Swakopmund: Managing Director of the Navachab Gold Mine, George Botshiwe, has credited effective stakeholder engagement and internal communication for transforming a struggling mine into a record-breaking operation within five years. Speaking on day three of the Effective Communications Conference in Swakopmund, Botshiwe shared how Project Khaima - meaning 'rise up' in the Damara Nama language - rescued the mine from near collapse in 2018 and turned it into one of Namibia's most successful mining operations.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the employee-driven turnaround strategy focused on five key pillars: realigning core mining activities, improving productivity and efficiency, cutting operating costs, finding innovative ways to grow revenue, and empowering employees while engaging key stakeholders. A paradigm shift in communication became crucial, Botshiwe recalled.
'Before 2018, we flew under the radar and avoided public attention. But the crisis forced us to rethink. We realised that to survive, we needed full participation from our employees and honest engagement with all stakeholders,' he explained. To drive Project Khaima, a dedicated project office was established, comprising senior managers and staff who collected input from employees, coordinated action plans, and provided feedback.
The results, he said, were significant. By late 2019, mining operations had resumed, the company had recapitalised its mining fleet with over N.dollars 800 million, and invested a further N.dollars 1.5 billion in expanding processing operations. The workforce more than tripled, and gold production has since tripled between 2018 and 2024.
'Last year, we recorded the highest production and revenue in the mine's history, enabling us to pay dividends to Namibia as a major shareholder. We have extended the life of the mine to 2033 and our processing operations to 2045,' he said. He added that over N.dollars 250 million is currently being invested in surface exploration, with a further N.dollars 4 billion approved for the development of underground operations. Botshiwe emphasised that the mine's future is now secure because of one simple principle: engagement.