Partnership over clientele: Dinapama Manufacturing calls for industry collaboration

David Namalenga, Managing Director of Dinapama Manufacturing, is advocating for a fundamental shift in how businesses approach supplier relationships, emphasising the need for partnerships over traditional client-supplier arrangements to strengthen Namibia's manufacturing capabilities.



Speaking about the challenges facing local manufacturers, Namalenga highlighted the importance of understanding industrial processes and building sustainable business relationships.

"Most of the challenges that you have is that when you have a partner who does not understand the processes that you go through, it becomes a challenge because you do not need to have a client. You need to have a partner who you supply," Namalenga explained.

The manufacturing executive stressed that successful business relationships require deep engagement and mutual understanding of operational dynamics. He illustrated this point with a practical example from the textile industry.



"If you need a T-shirt like this one, I can produce it to you. When I produce to you today, I might not be able to get this material tomorrow. Same colour, same shape. But if we enter into an

arrangement, I'm able to go out there and procure them in the park and keep them in stock," he said.



Bridging the knowledge gap



Namalenga emphasised that many business challenges stem from a lack of understanding about procurement processes and manufacturing limitations. He called for increased dialogue between different sectors of the economy.

"What is important is engagement. Parties, citizens, companies that are producing or extracting resources must have a time. And the supplier and the producers must have a time to engage," he noted.

The MD believes that education and mutual understanding are crucial for building a robust local manufacturing sector. He pointed out that if manufacturing processes work successfully elsewhere in the world, they should be achievable in Namibia as well.

"If it cannot work here and it works anywhere else in the world, why not here? Meaning the shortcoming is with us, not with anybody else," Namalenga stated.



Advice for emerging entrepreneurs



When addressing young entrepreneurs looking to enter the manufacturing space, Namalenga emphasized the importance of building reputation over immediate revenue generation.

"It is not about generating revenue. It is about creating a name. It is about understanding the product you want to serve. It is about the requirement of the other party," he advised.

However, he also acknowledged that not all aspiring entrepreneurs are genuinely committed to the work required for success in manufacturing.

"Not everybody out there who talks about being an entrepreneur or true entrepreneur, many are business people who are wanting to have money, not by doing the work," Namalenga observed. "So there are a few people who are serious, and those who are serious are welcome to come into the industry."



Investing in capacity building



Dinapama Manufacturing is actively working to enhance its capabilities by bringing in international expertise. The company has invited experienced professionals from South Africa to assist with various aspects of production management.

"Like now we invited a team from South Africa, those who have been in the industry for the past 50 years, to come and help us in terms of how to design, how to perfect, how to programme work, how to do production planning," Namalenga revealed.

He emphasised the continuous nature of learning in manufacturing, noting that successful companies worldwide have built their expertise over decades of experience.



Vision for the future



Looking ahead, Namalenga expressed ambitious plans for Dinapama Manufacturing's role in Namibia's industrial development.

"You must expect a conglomerate. You must expect a giant of this country. We are determined and we are ready to do whatever we can to ensure Namibia is defended in terms of industrialisation," he declared.

The company's commitment to supporting Namibia's industrial growth reflects a broader vision of economic development through local manufacturing capabilities. Namalenga's emphasis on partnerships over traditional business relationships suggests a model that could potentially strengthen the entire manufacturing ecosystem in the country.

As Namibia continues to develop its industrial base, companies like Dinapama Manufacturing appear positioned to play a significant role in building local capacity while fostering the collaborative relationships necessary for sustainable growth in the manufacturing sector.