Windhoek, Oct 5 — Nande Chivela has won the 2026 Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off, securing a business opportunity that could turn a
marketable cooking skill into a source of income.
The new champion competed against 9 other kapana cooks during the national final at Ausspannplatz Park in Windhoek on Saturday, 3 October. While the competition recognised Chivela’s ability to cook kapana, the prize provides a foundation from which to build a more structured food business.
A fully furnished mobile food trailer valued at N$150 000 will give Chivela a dedicated space from which to trade and establish a customer base. The prize package also includes N$10 000 in a Nedbank account, a N$5 000 Bakpro voucher and an Agra ProVision short course.
Speaking after the prize-giving, Chivela said the trailer would allow him to turn his cooking skills into a business that could support his livelihood.
“This win gives me the opportunity to take my kapana cooking further,” Chivela said. “I want to use the trailer continue growing my business” he said.
Previous winners have shown what can follow when the prize is put to work. The 2018 champion, Sakeus Kateya, expanded his kapana business and employed 4 people. Income from the operation later enabled him to
acquire a second mobile food trailer. Ester Silas opened a fast-food business 1 month after winning in 2023, while Eli Abel went on to operate a coffee shop in Ongwediva.
“Many entrepreneurs already have a marketable skill but may not have access to the equipment needed to trade consistently,” said Jenevieve Swartz, Head of Small and Medium Enterprises at Nedbank Namibia. “The trailer gives Nande a base from which to serve customers and generate an income.”
Swartz described the trailer as a business asset that brings mobility and visibility to Chivela’s operation. It gives him an opportunity to reach customers in different locations while increasing the earning potential of the business.
Turning that opportunity into a sustainable operation will require Chivela to understand the daily costs of trading and manage the income generated by the business. The accompanying training will support this transition from winning a competition to managing a working enterprise.
“If managed well, the business can support Nande’s livelihood and provide a route towards a more structured operation,” Swartz added. “As it grows, it may also create work for someone else. This is how access to 1 opportunity can begin supporting a household and contributing to the local economy.”
The wider economic role of small businesses was also central to the opening message delivered by Janet Kapenda, Head of Marketing and Communications at Nedbank Namibia.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and every successful entrepreneur contributes to job creation and economic growth,” Kapenda said. “Through the Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off, we are creating an opportunity for local traders to showcase their talent and entrepreneurial ability.” For Kapenda, the food trailer gives the national title a practical outcome that extends beyond the final.
“Kapana is a proudly Namibian tradition that brings people together. This competition allows us to celebrate that tradition while recognising entrepreneurs who are working to create opportunities for themselves and their communities,” she added.
The 2026 Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off was presented in collaboration with Bakpro, Agra, Agra ProVision and the Namibian Chefs Association.
