Pursuing his electrical engineering dream

According to Namibia household national data, more than 80% of rural households use wood for cooking, and more than 50% use battery lamps, torches or cell phones for lighting, with 10% using candles. This further communicates that most rural and peri-urban households lack access to electricity. With this information, Hamukoto saw an opportunity to change these statistics.

“We recognised the need for a prepaid electricity vending platform that reduces the distance people in rural areas must travel to access prepaid vending services, so we sought out a technical partner to assist us in developing a mobile vending platform that allows vendors to sell prepaid electricity via SMS.”

In 2008, Hamukoto and three other members from Emcon deployed the system to its first client and were the first in Namibia to provide cellphone vending services. Netvend has since evolved from being a prepaid electricity vending service provider to a more diversified service provider. Netvend Metering Solutions’ CC services include prepaid back-end vending system provider (water and electricity), prepaid water and electricity super vendor servicers, prepaid airtime and other VAS, water and electricity meter supply and installation, meter audits, utility services (water, electricity, sewer) operation and maintenance, and smart metering.



Background

Hamukoto was born and raised in Windhoek and grew up in Katutura’s Wambo location, popularly known as “Wambolokasie”.

“I completed my high school at Deutsche Höhere Privatschule Windhoek (DHPS), and thereafter proceeded to study electrical engineering at the Technikon Witwatersrand, now the University of Johannesburg, where I obtained my B-tech degree in electrical engineering.”

After completing his studies, he worked at Namdeb in Oranjemund for a year. Hamukoto has always wanted to start his own business, a desire he inherited from his parents. He grew up in an entrepreneurial family, where his father owned a mini market and his mother sold snacks to learners from Mandume Primary School.

While younger, he wanted to become mechanical engineer because of his passion for cars and racing. However, seeing backyard mechanics in Katutura dressed in filthy overalls did not appeal to him. He looked into his options and over time fell in love with electrical engineering when he accepted Emcon's offer to join them as an electrical engineering consultant.

Netvend, a company with an excellent system and a young team, is committed to youth integration and development by recruiting young, innovative Namibians. The company hires based on its needs, which are typically advertised publicly.

Challenges

As CEO, Hamukoto is constantly managing young people. He must not only deal with personal issues, but also leave an impression on them to help them grow professionally. He makes an effort to include subordinates in decision-making as much as possible. He also tries to empower them so that they can take ownership and gain the necessary experience. This, he said, has been shown to work reasonably well.

His approach and belief has always been that the company's work and service are its selling point, irrespective of the client. Hamukoto said although there was a slight drop in buying patterns during Covid-19, it was insignificant to the company's operations because it sells a daily commodity (electricity). However, the pandemic presented a new challenge with the call centre. The company needed to find a way to ensure that call centre operations could continue with operations while based at home. As a result, the company had to invest in a system and hardware to enable this.



Daily schedule

Whenever possible, he aims to start his day with a workout at the gym. His schedule is typically filled with back-to-back meetings with clients, prospective clients, partners and service providers. Monday and Tuesday mornings are reserved for weekly meetings with employees and the management team, followed by after-hours admin work between 17:00 and 19:00.



Fun Facts about Hamukoto

I am a Formula 1, MotoGP, FIA Rally racing and basketball fanatic

I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, go-karting and braaiing

I am adventurous

I love travelling

I have six sisters and two brothers.