Entrepreneurs should understand business

THE Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive, Charity Mwiya has urged Namibian entrepreneurs to have a clear understanding of business and learn to sacrifice some money if they want to be successful.

Speaking at the opening of the Olafika Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development and mentorship programme on Monday, Mwiya said it is imperative for entrepreneurs to understand business in order to be successful because Namibia needs entrepreneurs.

The Olafika SME development and mentorship programme is a developmental and debt counselling programme for small and medium business owners that will run over three years. It will have three intakes with 70 students each, made up of five participants from the 14 regions.

“A person cannot come into your shop five minutes before closing time and you tell him or her that ‘no I am closing’, or upon entering your face is already chasing customers away,” she said.

Mwiya said this attitude is the reason why many businesses fail.

She said entrepreneurs should have a strategy, engage in partnerships and avoid entertaining negative criticism and bureaucracies to ensure the success of their businesses.

The chief executive urged the participants in the programme to make use of the knowledge they will acquire, in order to better the economy of the country and share their success stories with others in business.

“After this programme, wherever you come from, go out there and be the change that will actually make an impact on people’s lives through business,” Mwiya said.

Also speaking at the event, Olafika founder, Twapewa Kadhikwa said there are many SMEs but they are not of high quality or are of the quality that could not be reflected upon. She said many of them are failing because there is a gap in business development services, which this programme is aimed to bridge.

“We cannot afford for every generation to try every time; we must see those businesses through to their vision, we must polish them and make their value permanent,” she said.

Kadhikwa said this programme will help businesses owners move from A to B where B is a better place. – Nampa