019 was not a very positive year from a policy perspective and the current attention Namibia is attracting may provide civil society with more leverage to positively influence policy going forward. Namibia’s general elections are easier to view in a positive light. There are few things more effective at generating action from political leaders than a significant drop in support at the election booths. The ruling party lost its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and support for President Hage Geingob dropped to 56.3% from 86.7% in 2014. Namibian voters clearly voiced their dissatisfaction with the current administration, and this has already started to shake things up with the president announcing a downsizing of cabinet. It remains to be seen how this influences the political landscape
Economic Pulse
Susan Nel
but it is likely to slow the passage of nationalistic policies and hopefully lead to a more consultative process with regard to drafting legislation. This does not mean that the Namibian boat will stop taking on water, but it may delay a more serious economic depression.
potential storms. Age-old principles such as paying oneself first, through saving, and diversification of investments, including geographic diversification, should be among the components incorporated into such financial planning. While adequate planning cannot guarantee capital preservation, it will promote invaluable peace of mind while providing one the best possible foundations from which to pursue all of life’s nonfinancial opportunities. Financial planning thus forms the basis for a positive mindset, and positive mindsets are all-important as we start the new year. May it be a good one for you!
With that in mind, what do we expect for 2020? It seems unlikely that Namibia will experience an economic recovery this year. The economy remains fragile and exposed to external shocks as interest rates are already accommodative, government funds are unlikely to improve, and the policy environment may be slow, or possibly unable, to induce growth in the wake of returning investor confidence. Geo-political headwinds remain and so, too, the potential for external shocks to the Namibian economy. A myriad of potential pitfalls loom. But here is the catch: there is little an individual can do to change these external factors that influence our lives.
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.
Recognising this is the first step toward successfully navigating the undulations that 2020 is sure to serve up. During such uncertain times it becomes more critical to ensure that one’s personal financial planning is robust enough to weather any
To sign up for the Economic Pulse newsletter, send an email to: daleen@venture.com.na www.namibiatradedirectory.com
Eric van Zyl
NETWORK
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Why NamibGrens is the
PERFECT GLAMPING EXPERIENCE
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lamping, for those of you who don’t know, is a portmanteau of “glamorous” and “camping” and refers to the experience of getting out into nature camping, but with the luxuries and amenities that you would have had at a hotel or at home. In other words: flushing toilets, hot showers, comfy beds and no-need-to-pitch accommodation. And what better place to experience glamping in Namibia than at NamibGrens Guest Farm. The popularity of glamping must be due to the combined focus on comfort and indulgence in nature. Enjoying the spirit of camping, of being out in the wilderness, exploring nature, and still getting a night’s soft sleep. At NamibGrens Guest Farm the natural surroundings provide an escape from the harrowing chaos of everyday life, and the campsites come with private bathrooms, kitchen areas and deliciously cool swimming pools. The most important thing to decide upfront is how much of a glammed-up experience you want. For the most comfortable and effortless experience, book one of the villas, so that there’s a fulllength tub, a kitchen and a soft bed at your disposal, even though you are in the heart of the bush. Or, for a little less lux and a bit more rough, you can set up your own camp but have your meals at the farmhouse. This way, there’s so much more to the day than preparing meals and washing up. The point of glamping, when it comes right down to it, is to have a good time, whatever that means to you. Whether it’s going for the more traditional camping experience minus a few irks and discomforts, or going all out to relax and not lift a finger wherever possible - the options are all there at NamibGrens Guest Farm.
Enquiries: 081 127 8659 Tel: +264 61 304 051 (during office hours) Email: info@namibgrens.com www.namibgrens.com
There’s no doubt about it: NamibGrens Guest Farm is the perfect glamping destination.
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Deon Mathias
Tuwa Wolf
Photography: Martin Amushendje
Shaping Namibian Fashion Through a Cultural Lens
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force to reckon with in Namibian fashion, Deon Mathias is constantly using his cultural heritage to create modern fashion that is rooted in the rich history of the Aawambo people.
He says: “The use of our odelela print (old and new) in different, authentic, unseen translations has opened a door for new conversations not only in my country but everywhere I have showcased.” Those conversations allow him to educate others on his culture and heritage and on the fashion history of the Aawambo. “For example, the Himba people (to whom the Aawambo are partially related) were the first to start with braids. The very same culture has gone global and is still part and parcel of today’s fashion and beauty world,” Mathias says. Introducing Helao His new brand Helao is another example of how the young designer brings together the past and present lifestyle of the Bantu people of Namibia. He celebrates the Ovahimba, Ovaherero and Aawambo tribes with yellow for the sun, red for the soil, blue for the sky and gold for fire.
DeonAngelo, however, is a high-end luxury item which is manufactured in one-of-a-kind pieces. “It is an exclusive service and product targeted only at a selected clientele,” explains Deon. Deon also switched things up in the design stage, ditching the normal process of starting off with a sketch or digital drawing and following it up with pattern making before a piece comes alive through production. “This time we did it the other way round: realisation of the garment, to pattern making and then a sketch of the garment.“ Ahead of the pack Deon had the good fortune of learning the art of design from educators in a global fashion capital, Italy. He was then offered a life-changing internship with renowned South African is an designer David Tlale.
Helao affordable luxury which resonates with anyone’s cultural roots, especially that of the Namibian identity.
“Italy, which was the start of my journey in fashion, still has an effect on my work especially the design process and style of the DeonAngelo brand,” says Deon. He adds that his travels were a major influence on his design philosophy, giving him access to spaces that gave him the clout to have an impact on African fashion.
“All these elements highlight very important spiritual rituals that we still practice,” he says.
Deon has accomplished so much in his relatively short career. This has not stopped him from envisioning even bigger goals for himself and he continues to surprise with every new collection.
Mathias created his own version of the iconic Odelela material - a staple of the traditional Aawambo dress - by modernising it through digital printing.
“The only competitors I deal with are the last products we sold or released. ‘Was the quality good? How can we improve?’. I am my own competition from start to finish.”
The brand Helao came to life after two years of producing Namibian and African inspired pieces which he then decided to turn into a unique brand. About the difference between the Helao and DeonAngelo brands, Deon says “Helao is an affordable luxury which resonates with anyone’s cultural roots, especially that of the Namibian identity. It is offered in mass production as well as retail.”
And if you still thought there was no topping his previous accomplishments, his upcoming projects will have your jaws on the ground as Deon takes his brands international. Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Concept Engineer, PR Consultant and fashion writer. Contact her via Twitter @rukeeveni or Instagram @rukeekaakunga.
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C-A-U-T-I-O-N
Recognising the seven most common early signs of cancer
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ur bodies are miraculous creations, masterfully woven together in an intricate design that amazes even the greatest scientific and medical minds. There are systems and orderly processes running ceaselessly to keep all our parts functioning as they should. Our cells are constantly growing and dividing in a systematic process that allows for old, worn-out cells to be replaced by new ones. Sometimes, however, this process is disrupted: some cells may develop abnormally and start to divide at a rapid and uncontrolled rate and invade the surrounding tissues. This is the beginning of cancer. Various factors can set off the chain reaction that leads to cancer, and many of these factors are still unknown. Known risk factors related to cancer include advancing age, a family history of cancer, hormonal factors, exposure to certain viruses, smoking, poor diet and alcohol abuse. Anything that can cause damage to the DNA in your body’s cells could potentially lead to the development of cancer. Cancer can affect almost any part of the body: the bones, blood, skin and organs. As cancer grows and progresses, some cancer cells can break off and travel to distant places in the body through the blood or the lymph system and form new growths/tumors far from the original site. The extent to which the cancer has spread through the body is described in the staging, determined by special tests that are done either surgically, by physical examination or by the examination of tissue or blood samples. Stage 1 describes cancer that was detected at an early stage whereas Stage 4 describes cancer that has become invasive and spread to other parts of the body. Staging helps the treating Doctor to determine the best course of treatment and assists them in estimating a person’s prognosis. The earlier cancer is detected and treated, the better a person’s chances of survival. It is vital for all of us to become familiar
with the risk factors that can lead to cancer as well as the early warning signs of cancer. The American Cancer Society uses the acronym C-A-U-T-I-O-N to help recognise the seven most common early signs of common forms of cancer: C A U T I O
hange in bowel or bladder habits sore that does not heal nusual bleeding or discharge hickening or lump in the breast, testicles or elsewhere ndigestion or difficulty swallowing bvious change in the size, colour, shape, or thickness of a wart, mole or mouth sore N agging cough or hoarseness Additional symptoms that may be warning signs include: • Persistent headaches • Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite • Chronic pain in the bones or any other part of the body • Persistent fatigue, nausea or vomiting • Persistent low-grade fever (constant or intermittent) • Repeated infections Having any of these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have cancer – many other health challenges can cause them, too. But if you have any of these symptoms and are concerned please visit your doctor or healthcare practitioner for further investigation and advice. Remember, your best chance at beating cancer is by detecting it at an early stage, and it’s best to undergo regular screening tests and also perform self-examinations regularly. Don’t throw caution to the wind! References: American Cancer Society. The seven warning signs of cancer. Available at http:// www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-early-detectionsigns-symptoms>. [October 2014].
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A
Mindfulness re you, like most, calling 2020 your year of plenty? By now, with the rosy glow of the holidays having worn off, most of us are starting to feel the weight of our personal struggles bear down on us again. How can we hold onto the joy we felt in our vacation time, and carry it with us into a meaningful new year?
Mindfulness comes to mind. Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present in the moment. And being present in the moment is the medicine that fights stress or sadness. While a bit of a buzzword in it’s own right, it’s also a powerful tonic to setting up a rewarding life for yourself. Mindfulness is a quality that can be cultivated with practise. The more you do it, the better you get at it. With practise we get better and better at being fully engaged in the moment. Which means to be without judgment or worry. This is achieved by being aware of ourselves, our thoughts and our feelings without getting caught up in them.
in which we create unnecessary tension and anxiety for ourselves. We do this through the way in which we interpret the events of life, and compare these events to how we thought things should happen. We make bold statements in our mind, like, “The big rain storm overheard must just wait, because my flight needs to leave now and I can’t be delayed.” As long as we believe that life should unfold according to our likes and dislikes, we will feel that we are in constant struggle with its flow.
No wonder there is so much tension, anxiety and fear. Each of us actually believes that things should be the way we want them.
A beautiful book by Micheal Singer, The Surrender Experiment, starts by saying: “Life rarely unfolds exactly as we want it to. And if we stop and think about it that makes perfect sense. The scope of life is universal, and the fact that we are not actually in control of life’s events should be self-evident. The universe has been around for 13.8 billion years, and the processes that determine that flow of life around us did not begin when we were born, nor will that end when we die… No wonder there is so much tension, anxiety and fear. Each of us actually believes that things should be the way we want them.” To become more mindful is to become aware of the ways
This doesn’t mean we are powerless. In fact we are powerful in ways we barely even comprehend. You are powerful, you have endless power to affect change in your own life. When we allow our minds to be filled with thoughts of what we want versus what we get, we taint the experiences of life with worries and fears. This robs us of our power. This steals away our ability to be here and in the present. This focus on the future or the past sees us passing through the moment, on the way to somewhere else, and in doing this we miss the moment entirely. That’s how life ends up passing us by. As Albert Einstein said, “I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.”
So, if cultivating powerful habits, which propel you to a life of joy and bliss, is what you’d like for the year ahead of you, start with mindfulness. Start this moment by taking a deep breath in and out of your nose. Notice your breath, notice your thoughts, notice your surroundings, find the beauty in this moment. It’s there, just waiting for you to find it. Kirsty Watermeyer Kirsty is a Yoga and Meditation Coach, a Transformation Facilitator and Writer. Contact her at kirsty@seednamibia.com
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CLAMPING DOWN ON PLASTIC POLLUTION
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n increasing number of countries are clamping down on plastic and Africa is leading the way!
Imagine more than 16,000 Boeing 747s in a pile – that’s the weight of the amount of plastic produced annually: a whopping 300 million tonnes. Single-use plastic bags, one of the biggest culprits of waste, account for around 40% of plastics produced globally each year. These bags have become an environmental headache. To date over 30 African countries have banned or taxed them. Rwanda led the way with a ban on all plastic bags and plastic packaging more than a decade ago, while Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia are among the other subSaharan countries that have placed a total ban on plastic bags. Countries like neighbouring South Africa introduced a levy on the sale of single-use plastic bags. Namibia is set to join the ranks. Environment and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta announced the introduction of a levy on the use of single-use plastic bags in August 2018. The levy of 50 cents per single-use bag has been gazetted, but must still be approved by the National Assembly. At the same time the minister also announced that the
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importation and domestic production of plastic bags containing carbon and acid calcium salt would be banned. These additives make recycling impossible with the existing technology. Taking the country’s commitment to a cleaner and safer environment one step further, in June 2019 the minister announced a ban on the use of single-use plastic bags in all state-owned protected areas. Most plastic products are not biodegradable, but they break down into tiny particles of microplastic – 5 mm in length or smaller – and then break down further into even smaller pieces. These tiny particles simply disappear into the soil where they cannot be recovered or find their way into the air – and take decades to finally disintegrate, if ever. It is small wonder then that plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues during the past two decades. Plastic bags pose a risk to terrestrial animals that consume them by mistake – resulting in blockages of their digestive tracts, damage to organs and possibly even death. They create vast volumes of waste at landfills and are a source of air pollution caused by burning – which in turn is the cause of respiratory diseases. They clog sewage and wastewater systems, causing flooding during the rainy season and serve as breeding places for mosquitos and other insects, as well as spoiling otherwise pristine landscapes.
POLLUTION OF OUR OCEANS announced in July 2019 that his ministry was consulting An estimated eight million tonnes of plastic waste find their plastic manufacturers and other stakeholders to identify way into our oceans every year as a result of dumping by alternatives to plastic packaging by 2022. vessels, being blown out to sea or washed into the sea by rivers or discharged by rainwater systems. Plastic straws are Another alternative is an increased emphasis on the one of the most problematic sources of ocean pollution. They recycling of plastic products into raw material that can are left on beaches or are simply discarded be used for second life-cycle products such in the street, blown into the sea from open as refuse bags and plastic pipes. One such dustbins or dumped in the ocean by vessels. Namibian company that has embraced In another The danger they pose was highlighted when this environmental responsibility is Plastic step forward, a video of biologists removing a plastic straw Packaging. The company’s subsidiary, from the nostrils of an Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Namibia Polymer Recyclers in Okahandja, Namibia is went viral not too long ago. This set in motion 70 km north of Windhoek, collects and buys considering an awareness of the need to do away with selected plastic waste. It is sorted, washed single-use plastic straws in many countries – and recycled into raw material which can be a total ban including Namibia. used to manufacture a variety of new plastic on plastic products. packaging by While the ban and imposition of levies on single-use plastic bags is a major step So, while considerable progress has been 2022. forward, there’s a long list of other plastic made in the past few years to tackle the products contributing to plastic pollution – environmental headache caused by plastic food containers, plastic water and cool drink containers, pollution, a lot still remains to be done to get rid of the disposable plastic cups and sweet wrappers, to mention threat posed by plastic to the environment and to the but a few. health of Planet Earth and its inhabitants. In another step forward, Namibia is considering a total ban on plastic packaging by 2022. Minister Shifeta
Namibian freelance journalist and travel writer: Willie Olivier
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FAMILY AFFAIRS Sundays 18H00
PLANET MICHAELS Sundays 18H30
Namibian Reality Hour
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Channel 90
Channel 284
Home Is The Place You Miss From Far
I
Namibia is no exception.
n the middle of Johannesburg traffic, inching forwards at the speed of what-fresh-hell-is-this, the strangest thought pops into my head: if I were in Windhoek, at any time of day, even in what back home we mistakenly call “traffic”, I would be home within twenty minutes even if I took the longest route through town.
soaks the city for a straight week. And then, on the last day, I have to leave the hotel three hours before my flight to avoid traffic en route to the airport. Before I can stop myself, I utter the line I hate hearing most from other travellers: “Back home this kind of thing…” Great. Now I am one of those people.
Some background: I am in Johannesburg, the City of Gold, the sprawling metropolis of money, attending one of the continent’s most popular literary festivals – the Abantu Book Festival in Soweto. This is a big thing for me as a debut author: literary festivals are where you make all of the important publishing contacts. Panels with awardwinning and world-famous writers, interviews, meeting readers and publishers – these are just some of the things in store for me when the festival is at full tilt. But all I can think about is how much I miss Windhoek’s excuse for traffic. A strange thought, really, considering that even when I am back home I plan my errands around doing as little driving as possible because I am certain that sitting in Home a car was not part of the divine plan made always for me.
a
I have always loathed people whose traveling experiences are viewed through the lens of their home-based privileges. They do not have this. I cannot believe that people there do this. I tell you, this place is so much better. The food is nothing like back home. I thought I would never be one of them. That was until I missed Windhoek’s smallness, predictability and the relative ease with which I coordinate my life. Having spent a chunk of my life in migration and diaspora, the idea of home has always been fluid. Home has always been a temporary concern, a place where you do the best you can before you have to move on to something new somewhere else. It has never been a permanent place with permanent routines that were all mine, has that helped to define me. In some ways, been then, I understand the back home people. Sometimes they are just missing home. temporary
Johannesburg is a different beast. concern, a place When I land at Hosea Kutako International Everything is thirty or forty minutes away, where you do sometimes an hour. Meeting with friends Airport, the immigration line moves at the is an organisational nightmare as complex speed of no-this-is-a-fresh-hell I know. The the best you can as the coordination of the D-Day landings things that work, work; the things that do before you have not, do not. But the routines and places are because of distance, restaurant bookings, and the ensuing commutes. One wrong familiar. I know that in half an hour I will to move on to exit on the highway and one has to loop be home. I know the heat. I know the dust. something new around for kilometres just to get back to the I know the mosquitoes. I understand how starting point. At one point my destination somewhere else. the queues work. I know nothing is ever far is so far away that the Uber driver and I run away, even if it is on the other side of town. out of small talk. I pass the time looking at I know the absurdity of some of the things the miles of tarmac we cover and how, when I eventually I will experience once I am back in the city. And because I arrive at my destination, I would have reached another am aware of them, I do not miss them. town in Namibia if I had been on the road that long. On the way home, rudely and dangerously overtaken by Then, later, at my hotel, load-shedding kicks in. I am told by a car on the single-lane road into Windhoek, I turn to my the concierge the power is most likely to be back on in four younger brother and my wife and say, “Ag, you know, in hours. “Most likely?” I ask, an answer I appreciate because, Johannesburg this kind of thing wouldn’t…” well, even back home the provision of services is touch-andgo, but I was hoping that things in southern Africa’s most Yeah. Home is the place you miss when you are far away. populous city would be a bit more… certain. The concierge says one never knows: “It could be five hours.” Rémy Ngamije is a Rwandan-born Namibian novelist, columnist, essayist, short-story writer, and photographer. The power returns six hours later. The festival is an His debut novel The Eternal Audience Of One is available enriching and successful affair. I manage to see some from Blackbird Books and Amazon. His short stories have friends, at least the ones who can make the long drives appeared in Litro Magazine, AFREADA, The Johannesburg to our meeting places. I take in some of the city’s sights. I Review of Books, The Amistad, The Kalahari Review, American do my best to adjust to Johannesburg’s distances, costs, Chordata, Doek!, and Azure. More of his writing can be read frustrations, quirks and unseasonal rainy weather that on his website: remythequill.com
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an extraordinary EXPERIENCE
T 061 209 0990 / WA 081 309 5070 / E info@soulsticedayspawh.co.za www.soulsticedayspawindhoek.co.za
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SURPRISING REASONS YOU’RE NOT LOSING WEIGHT
A
ccording to the stats, about half of us wouldn’t mind losing some excess body fat. Despite the emergence of every diet imaginable and seemingly rapid advances in the weight loss industry, the only thing that reliably leads to weight loss still is bariatric surgery.
Spoiler: Diets don’t work. Especially not the ‘crash’ kind we keep falling for. We’re up against a lot of factors when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, most notably the 21st century obesogenic environment we find ourselves in - everything processed, convenience first, self-care last, limited movement, maximum stress) Here are 3 lesser known (slimming) brain snacks about shifting perspectives and lasting weight loss: 1. Stress causes your body to hold on to fat. Just like us, stress comes in various shapes and sizes. There are the obvious stressors related to things like work, finances, loss, fear of loss, illness, etc, and then there are the more subtle causes of constantly elevated cortisol from things like over-exercising, getting less sleep to get more exercise, micro-managing your meals, restricting and resisting everything you “enjoy” and feeling inadequate more often than you feel pleasure... If meditation, mental health and stress management aren’t at the top of your Healthy Weight To Dolists yet, put them there today. 2. We still believe “healthy diet foods” are better than wholesome natural foods. Fruit juices, low fat yoghurt, low-calorie crackers, packaged sports bars, diet sodas, “slimming” cups of soup, “health” cereals. All these “foods” are marketed as WEIGHT FRIENDLY but they’re simply the opposite. They’re loaded with sugar (read labels) and they don’t meet our nutritional requirements. They all cause a spike in blood sugar very soon after being consumed. Whatever raises blood sugar rapidly, increases body fat rapidly. When in doubt, eat as closely to the way our hunter-gatherer ancestors did...real, wholesome, natural foods.
Whatever raises blood sugar rapidly, increases body fat rapidly.
3. We’re not aware of our food intolerances. Eating foods that don’t work for your body triggers a low-grade inflammatory response which can prevent weight loss. Intolerances are different to allergies - they’re way more subtle and you might never know you’re intolerant to a food until you completely eliminate (and then reintroduce) it. Want more sensible weight loss info? Klara has plenty! Be sure to catch her next wellness feature in the March issue of FLYWESTAIR. Find Klara on her offbeat Instagram feed (@bothsidesbuttered) where she distills the principles of optimal health down to their most foundational basics, principles that are accessible and easy for us all to follow. Klara is a Nutritionist and Health Coach with a BSc (Hons) degree from Middlesex University in the UK. She works with corporates and individuals to optimize wellbeing and boost productivity. She regularly writes for a number of leading health and wellness publications and speaks at events about the physical effects of psychological stress. NB: This article is not intended as a healthcare or medical service, nor should any information in it be considered medical advice. Only your physician or other healthcare provider can advise you. We make no claims, representations or guarantees. Always consult with your doctor before making any changes to your lifestyle. No information in this article or publication should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition. All information is intended for informational purposes only.
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Connect your remote business to the world
VSAT provides stable and uninterrupted connectivity in remote and rural areas and is perfect for Tourism establishments.
VSAT provides stable and un-interrupted connectivity in remote and rural areas and is perfect for Tourism establishments.
To find out more about how we can help you with financing options for remote connectivity, please contact Gibson Mostert (+26461) 299 2103 MostertG@fnbnamibia.com.na or Reggy Louw (+264 61) 299 7220 RLouw@fnbnamibia.com.na
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Bespoke Corporate Travel Expert care Global partnerships Travel cost management Innovative technology Actionable insights
www.trip.com.na
TRAVEL IN YOUR BEST EXPERIENCE
OUR SERVICES AIRLINE RESERVATIONS AND TICKETING CAR AND SHUTTLE SERVICE BOOKINGS INCENTIVE SEMINARS/ CONVENTIONS
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TRAVEL INSURANCE HOTEL RESERVATION PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATION LEISURE BOOKINGS
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Catching that perfect moment
M
ark-Peter van Wyk was enamoured with photography from an early age. With his father’s film camera he would capture images of his family, their pets, of insects and animal life in and around his home. Once developed, the resulting blurry images - due to lack of focus - were fun for him to decipher and would conjure up different realities from the actual subject matter. The photographer-to-be continued to develop his understanding of single reflex cameras and was always taking photos of whatever place or moment he found himself in.
After school Mark-Peter studied photography at the Ruth Prowse School of Art in Cape Town, where he learned traditional darkroom methods in addition to desktop publishing. During this time he discovered that his passion lay in people, their stories and the spaces they occupy. Although the times dictate a predominant use of digital photography, he continues to take pictures on film because he feels that the tactility of the images is unrivalled. “The camera you use, the film type and the shutter speed make the images take on a personality of their own. Even when you try to control the way the image is captured, it may still surprise you as perhaps there is something unexpected waiting for you upon development,” he explains. To Mark-Peter the emotions evoked by images caught on film is what put him onto the path of photography.
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Mark-Peter lives in Cape Town and Windhoek where he works in film and photo production. He considers himself a portrait and documentary photographer.
Website: www.markpetervanwyk.com Instagram: emps_official
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NETWORK
FEATURING
Latest Business News The Economy Government Ministries Private And Public Service Institutions Business & Proffessional Organizations Diplomatic Missions, Parastatals & Local Authorities
ANNUAL REVIEW OF NAMIBIAN TRADE & INDUSTRY MULTI-PLATFORM MEDIA NETWORK OF BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS & TRADERELATED INFORMATION, PROMOTING AND ENCOURAGING LOCAL AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT ANNUAL PORTFOLIO • WEBSITE • E-BOOK FORMAT • THE ECONOMIC PULSE • SOCIAL MEDIA
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PART OF THE VENTURE MEDIA GROUP 44
www.namibiatradedirectory.com | elmarie@venture.com.na | +264 61 383 450
advertorial
Standard Bank Sky Lounge at Eros Airport
S
ituated in the heart of the Namibian capital Windhoek, Eros Airport is to many Namibians a modern meeting place. It is a place where tourists, politicians, bankers, lawyers, miners, families and aviation enthusiasts come together. All having a common need or interest in aviation or to just travel by air. Eros Airport does not carry its relevance in terms of its share of global air passenger volumes; it does however carry enormous relevance in Namibia for Namibia. On a daily basis scheduled passenger flights operate out of Eros Airport linking the Namibian capital with Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Walvis Bay and Oranjemund. Passengers are Namibian icons, role players, movers and shakers with some returning home to North for the weekend, whilst others may return from their latest development project at the coast. Eros Airport is also the corporate airport of choice for most business and corporate aircraft entering and leaving Namibia. Business jets from around the world carrying high net worth individuals, corporate executives and politicians descend into Eros as the most convenient corporate airport in Namibia.
The Standard Bank Sky Lounge is the first and only available passenger leisure and VIP lounge facility at Eros Airport. Having identified a need for luxury facilities aimed at the executive end of the Namibian domestic and international passengers; Standard Bank Sky Lounge is positioned to service all local and international VIP passengers moving through Eros Airport. The Lounge is situated on the top floor of the terminal building with views out onto the flight line and mountains surrounding Windhoek. Services inside the lounge includes free wifi, bar service, coffee supplied by Deluxe Coffeeworks and a wide variety of food and entertainment options.
Offering to passengers and lounge visitors a comfortable and relaxed airport experience with comfortable seating and facilities. Passengers are greeted at the check in counter. Ushered to the lounge and when it is time for their departure; taken by a Sky Lounge representative through security screening to the aircraft. Aimed at offering a hassle and stress free travel experience.
For further information or bookings you can reach us at: Standard Bank Sky Lounge and Cafe - Eros Airport 081 124 1575/081 291 4362 annagret@theskylounge.net/ jamie@theskylounge.net
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© PHOTO BY OLWEN EVANS
THE RHINO GOLD BAR
© PHOTO BY OLWEN EVANS
| CREATIVE PHILANTHROPY FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR PLANET |
WHAT DIFFERENCE CAN 1000 OUNCES OF GOLD MAKE?
Through a ground-breaking donation of 1000 ounces of Namibian gold by B2Gold, organizations and individuals have the opportunity to contribute directly to the protection of the last free-roaming population of black rhinos left in the world by investing in a limited edition Namibian Rhino Gold Bar. Proceeds from the sales will provide long-term sustainable funding for rhino conservation on communal land in Namibia, where a rhino-based economy is developing – supporting livelihoods and providing hope for the future to rural communities. This initiative is administered by B2Gold and its Advisory Committee and supports the activities of Save the Rhino Trust Namibia, Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation, Conservancy Rhino Rangers and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, for the benefit of black rhino conservation and communities in northwest Namibia.
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These are graphic renderings and not the final product.
TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE
| CONTACT rhino@b2gold.com |
“F
reedom is seen as an illusion not many can obtain, but freedom comes in little pieces of self-acceptance, higher self-esteem, and being truly yourself” - Zodidi Gaseb
The path to celebrating our uniqueness has several fundamental steps. For many of us, these include self-acceptance and learning to embrace all that we are. For Zodidi Gaseb this path includes celebrating the fact that she’s slightly different and ultimately she challenged the status quo. In 2015, Zodidi wowed audiences with her TEDx talk titled, I am not your stereotype, I am not my hair. Her talk was selected as one of only 15 talks from around the globe to celebrate TEDx’s one billion views.
it’s a necessity. Society conditions us to look, act, dress and be a certain way. How liberating it is when you don’t conform because you are an individual. In terms of embracing natural hair, I’ve learnt about a healthier lifestyle, being conscious about what I put on or in my body, what products I use and whether they are beneficial to my hair and scalp or if they will cause more damage. This is also part of a bigger role we play as this generation. As a mother, I have learnt that we set an example to the younger generation and we need to believe that it’s more than OK to be different, to be individuals, to be ourselves in every sense of the word.
Zodidi Gaseb Challenging Stereotyping
Today, as an advocate for women everywhere to embrace their natural hair, Zodidi is running a successful business based on her passion. She uses her natural hair care range, African Naturals, to help others care for their locks in a wholesome way. In this interview she talks about embracing the life that makes you uniquely you. MYD: How did you get into the business of advocating natural hair and self-acceptance? ZG: In 2013 I did the big chop, which is basically cutting off all the damaged ends of your hair to reveal your natural strands and start growing healthier hair. I did this because of my daughter, but also for myself. After I cut my hair I was confused because for the first time in years I didn’t know how to take care of my natural curls. I went onto Youtube and various blogs and found information on how to take care of my hair in this climate and society, plus advice on starting my own line of natural hair care products. On this journey I received some good comments as well as bad, which only encouraged me to truly be myself. The more I embraced my natural self, the more I realised the positive change it had on my daughter. She even had her hair chopped, too, a year after I cut mine. It is because of this that I continue to be true to myself and to challenge society’s stereotypes of how women should be. MYD: Why is it important that we learn to embrace our natural self? ZG: If ‘natural selves’ means ‘your authentic selves’, I think
MYD: You have turned this passion into a business, African Naturals. How are you challenging the status quo with this business? ZG: I started African Naturals a few years ago to promote natural hair products, in particular unrefined shea butter, made in Africa. The business expanded into events where naturals gather and exchange info and tips. MYD: What is the most important thing you need when you start a business? ZG: Keep it simple and let passion be your daily cup of tea. Connect with like-minded people, listen to your customers and always have a bigger vision. Paperwork is half of the business, money is a small part. Passion and vision are where the magic is.
MYD: Did you need to trust yourself to be able to do what you’re doing? ZG: Honestly, there were times I was not sure because I was aware that not everybody would react positively towards this change. But there was a sense of freedom when I decided not to care about the opinions others had of me. Being kind to yourself increases self-confidence and lessens your need for approval. Loving yourself and caring for yourself not only increases self-trust, it also deepens your connections to others. I had to find that trust again, the same trust I had before society told me who I should be. I found it and that was beautiful.
Zodidi’s story is part of a series celebrating Namibians in partnership with Master Your Destiny. Read more in the MYD Journal at: www.issuu.com/99fm/docs/99fm_myd_ book_2018
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Celebrating 30 Years of Independence:
NEW FLAG. WHO DIS?
N
ational flags are used to represent a country and often have a lot of symbolism incorporated into their design. Some are packed with meaning while others look as if the minimum amount of effort went into it. After general elections were held in November 1989, the soon-to-be newly independent Namibia had to get a flag of its own. It was a tricky, yet extremely significant task to find a flag under which this new-born country and its colourful people can unite. Who designed the flag? Even though the design process is well documented, there has been some confusion in recent years about who the actual designer of the Namibian flag is. In an age where research is done on Wikipedia and opinions are formed by reading news headlines on social media feeds, it comes as no surprise that some poor reporting finds its way into newspapers every so often. In October 2015 an article appeared in a prominent Namibian newspaper about a certain Roy Allen, a British national and a well-travelled raconteur, who claimed among other things to have designed the Namibian flag. He was interviewed in Plymouth, UK, when the Namibian national rugby team used this port city as a base during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. During the 1960s and 70s, Allen lived in South Africa before he stayed in Namibia from 1978 to 1982. It was during this time that he fell in love with the country, so much so that eight years later he jumped at the chance to design the national flag. According to Allen he spent some time in Egypt when he was young, which led to an interest in Egyptology. Against this background he supposedly included the sun with rays on the flag which he said is an Egyptian pictogram for good governance. Furthermore, he apparently designed the flag on his kitchen table, as an entry for a competition run by the Windhoek Observer newspaper. Since he lived in South Africa at the time, it is unfortunately not clear how Allen found out about this competition or why one local newspaper would run a competition on a matter of national importance. The “honour” bestowed upon Allen (by himself) of having designed Namibia’s flag was short-lived, however, as the same newspaper published an article six days later in which
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the real designers refuted the claims made by Allen. In this follow-up article, Allen changed his tune and conceded that others may have worked on his design later but maintained that the origin of the flag is exactly as he described. More Confusion Frederick Gordon Brownell passed away at the age of 79 in May last year. His is not a name that most Namibians or South Africans are familiar with, yet he played quite a prominent role in South Africa’s history. Brownell was South Africa’s State Herald from 1982 to 2002 and in that capacity he was responsible for designing the new South African national flag. A task he performed so well that the flag which was only supposed to be an interim solution, was universally accepted by all South Africans. It is the flag as we know it today. For evidence of the continued popularity of this flag look no further than the underwear which rugby player Faf de Klerk showed off when the Springboks celebrated their 2019 Rugby World Cup victory. On Brownell’s passing many South African online media outlets wrongly reported that he also designed the Namibian flag, which some of Namibia’s media houses picked up without question and proceeded to relay as the truth. An unfortunate event that showed a complete disregard for the actual designers, their country’s history and the powers of the world wide web also known as Google. Due to this widely shared misinformation somewhat of a storm was set in motion on Namibian social media in which the extent of Brownell’s involvement, if at all, was heatedly debated. Who then designed the Flag? After the 1989 elections the transitional government chose a group of people familiar with the country, the people and the independence struggle, for the responsibility to design a national flag. Through a competition run by the National Symbols Sub-Committee, established by the transitional government to investigate and provide technical advice on new national symbols for Namibia, Namibians were asked to send in designs of a flag that would be fit to serve as a national symbol. Working with the 835 proposals submitted (870 entries according to some sources) the sub-committee met throughout January 1990 in order to decide on a flag
Celebrating 30 Years of Independence
suitable to respectfully represent Namibia. Out of six short-listed designs, three stood out and were combined to form Namibia’s national flag. The final design was presented to the Constituent Assembly (which became the National Assembly upon independence) on 2 February 1990 unanimously accepted. The designers: Theo Jankowski, Don Stevenson and Ortrud Clay.
some role to play. The late former Foreign Minister, Theo-Ben Gurirab, said that he remembered Allen’s name but that he definitely did not design the flag. This disproves Allen’s statement that he together with Gurirab specifically worked out the sun motif. The extent of the role played by Allen will probably never be known. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 87, and there seems to be no one who remembers his involvement at all.
Jankowski, originally from Rehoboth, was a teacher at the time. A few years later he became the (somewhat As for Brownell, he never professed that he designed the controversial) CEO of the Rehoboth Town Namibian flag as is claimed on his Wikipedia Council. Stevenson, an American citizen who page. As South African State Herald and had been living in the country for a number of renowned vexillologist (expert on flags) he Thirty years years with his family, is a designer by profession. was invited to serve on Namibia’s National on, and while He worked for various advertising agencies and Symbols Sub-Committee. He did have a hand the controversy opened his own advertising and public relations in combining the selected three designs into surrounding company in Windhoek before independence. a composite of the flag as it is today, as well Clay, also a teacher, was born and raised in as providing technical support in assuring the design of Windhoek. She has worked in Cape Town and it conformed to international criteria and our beautiful Windhoek and now lives in Lüderitz. specifications for flags. Sadly his role in the flag might be design is largely confused not only by the interesting, Even though no colour on the flag has a keyboard warriors on social media but even specific meaning, the symbolism attributed to by the Namibian government. In an article it should not each colour was announced at the unveiling that appeared in the Republikein newspaper distract from the ceremony on 9 March 1990. Red represents on the flag controversy shortly after Brownell’s fact that it is a Namibia’s most important resource: its death, the executive director of the Ministry of national symbol people. It refers to their heroism and their Information and Communication Technology, determination to build a future of equal that has united a Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana, stated that he played opportunity for all. White refers to peace and no part in the design process of the flag. country divided unity, while green symbolises vegetation and Brownell’s doctorate thesis titled Convergence by 105 years of agricultural resources. Blue represents the and Unification: The National Flag of South colonialism. clear Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, Africa in Historical Perspective is available the country’s precious water resources and online for those who’d like to read an account rain, and the golden-yellow sun represents life of his involvement in the Namibian flag design. and energy. Thirty years on, and while the controversy surrounding the What About Allen and Brownell’s Claims? design of our beautiful flag might be interesting, it should not distract from the fact that it is a national symbol that Allen’s claim that he was responsible for the flag design is has united a country divided by 105 years of colonialism. A easily refutable. Substantial documentation exists to prove flag that as Namibians we can be extremely proud of. him wrong. However, because of the large number of inputs received (even from opposition parties) during the design phase of the flag, it is plausible that Allen might have had Le Roux van Schalkwyk
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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
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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.
INSTAFAMOUS WINNERS
@808penda
@annie_0289
@fransy_fps
@jen_adv
@nangyellen
@wanettemeyer
@_sh_lene
@anjabasson
@claudien_ace
@d_angelo_na
@elmielms
@gabrielfessy
Congratulations to all our #flywestair winners over the past few months! We hope each and every one of you enjoy your free return trip with us and that we will welcome you as guests many more times in the future. Check out our new competition on page 7! Keep taking those epic pics and keep tagging us, we love the selfie love you share. @katopi_kondjeni
@kristiana_mandume 51
LEGAL PRACTITIONERS, NOTARIES & CONVEYANCERS +264 61 38 8850 | info@ferasmuslaw.com.na | 5 Conradie street | Windhoek
PRACTICAL WISDOM, TRUSTED ADVICE
GRETHA DOS SANTOS PROPERTY PRACTITIONER RESIDENTIAL SALES SPECIALIST
stitched by hand in Namibia @barkdesign
+264 61 40 1494 reservations@rivercrossing.com.na www.rivercrossing.com.na
061 22 0673 +264 81 284 3180 Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, 63 Suiderhof, Windhoek, 9000
Namibia Property Appraisers CC
Accredited at all major Financial Institutions
52
Accredited Assessments Residential properties Commercial properties Industrial properties Agricultural valuations Sworn valuations
Principal Valuer Adri Holz National Diploma: Real Estate (Technicon South Africa) Sworn Appraiser
Windhoek Office +264 81 127 1221 info@namibiaprop.biz Gobabis Office +264 81 128 8655 rural@namibiaprop.biz
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
INVESTING IN A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL NAMIBIANS Debmarine Namibia is proud to be a global leader in marine diamond recovery.
