Iuze Mukube

The 3rd Annual Micro, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Forum of the African Union (AU) is currently ongoing in Windhoek, and various delegates, exhibitors, and small enterprise entrepreneurs have swarmed to the occasion.

As the forum aims at fostering financial empowerment and educational innovation for African start-ups and SMEs, local entrepreneur, Taimi Shivute, all the way from northern Namibia, made it her mission to exhibit and participate in the event.  

Shivute is the owner and founder of Tuno Foods, a local spice company that produces 22 varieties of spices, locally sourced with ingredients ranging from rosemary as well as ‘elumelinyika’ (wild garlic) which is particularly endemic to Namibia.

“They are gluten-free, non-radiated, meaning they are dried in a very healthy process, sun-dried or dried by room temperature, thus health-conscious people can be assured they have neither preservatives nor additives.”

She further explained she entered the spice mix due to digestive issues which meant she was unable to consume many spices containing additives, preservatives, and gluten.

“So, I started growing herbs at the back of my house, and then I realised that often I had many spices left after drying them. So, I decided to sell the extra spices and that is how Tuno Foods was born.”

Commenting on her participation in the SME Forum, Shivute stated; “I took part in the forum because I wanted to be able to network with other SMEs or other entrepreneurs in Africa, learn from them and see how they do business in and around Africa.”

She continued that she wants to learn or know what she needs to do to create connections that will enable her to export to different countries, be it in Africa or outside the continent.

Moreover, Shivute was ecstatic about the introduction of accessible platforms or organisations, including the African Business Council (AFBC), OneTrade Africa, the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the African Union Enterprise for African Network. She emphasised that the AfCFTA, the African Continental Free Trade Area, has different programmes to enable entrepreneurs to scale up their businesses.

Shivute’s current target market is middle to high-income earners, with her spice products quite affordable. With a current retail price starting at N$25, Tuno Foods spices are available at various Spar retail stores. –mukubeiuze@gmail.com