As in Rundu, the Namibian Government is helping local women in Katima Mulilo to start-up their businesses on the far en of the Caprivi Strip through the Ministry of Gender and Equality.

It is interesting to visit some of these to experience the daily effort of these women in improving their businesses and thus their lives. The following three are together in a government-owned building in the centre of Katima Mulilo (see map below):

Never Give Up: Mainga Ukwa Judith (+264 813221619) founded this small company in 2005 with two other women. In their words they have one purpose: To earn money for their families and never give up, by focusing on solving one problem at a time. They didn’t really get any help from the government, but simply rent their work space from the Ministry of Gender.

Their main activity  is to make school uniforms for children attending school. They rely on only one sewing machine for their work, and they get their materials in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, which is quite a journey, over 800 Km. Remember that Katima is as far as you can be from Namibia’s capital, Windhoek (1200 Km), and still be in the country. For the people in Katima, it is easier to travel to Lusaka.

Hope Manufacturing Project: Three women created in 2003 this company with the same intention as ‘Never Give Up’: To produce suits, trousers and also school uniforms. It is quite shocking to see some ‘dead sewing machines’. These machines break down and because of the high cost of new spare parts coming from as far as Windhoek and the special skills needed to repair them, they end up just collecting dust, resulting in a huge waste of potential.

Katima Shoe Making: Six people work in this project since 2008 in the manufacture and repair of shoes and leather belts. (Contact: Siburu Gladys +264 813000037 y Sisinytze Jescah Maria +264 812389400). They’ve got a chronic shortage of customers and materials.

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How to get there: Once in Katima Mulilo, follow the map above.