Windhoek:Rauha Simon, Elizabeth Ndaako, and Nande Chivela have advanced to the national final of the 2026 Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off after winning the central regional round held on Saturday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the competition featured 53 contestants who first participated in a salsa preparation stage. The top 10 then moved on to the kapana round, where their skills were evaluated.

The judging panel, comprised of members from the Namibian Chefs Association, assessed the participants based on hygiene, taste, preparation skills, presentation, authenticity, and creativity.

Simon expressed her excitement about reaching the national final, seeing it as a chance to compete against kapana vendors from all over the country. She emphasized the importance of perseverance, sharing her own experience of not qualifying in the previous year and encouraging others to continue improving and return stronger.

Nedbank stated that the central round was the final regional qualifying event after earlier competitions in Swakopmund and Oshakati. The nine regional winners are set to compete for the national title.

Selma Kaulinge, Nedbank Namibia Manager for Communications and Public Relations, explained that the competition aims to support informal entrepreneurs by helping them develop sustainable businesses. She noted that the event serves as a link between the informal and formal economy, offering entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their businesses and enhance their commercial skills.

The initiative also seeks to promote entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and business development among informal traders. The national winner will be awarded a fully furnished food trailer valued at N$150,000, N$10,000 deposited into a Nedbank account, a N$5,000 Bakpro voucher, and an Agra ProVision short course.