Gem factory ‘a shining example’

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba returned to Windhoek a happy man on Thursday after visiting the Namgem Diamond Manufacturing Company at Okahandja.

The President was impressed with the number of Namibians, young people and women employed at the company. Pohamba was also impressed with the standard of work produced, which according to management, was rated among the best in the industry.Namgem was the first cutting and polishing factory in Namibia.It was set up in August 1998 with a workforce of 100 employees – 60 per cent of whom were women.It now employs around 130 Namibians.”While I was growing up,” Pohamba said, diverting from his prepared speech, “I used to see people from my village go to work at what was then called CDM (Consolidated Diamond Mines), while diamonds were taken out to be polished elsewhere.”If we had allowed this to continue, we would have been creating jobs for other countries that do not produce diamonds, while this country with diamonds would not have had work.”He said Government intended to ensure that the country’s resources benefited its citizens, telling employees to see the factory as theirs rather than that of management.”Like me being the President, that doesn’t mean that Namibia is my property.It’s the property of the people.”He called on management to maintain good working relations with employees, saying that as long as workers knew what was going on, there was less likelihood of them going on strike.He urged employees to work with diligence and commitment, so that Namibia would be able to compete with top diamond-manufacturing countries such as India, South Africa and America.”Sharpen your skills in order to compete with the best in the world,” Pohamba said, “as a growing economy will result in more wealth and more employment for citizens.”Pohamba said Government would continue to encourage the private sector to invest in the country.Chairman of the Namgem Board of Directors, Joe Mazeingo, told the President that the factory planned to expand, which would allow it to employ more people.The factory has an annual output of more than 22 000 carats.Pohamba was also impressed with the standard of work produced, which according to management, was rated among the best in the industry.Namgem was the first cutting and polishing factory in Namibia.It was set up in August 1998 with a workforce of 100 employees – 60 per cent of whom were women.It now employs around 130 Namibians.”While I was growing up,” Pohamba said, diverting from his prepared speech, “I used to see people from my village go to work at what was then called CDM (Consolidated Diamond Mines), while diamonds were taken out to be polished elsewhere. “If we had allowed this to continue, we would have been creating jobs for other countries that do not produce diamonds, while this country with diamonds would not have had work.”He said Government intended to ensure that the country’s resources benefited its citizens, telling employees to see the factory as theirs rather than that of management.”Like me being the President, that doesn’t mean that Namibia is my property.It’s the property of the people.”He called on management to maintain good working relations with employees, saying that as long as workers knew what was going on, there was less likelihood of them going on strike.He urged employees to work with diligence and commitment, so that Namibia would be able to compete with top diamond-manufacturing countries such as India, South Africa and America.”Sharpen your skills in order to compete with the best in the world,” Pohamba said, “as a growing economy will result in more wealth and more employment for citizens.”Pohamba said Government would continue to encourage the private sector to invest in the country. Chairman of the Namgem Board of Directors, Joe Mazeingo, told the President that the factory planned to expand, which would allow it to employ more people.The factory has an annual output of more than 22 000 carats.