Mobile Telecommunications (MTC) Ltd, in collaboration with the Okahandja Municipality, has invested N$200,000 in the construction of open market stalls in the town of Okahandja to help stimulate entrepreneurial actions and promote self-employment for at least 25 micro entrepreneurs in the garden town.
“One of the focus areas for our Corporate Social Investment (CSI) is SME development and job creation. Joblessness is a huge problem and we need to help create platforms and/or facilities that promote and encourage self-employment, especially amongst the youth. Fact is, our job market does not have the capacity to absorb all of us. Hence the need to be creative and find ways to create employment for ourselves. We are therefore proud that MTC as a responsible corporate citizen, through our CSI, we are able to help construct market stalls to encourage SME activities within the town of Okahandja,” said MTC’s Chief Human Capital, Corporate Affairs and Marketing Officer Tim Ekandjo.
Known for its commitment to various community causes under its CSI banner, Ekandjo said “to date, and in addition to the CSI leg of SME development and job creation, we are also committed to contributing to the socio-welfare in areas such as housing, environment, education, food security, and health. The point really is to exercise good governance – where an entity recognises and embraces its social responsibility in the community within which it operates”.
Ekandjo said the listed telco was also studying the viability of more possible initiatives for youth empowerment and job creation as part of the company’s CSI initiatives, while urging the youth to be innovative in their entrepreneurial efforts.
Okahandja municipality Chief Executive Officer Alphons Tjitombo, speaking on the investment, said: “The assistance from MTC complements our strategic goals of promoting business growth, infrastructure development, and more economic activities in our town. We aim to reduce unemployment, and the open market is great for youth empowerment in the SME sector at large. Additionally, as a town, we want to position Okahandja as a suitable destination for industrial investors.”
The construction of the open market stalls, which is underway, is expected to be complete by the end of this month.
