MASIPIRI in Eveline Street is not just another bar but a well-run family enterprise in the heart of Katutura where black and white meet to have a good time.
It was established in 1992 when Johannes Samuel put up a shebeen in a corrugated-iron shack in Eveline Street. After their uncle’s death in 1998, the Kambo brothers and sisters took over the shebeen and turned it into a thriving business. They gradually built the place up, improved and renovated it and it is now a fully licensed bar. They have added a car wash service. ‘Most of our customers left their cars at the car wash across the street and they always encouraged us to start with a car wash,’ says Eliah Kambo. So they bought the necessary equipment and now customers can have their cars washed and vacuumed for N$25 as long as the bar is open. ‘You can come here after work, have a beer and have your car cleaned,’ said Kambo.Alberto Kambo also offers a passport photo service. He has a digital camera and photo printer with which he prints out photos immediately. He also takes photographs at weddings and other functions around Windhoek and Katutura. Martha Kambo, their sister, braais the tastiest chicken and beef in the evenings to generate an income for herself. ‘This is the best chicken I have ever eaten,’ said Mari Koch when she recently visited Masipiri.The Kambos are well aware that there is a bar or shebeen at nearly every house in Eveline Street, and service and customer satisfaction are crucial. ‘You need to treat your customers well and keep them happy at all times so that they will come back and not go to the one next door,’ says Eliah.The family also do not tolerate violence or troublemakers at their place and people misbehaving are promptly dealt with. ‘Our customers are our responsibility and we have to protect them from botsotsos’. A jukebox with the latest hits makes sure that every customer can play his or her favourite song. The latest addition to Masipiri is a big flat-screen TV so that customers can watch the Fifa World Cup there.’Everyone is welcome here, no matter what colour, creed or what you look like. We want you to feel at home,’ Eliah says. Fresh meat and chicken is prepared every night.
