The owner of Omauni Juice, Ndiholomwene Tamuti Shakela is happy many local products are named in different languages, as it promotes a proudly Namibian atmosphere.
He is the brain behind bottling the juice from the Omauni fruit, and proudly sells it under the name Omauni Juice.
“People need to know the contents of our bottles without always having to ask questions, which makes it easy for the consumer. The name Omauni, although in Oshikwanyama, is easily understood by the majority of people. Similarly, in Rukwangali, it is called Maguni,” Shakela shared with Youth Corner.
Omauni or Natal orange, is a tree indigenous to tropical and subtropical Africa, which produces sweet-sour, yellow fruits, containing numerous hard brown seeds. The fruits tend to appear only after good rains.
The organic juice is known to be beneficial for the body as it is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene and manganese, and is good at boosting the immune system, as the juice is full of nutrition.
Asked how the product came about, he said: “I had dreamt one day that I was selling juice made from Omauni aka ‘Monkey Orange’, and I set out the following day and that is how this journey began.”
He then established the company in August 2021. Omauni Juice is now only available in northern Namibia, with further provisions made to have it distributed to other parts of the country in due course.
“Arrangements are in place to deliver stock in central and coastal Namibia and other parts of Namibia. The goal is to grow and have other food/drinks products under our portfolio,” said Shakela.
The 26-year-old author, web developer and photographer said the plan, in the long run, is to buy the raw products from the communities which will indirectly support the livelihoods of people, especially those who might be living in poverty, to at least get an income from supplying the material.
His biggest obstacles thus far, and for any infant business for that matter, is funding and experience, but Shakela said he has learnt a great deal in this journey.
“I have a background in software development and information security, so this is, and has been, another education on its own, and I am grateful for it. I love the challenges. To those who are eager to venture into streams like these, failure is part of learning; if you’re scared of failing, then you’re not ready to learn and grow.”
– psiririka@nepc.com.na