- Gondwana Desert Collection/ News 2004



		News 2004 News 01.12.04

Closing the Gap between Rich and Poor - 01.12.04
Namibia’s travel sector is committed to increasing its support to members of the population who suffer from the consequences of decades of Apartheid policies. This was confirmed at the Tourism Forum arranged by the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (FENATA) in November. Half of the two-day event was taken up by an extensive and constructive debate on the topic of Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBEE). Representatives of tourism related companies from all sectors drew up a Charta which ultimately is intended to serve one purpose in particular: to systematically broaden the base of those who share in the profits gained from tourism. By now a small number of historically disadvantaged Namibians do have access to capital, but the adjunct ‘broad-based’ underlines that it is not enough to bring only them to the fold of the business.


The envisaged steps, listed in the Charta, therefore also include plans to provide practical training for previously disadvantaged members of the population by arranging apprenticeships, traineeships and bursaries. Furthermore it is intended to increasingly employ them in responsible positions and to enable them to acquire shares in a company or enter into joint venture partnerships. There is agreement to support these people by making better use of their services and products and by assisting them to establish promising enterprises in the tourism industry. Moreover, the travel sector is prepared to accept more social responsibility by promoting projects which improve the circumstances of employees and communities as well as efforts to protect nature.		The Managing Director of the Namibia Tourism Board, Gideon Shilongo, presents the travel industry's Charta for supporting previously disadvantaged people to Minister of Prisons and Correctional Services, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo. Right: The president of FENATA, Gielie van Zyl.


FENATA’s managing director Jackie Asheeke praised the Forum as a great success. She pointed out that the travel business is the first sector within Namibia’s economy to adopt a Charta which maps out a clearly defined path for reaching the goals of the government’s BBEE programme. The Charta sets clear guidelines even though it does not oblige tourism companies to take specific steps, she said.		Jackie Asheeke (FENATA)

Proof that BBEE is not just a pipedream invented by bureaucrats but can be implemented with considerable success, was provided by a presentation outlining the personnel policies of Nature Investments. Managing Director Mannfred Goldbeck and his PA Anna Geraldo illustrated the success of BBEE measures on the basis of some of the employees’ careers. Erro Pandeni Iilonga, for example, who was found at the roadside looking for work in March 2001 and hired as a gardener for the Windhoek office, proved to have green fingers. When the vegetable gardens and orchards of the Self Sufficiency Centre for the accommodation facilities in Gondwana Cañon Park were established he was offered a job there. Iilongo seized the opportunity and after special training went on to become Supervisor, Vegetable Gardens, in charge of four subordinates.


		- For more on Gondwana's BBEE programme see: - Gondwana Concept/Training.