By Steven Klukowski
WINDHOEK – New Era spoke to Christofine Kandjibi the proprietor of Beyond Beauty World, on why she believes that with the desired support and inputs her company will gradually grow and expand to become one of the forces to be reckoned with in this industry.
New Era: How long have you been in business?
Christofine Kandjibi: Beyond Beauty World has been operating since 2007 and I employ five Namibian ladies.
New Era: What business does Beyond Beauty World do?
Christofine Kandjibi: Beyond Beauty World’s core business is to provide beauty treatments as well as to distribute and sell beauty products.
NE: What challenges do you face when applying for documents such as the mandatory good standing certificates and dealing with Inland Revenue, Social Security, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry?
Christofine Kandjibi: I particularly feel that the issuing of Good Standing Certificate, processing Income Tax and Company Registration are very cumbersome processes that can be frustrating at times.
NE: What Skills Development and Capacity Building programmes do you have for yourself and your employees?
Christofine Kandjibi: I frequently attend related national and international trainings in order to keep abreast with the latest developments in the industry and then plough back the knowledge and skills gained to my employees through in-service training.
New Era: What are your views on ‘tenderpreneurship’, the frequently reported cases of corruption in the tender process and what can be done to address it?
Christofine Kandjibi: The Tender Board of Namibia and the Ministry of Finance should have more authentic, independent board members to promote transparency in its operations. More opportunities should be created for Small Medium Enterprises with regard to the tendering process.
New Era: Namibian Companies tends to form joint ventures with foreign ones when it comes to a lack of funding and specialised skills for big tenders. How in your view, can Namibians benefit more out of this in terms of employment creation, distribution of profits, etc.?
Christofine Kandjibi: It is a fact that Namibians need these joint ventures due to a lack of funding and skills. This should, however, not warranty that they should be exploited and misused as a result thereof. The majority of shares should be in local hands and a continuous skills transfer and understudying programme should be a prerequisite by law before these joint ventures can be formed. Lastly Namibians should be allowed to gradually obtain more shares while the foreign shareholders should at the end only serve in a consulting capacity, slowly moving out of the joint venture.
New Era: Do your employees belong to a pension fund and medical aid scheme, and if not in which way are they assisted in this regard?
Christofine Kandjibi: My employees are all registered with the Social Security Commission, but I will register them with a pension scheme and medical aid as the company grows and expands.
New Era: How well equipped are your employees when it comes to Occupational Health and Safety at the workplace?
Christofine Kandjibi: Adequate fire extinguishers are installed at our workplace since we are making use of electrical appliances on a daily base and we are issued with a Business Fitness Certificate by the City of Windhoek.
New Era: Any last comment from your side?
Christofine Kandjibi: Namibian companies awarded big tenders should utilise profits made more wisely and rather re-invest in their businesses and the community instead of splashing it on lavish lifestyles, showing off when becoming successful.