Ohorongo Cement giving back to community

Robert Maseka

OTAVI, 12 Apr. Ohorongo Cement – a cement manufacturing company in Namibia –  has been a catalyst in addressing the housing dilemma that Namibia faces.

Ms Freda Witbooi, a beneficiary of a house thanks to a combined N$3million corporate responsibility initiative between Ohorongo Cement, FNB Namibia and Pupkewitz towards the Shack Dwellers Association of Namibia, said she used to live with her parents due to what she called “unaffordable housing in the country.”

Her membership resulted in her benefiting with a house.

Ohorongo Cement also came up with a ‘build a brick academy’ where they trained members of the SDA on how to make bricks, thus empowering them to produce for themselves and for the community in all the 14 regions of Namibia.

Simon Hashondili, another beneficiary informed the media that he used to be a street vendor specializing in maize, oranges and milk in the streets of Northern town of Otavi.

Afterwards he registered for a plot with the Town Council, but he was told to wait. Eventually, he decided to join the SDA, and a sliver of luck shined on him.

He was one of 20 beneficiaries of the Build a Brick Campaign.

So far, the Campaign has been rolled out in various Regions within the country where various people have been selected by the respective Governors for training on how to make a bricks, and it is expected they too will create employment to others. The next training will be conducted in the Kunene region, and will conclude in the Zambezi Region.