“We will move mountains for you,” reads the Lewcor website, and if this slogan were a person, it would have been Chris Lewis.
Lewis, one of Namibia’s most well-known and inspiring businessmen, passed away unexpectedly last Thursday, 3 March, 2022. He was a devoted father and husband, as well as a successful businessman. Lewis started Lewcor in 1988 while working for Malaysia’s Overseas Petroleum and Investment Company (OPIC). Chris’s wife, Monika Lewis, said of her husband: “He always had time for work and time for family. Despite our anguish at this tragedy, we will never forget our husband, father, grandfather and friend’s legacy”.
Lewis sadly passed away in a car accident on the Okahandja-Ovitoto main road. When the vehicle overturned, Lewis and the other passenger, 21-year-old Beno Snewe, both passed away on impact. Lewis was in good health at the time of his passing, despite having been battling malignant melanoma for a considerable time. On his last day, he was still working, giving back to the community, the country, and inspiring others.
Even though his two sons and Lewcor directors, Helmuth and Thiaan Lewis, had been fully operating and managing Lewcor Holding (Pty) Ltd for the last few years, Chris Lewis worked until his passing.
Lewis, who died at the age of 71, had dedicated his life to Namibians, his company and his family. This is demonstrated by the public’s reaction to the news of his death. Messages from friends, family and fellow businessmen, local and international, have flooded the family and the Lewcor group, emphasising how much he will be missed.
Lewis had always stated that Lewcor will remain entirely owned and operated by Namibians, and this will undoubtedly continue now that the two brothers have taken over as directors. Lewis frequently mentored and led Lewcor HR in the realisation that everyone deserves a second chance. The late Lewis was also described as the driving force behind ensuring that every choice made within the Lewcor Group was always in the best interest of Namibia and its people, something the two brothers will continue.
The Lewcor Group is a 100% Namibian enterprise that is employing close to 1200 Namibians at the time of Lewis’ passing.
His business adventure started with a single piece of earthmoving equipment, used to complete a Telecom trenching to dig for fibre optic cable lines from Ruacana to Okahandja. The Lewcor Group today owns over 540 pieces of earthmoving equipment. Despite his significant growth and success, Chris Lewis was always recognised as a leader with an open-door policy, always humble and an absolute gentleman.
On 2 October 2020, the Lewcor Group announced the finalisation of the Elizabeth Bay Mine sale. This announcement saw Elizabeth Bay and its associated marine assets proudly fall under the ownership of Sperrgebiet Diamond Mining (Pty) Ltd. SDM was established by Lewcor Holdings (Pty) Ltd, and a 5% share was allocated towards an Employee Trust. This was the first time the mine changed hands in a century, and again the inspirational Lewis was at the forefront of these transactions, alongside the business’s leading support from his sons and directors of the Lewcor Group.
Chris Lewis was also actively involved in ensuring extra finance from investors into the country. His eldest son, Chris, owns and manages Kasosi River Lodge, which is located seven kilometres east of Rundu. His daughter, Charan Mann, is the vice president of one of OneAmerica’s subsidiaries and lives in the United States. Lewcor Group is expected to be expanded, operated and owned by Helmuth and Thiaan Lewis. According to Helmuth, Managing Director of the Lewcor Group; “The Lewcor Group is considered a family business, and will continue to be owned and operated as such”.
His funeral is scheduled for 11h00 on Friday, 11 March 2022 at the NG Church in Okahandja, and will be live-streamed on the Lewcor Facebook page.
The Lewis family have expressed their gratitude to Namibians for their sympathies and support in the wake of their husband, father and grandfather’s tragic death.