The annual Mwenyopaleka roadshow of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group, which employs just over 5200 people, is in full-swing with shows that kicked-off at Walvis Bay; Otjiwarongo, Tsumeb, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Oshakati and Ondangwa.
Sonja Thieme, Group Manager: Employee Engagement, explained that this programme was part of the strategic employee engagement initiative and started in 2004 with the purpose of creating pride and passion among all O&L employees while also mobilising employees to actively and consistently internalise the group’s purpose, values and vision.
“Mwenyopaleka is an Oshiwambo word meaning ‘revitalisation’, but it can also be used as a synonym for ‘rebirth’. Over the past few years, the Mwenyopaleka road show programme has allowed the group to promote and communicate these objectives to employees,” said Thieme.
The employee engagement team has been on the road for 11 years and builds on the previous year’s messaging while also following the strategic messaging of the vision 2019 journey in order to create O&L ambassadors. “We include a variety of industrial theatre, songs, dance, a performance and a game show to bring alive the purpose, vision and values in order to achieve our F19 targets namely employer of choice; N$2 billion EBIT; 4 000 additional employment opportunities; and reduction of our carbon footprint by 20 percent,” said Thieme.
Feedback from the O&L staff has been extremely positive. The O&L Otjiwarongo team said: “We are overjoyed to be part of Mwenyopaleka. We laughed and danced and created a powerful positive attitude. The team explained our purpose, values and vision in a very understandable way. We are so proud to be part of one of the leading companies in our country.”
From Walvis Bay the comments were: “The 1st Mwenyopaleka show started off in full swing with lots of camera ‘clicks!’; ‘selfies’ and shouting ‘cheese!’ at the coast! The music, dancing and posing for pictures really drew in the crowds. The laughter session during the show and the amazing prizes made it all the more interesting and fun! Well done to the actors who passionately shared our group vision, purpose and values. We feel renewed and revived after the show, boasting proudly about our O&L.”
O&L was voted by its employees as the Best Company to Work For in the large business category in Namibia and the southern African region in the Deloitte Best Company to Work For Survey consecutively since 2011 to date.