USAKOS – Navachab Gold Mine managing director George Botshiwe says investing in local economies, and the people who operate in them, is part of the mine’s commitment to reinvesting national resources back into communities.
Botshiwe said this during the groundbreaking ceremony of a state-of-the-art SME park in Usakos. The mine is constructing the park to boost local entrepreneurship and create employment opportunities.
The mine aims to invest N$10 million into the centre. They believe it can stimulate job creation and unlock value chains for the town’s residents. The park will be constructed opposite the One Stop Engine service station in Usakos. Speaking at the ceremony, Botshiwe said that they are custodians of a national asset.
Therefore, it is their responsibility not only to extract value but also to translate it into visible impact that builds livelihoods and a better future.
He said Usakos was intentionally prioritised after months of structured engagements with the town council. The decision also followed a review of the council’s five-year strategic plan.
“Usakos is not just a transit town. It has enormous potential waiting to be unlocked, and that is where we come in. A functional SME Park will bring structure, visibility and dignity to local businesses. It will stimulate innovation, attract investment and position Usakos as a vibrant stopover for thousands of travellers and transporters passing through the region daily,” he added.
According to him, the SME Park directly supports two of Navachab’s core community pillars, entrepreneurship and job creation.He also indicated that they are in the process of restoring the town’s fire truck. The project will cost about N$1 million. Plans are also underway with Andrada Mining to jointly equip a science laboratory at Petrus Ganeb Secondary School in Uis.Also speaking at the event, Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, said the establishment of the Usakos SME Park is more than a construction project. She described it as a deliberate economic intervention meant to unlock value chains, support small business development, enhance industrial competitiveness, and connect Usakos to regional and global markets.
“As global trade continues to evolve under digitalisation, geopolitical shifts and changing consumer patterns, towns like Usakos must proactively position themselves as centres of diversified trade and innovation,” she said. She added that the mine deserves recognition. Their support is not merely corporate social responsibility but a strategic investment in the economic ecosystem that sustains both the mine and the surrounding communities.
“A strong Usakos means a stronger workforce, stronger supply chains and a stronger regional economy. By supporting the SME Park, Navachab Gold Mine is helping unlock multiplier effects that will stimulate local manufacturing, logistics, tourism, retail and business services. These benefits will go beyond Usakos and reach Karibib, Omaruru, Otjimbingwe, Arandis, and ultimately contribute to Namibia’s GDP growth,” she said.