HELAO NAFIDI – Helao Nafidi mayor Darius Shaalukeni says if towns and villages across the country are to fully realise their developmental objectives, it is high time they become innovative and explore other uncharted economic opportunities.
Speaking to New Era Sport on the sidelines of the ‘Together as One Part-6’ Boxing Bonanza held at the northern town of Helao Nafidi on Saturday, Shaalukeni expressed great delight with the overall success of the event and the large number of people who attended.
He specifically pointed to the huge number of vendors and local business owners who thronged the Helao Nafidi Expo Hall to sell and render their various services, saying it again proves that economic activities in small towns can be revived through many ways, and sport is one such way.
Shaalukeni admitted that business activities in the towns of Helao Nafidi and Oshikango have been slow over the years, and that has negatively affected the day-to-day livelihoods of the locals, especially the town’s small and medium-sized
businesses.
“But with this boxing event, it really helped us attract a lot of people from other towns, and you could see the excitement of our locals here. They were happy to see their products flying off the shelves, and even our local accommodation places, which have not been fully booked in so many months, were all booked by visitors.
As the leadership of these towns, it showed us that there are so many ways to revive business activities in our communities, and we all saw how powerful sport can be in that endeavour.
Sport has the ability to bring joy, entertainment and to also create economic opportunities for our people,” said an elated Shaalukeni.
Vendors, especially those from the Olunghono and Extension 7 informal settlements at Oshikango, came in droves to sell their various home-made products, including meals and other refreshments at the hall where the boxing bonanza took place.
Shaalukeni added that they have now resolved to regularly host events of such nature, especially sports events that have the ability and power to create business opportunities for the residents, and which can bring the various communities together under one roof.
“This is what we need; people coming together to share ideas and do business as one. We need events that can bring harmony, create opportunities for the young and old, and help us unlock our potential as a people.
Sport has that potential, and I can only urge my fellow mayors and councillors in other towns across the country to explore such ideas and be more innovative in our developmental approach. We need to do more for our people.”
- ohembapu@nepc.com.na