Gondwana Namibia can play a role in addressing the deep-seated inequality in the country’s society, its Sustainability Committee Chairperson Trophy Hiwilepo has said.
Hiwilepo during a recent educational tour to promote Namibia as a preferred vacation destination for journalists and social media influencers from Ghana, Dubai, and Botswana, among others, said, inequality is one of the world’s most pressing issues exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic both locally and globally.
“People’s socioeconomic status determines their access to quality healthcare and education in Namibia. Therefore, at Gondwana, we are inclusive of all stakeholders and work to promote fair and equitable wealth distribution. One day, we hope to share the company’s wealth with a broader audience by listing on the stock exchange,” he said.
In 2021, the Sustainability Committee, he noted encouraged vaccinations in the communities where it does business and collaborated with other corporations to raise funds for the Gondwana care trust, continued to support society’s most vulnerable, and strategized and advised on Gondwana’s operations in conservancy communities.
Hiwilepo said the committee also emphasised youth development through its national footprint and tangible impact on youth through goods sourcing and purchasing, employment, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training in conservancy communities
Meanwhile, the Chairperson went on to note that the year 2021 was all about survival as COVID-19 reduced Gondwana’s internal funding for social and environmental programmes, saying that despite the fact that the company had to shelve specific planned projects, it continued to support local communities and advised conservancies on how to survive on a limited income.
“Despite the fact that our income was reduced, Gondwana did not cut back. We were committed to keeping our employees’ jobs, albeit at lower pay, in order to benefit their dependents,” he said.
Established in 2021, the sustainability committee aims to improve the company’s sustainability so that it can add value to society and the environment. Key focus areas for 2022 included implementing responsible environmental management plans for energy, waste, and water.
The Committee’s strategy for Gondwana’s long-term viability is based on business innovation, which improves working practices to anticipate and mitigate emerging threats while identifying and capitalising on opportunities.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
