WHILE the rest of the world was facing fear of the Covid-19 pandemic during the first lockdown, Natasha Chanakira saw the period as an opportunity to make her locally made NamYum peanut butter.
Chanakira (33), who lives in Windhoek, says she was inspired to start NamYum with her husband Nigel Mubita in 2019, because of the shortage of food in the country.
“I thought there would be food shortages in our country, then decided to start a small business of making natural peanut butter with no additives, and no sugar,” she said.
According to Chanakira, the locally made peanut butter is also appealing to a healthier lifestyle due to its natural ingredients.
She, however, stressed that Covid-19 has affected her business, as it slowed her from getting exposure from the public.
“We were not allowed to move around, so it made it difficult to go out to the markets and meet people to market our product,” Chanakira added.
As part of the ‘buy local/grow Namibia’ campaign, the NamYum business owners urged citizens to support local businesses.
She added that being part of the campaign has given her business the exposure she needed and got her peanut butter into the retail shops.
“Being part of the ‘Buy local/grow Namibia’ campaign means a lot to my business because it encourages each and every citizen to start buying from their neighbour before looking elsewhere. The campaign is really making people aware of locally produced products,” she said.
Chanakira advised small businesses and all local businesses to participate in the campaign.
Namibians trying to cut down on sugar consumption can now enjoy a non-sweet, smooth and sugar-free peanut butter, courtesy of the budding entrepreneurs.
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
