By Fifi Rhodes
WINDHOEK – The drive towards Vision 2030 has inspired residents of Samora Machel Constituency in Katutura with the idea to set up their own industrial park in future.
Plans are already in motion with a fundraising gala dinner slated for 20 July, followed by an industrial exhibition from 29 July to 2 August to showcase the potential the constituency has to offer. The venue will be the Ramatex building.
Windhoek City councillors who reside in the constituency were mandated to start negotiations with the Windhoek Municipality to identify land where the envisaged industrial park could be built.
Retired businessman and former vice-president of the Windhoek Show Society, Geno Himarwa, is at the helm of the organising committee and wants to see the project off the ground as soon as possible.
Pushing the agenda forward is the well-known Twapewa Mundjanima-Kadhikwa, who is the owner of Xwama Restaurant, and businessman David Namalenga of Dinapama Garment Factory in Windhoek’s Northern Industrial Area.
Namalenga says the idea behind establishing an industrial park is to uphold the name and legacy of the late Mozambican president Samora Machel, whom the constituency was named after.
“We want to see change in this constituency. We want to unlock the potential of Samora Machel. We want to create something for our residents and create jobs for our people,” he said during a planning meeting held on Sunday at Xwama in Independence Avenue.
Under the theme “Implementation of Practical Measures for Industrialisation by 2030,” Himarwa who runs the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) southern branch at Mariental, said they also took part in serious talks to set up an oil refinery and what better place than the envisaged Samora Machel Industrial Park.
Namalenga said if they want to push for industrialisation they must first start to look at themselves to see who does what, and how to support the particular person with what.
Ono Robby Nangolo, a legal adviser to the project, who talked about business beginnings and laying a foundation, informed the meeting that developing an industrial park is a challenging business endeavour that requires not only a significant financial investment but also a sound understanding of commerce, tenancy requirements, zoning laws and project management.
“Developing a commercial real estate involves negotiations with local authorities, representatives of local residents and business owners, as well as with the contractors who perform the architectural designs, construction work and landscaping. It also needs good interpersonal and diplomacy skills,” he said.
He said that for entrepreneurs who possess the resources and skills, developing an industrial park can offer extremely rewarding business opportunities and pave the way for a long and lucrative career.
The meeting was attended by around 40 people including councillors, business personalities and technicians of the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN).