Zambezi: Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Masavyi, has encouraged residents of the Zambezi Region to look beyond fishing and explore new business ventures. The minister, during the third regional business engagement with the private sector, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), at the Zambezi Regional Council Auditorium, challenged the community to identify and optimise other local resources for economic growth.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the minister specifically highlighted the potential of local mangoes, suggesting they could be used to produce mango juice. She also pointed to the Kalimbeza rice project as another opportunity for diversification. 'What distinguishes Zambezi from other regions besides Zambezi bream?' she asked, urging residents to think about what they can do differently to make a lasting impact.

Ashipala-Masavyi emphasised the need for a 'business unusual' approach, not just for Zambezi, but for the entire country and continent. She stressed that too many of Africa's raw materials are exported without value addition. To combat this, she highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to boost intra-African trade by reducing or eliminating tariffs.

'To reduce or eliminate tariffs or customs duties on goods and services originating from within our continent, Namibia has signed the AfCFTA Agreement on 02 July 2018 and acceded to all the necessary such arrangements on 01 February 2019. This means that Namibia can now fully participate in the continental free trade area and trade with other African countries,' she noted.

Namibia launched the commencement of trading under the AfCFTA at the Namibia Ports Authority in Walvis Bay on 30 June 2025.