Spearheading one of Namibia’s biggest tourism companies

Appointed on 1 April 2020 as the managing director (MD) of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), Dr Matthias Ngwangwama had been the acting MD since 23 April 2019. Ngwangwama has close to 30 years’ experience in the Namibian business management and corporate arena. He holds a National Diploma in Accounting, BTech Accounting and Finance, MBA and a PhD from the University of Stellenbosch Business School, specialising in organisational development and design, specifically, business management and leadership, organisational strategy and culture.

Ngwangwama has worked in diverse sectors of the Namibian economy, such as postal, financial, tourism and youth development services. He was employed at various levels, managerial and non-managerial, in several Namibian institutions such as Namibia Post and the National Youth Service. He was Namibia Wildlife Resorts’ longest-serving chief financial officer from 2012 before taking over as the chief officer for strategy and projects in 2017 within the same organisation. From 23 April 2019, Dr Ngwangwama was the acting managing director of NWR before taking over as the substantive managing director on 1 April 2020.

Ngwangwama strives to steer NWR back towards the profitability levels of 2019 or beyond and to stabilise the organisational operating environment. Furthermore, he says he is truly proud of NWR’S ambassadorial role by being a window to the world in fostering and offering the country’s hospitality and beautiful sceneries around the globe.

He further stated that one of his challenges was being caught up in the Covid-19 storm. This is something that so many organisational leaders did not have to go through. He further mentioned that leading a company that is on the front seat in the tourism industry it was even more hectic.

“Arguably, organisational leaders and company management never experienced anything like Covid-19 in the history of their organisations,” said Ngwangwama.

“Therefore, as someone in the front seat of a company in the tourism industry annihilated by the pandemic, one challenge was being caught up in the middle of the storms of Covid-19.”

Furthermore, he stated that being able to steer the company through the storms of Covid-19 by developing innovative mitigating strategies, such as offering the NWR facilities as quarantine and isolation services, shifting the focus on the domestic market, creating new tailor-made products like My-friends-are-cooler-than-yours that transport clients to their destinations instead of using their own transport, has been an accomplishment to Ngawangwama.

One of Ngwangwama’s fondest childhood memories is the tranquillity, harmony and peacefulness of their village, Makena, in Kavango East Region.

“Life is 99% perspiration (hard work) and 1% fortuitous. Discipline and working with your hands are key,” said Ngwangwama.

Ngwangwama spends his typical day in the office, from there moves on to exercise where he either goes to the gym, jogs, walks or goes for mountain hiking at Auasblick Mountains, thereafter of course goes home for some leisure time. His hobbies include most of what he does during his time in the gym or when he is exercising as that is where he draws his inspiration from.

10 Fun Facts about Dr Matthias Ngwangwama

1. Was born in the Kavango East Region

2. I am married, with four children

3. I am authentic

4. I am peaceable and peaceful

5. NUST, MANCOSA and University of Stellenbosch are my alma maters

6. Love reading and involve in academic activities

7. Communal farming is my passion

8. I am truthful

9. Love to involve myself in academic activities

10. I love mountain-hiking at Auasblick Mountains