Security guard’s fruitful side hustle

Kavango East farmer grows 100 trees

A KAVANGO East security guard has risen above the challenge of rising water costs to grow more than 100 fruit trees in 10 years.

Manfred Mungomba (50) has cultivated mango, guava and lemon trees, despite having to rely on costly tap water.

The Kavango East region has faced a shortage of drinking water in recent years due to ageing infrastructure and increasing demands.

Mungomba lives at Manomo village 110km east of Rundu, where he works as a security guard.

He says the trees are planted on a piece of land at his homestead, creating both food and income for his household and opportunities for the village.

The project, which he started in 2015, currently supports five additional people: three workers and two family members.

Mungomba says he learnt how to plant trees from his late father at the age of 12.

Starting the orchard was a way of continuing his father’s legacy after he was unable to complete his education, he says.

“I also have about 40 saplings. I’ve planted everything at my house, which is a big place,” he says.

Despite having grown so many trees, Mungomba is faced with the challenge of paying for water, as he only uses tap water for his plants and trees due to the unavailability of boreholes at the village.

“Water is a big challenge. I pay about N$450 per month for water, and I cannot afford it on my salary,” he says.

He says he sells his fruit to the community at affordable prices, allowing residents to buy fresh produce while also generating an income for his employees.

Mungomba says he is open to learning how to expand his business, and to supplying larger shops with the right guidance and exposure.

Despite issues like damaged stock, he says he is committed to developing the garden and hopes his journey will encourage other villagers to take their own initiative and use agriculture to become self-reliant.

Former Ndonga Linena constituency councillor Michael Kampota says his office provides critical materials such as pipelines and generators to boost production.

“We provide them with pipelines and generators for those who stay alongside the Kavango River to pump water from the river,” he says.

Kampota says there is a significant number of small-scale farmers in the constituency, and many benefit from the support the office provides, adding that the programmes are designed to ensure inclusion.

He says his office has also been actively supplying materials to community gardens, including those serving vulnerable groups.

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