By Marx Itamalo /
When Elisa Kandume moved from the coastal town of Walvis Bay and found himself without any form of employment in Oshikango, a radical idea was birthed – to start a wood and carpentry workshop in the area.
Kandume had emigrated to Oshikango in 2020 from Walvis Bay after the Erongo region was locked down from the rest of the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic which was ravaging the country.
“During the lockdown, life was hard and we had no business. That is when I decided to relocate to the north of the country, and see which opportunities I might have to pursue again,” he narrates.
Within the two months he had been in the northern border town Kandume realised that there was no place in the vicinity, which was producing wood products for the locals at affordable prices.
“When I was in Walvis Bay, we had a back yard workshop where a few friends and I, were involved in the manufacturing of wood items such as tables, beds, chairs and shelves for the locals,” Kandume states.
“We used to manufacture these items from pallets. We also used to fix electrical appliances such as hotplates and irons before the Covid-19 pandemic turned the tables up and down and I was forced to relocate to the north of the country due to slow business and tough living conditions.”
Using a few savings, he set up a workshop in his elder brother’s plot at the Bonya location of Oshikango. He was also able to convince his buddies and former colleagues from Walvis Bay to join him.
Owing to the high cost of living at Walvis Bay, coupled with the fact that Covid-19 had rendered them unemployed and had no income, Franklin van Wyk and John Simasiku did not blink an eye in deciding to join their buddy Kandume up north.
“These are the guys I had worked with for many years in Walvis Bay. We were like family and when I left, I had already decided that should I happen to find a way of surviving, I will have to invite them over,” Kandume stresses.
Today, the trio manufacture wooden beds, tables, chairs, shelves and many other items produced from pallets which they source from retailers and building and construction materials suppliers in Oshikango.
They also fix electrical appliances for locals due to the expertise of Simasiku, who claims to be an ‘electronics guru’.
“We have been operating for five years now. And business is just better. We cannot say it’s good or bad. Operating in an informal sector comes with its own challenges and we can only say that we are able to put bread on the table,” Franklin says whilst busy working on a wooden bed which is to be delivered to a customer this very afternoon.
For extra income, the trio also has a tuck-shop in the premises of their workshop.
“Sometimes some customers want their item finished while they are waiting. So, they could always take something from the tuck-shop to eat or drink while they are waiting,” Kandume indicates. His nephew runs the tuck-shop business for them.
Kandume indicates that they have a financial structure in place which ensures that each member is compensated fairly from the monthly proceeds.
“We are fortunate that we don’t pay rent, either where we sleep or work. We all sleep here and share everything including meals. My brother told me we should not pay rent, so we only pay for the electricity and water.
“Our revenue from the sales or repair services is properly recorded and every month end we deduct water and electricity money and for the food, and the remaining money is equally shared,” he points out.
Kandume notes that individual members of the group are allowed to do private work outside the working hours for their own benefit.
Kandume encourages talented members of the public to take initiatives and start their own projects instead of waiting for the government or private sector to provide them with jobs.
“If you believe you can do something, don’t wait until it’s late. Start right away. Learn a skill, practice, and do something for yourself,” he advises.
Oshikango regional councilor Ester Ndatala Nghidimbwa has applauded the trio for their initiative and ingenuity saying members of the public, especially those with energy and good health should not always wait for the government to provide them with jobs.
“The three gentlemen are an epitome of people tackling a bull by the horns. We should not let unemployment defeat us,” Nghidimbwa states.
“There is a lot of things that our people can do to create employment. Our doors are also open to those with good ideas that require assistance.”
In the photo: John Simasiku, Elisa Kandume and Franklin van Wyk who are the entrepreneurs behind Oshikango Carpentry Centre.
