Chivela wins Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off

Nande Chivela has won the 2026 Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off, taking home prizes worth more than N$165 000 to help grow his business. 

Chivela beat nine other contestants during the national final held at Ausspannplatz Park in Windhoek on Saturday. 

His prize includes a fully equipped mobile food trailer valued at N$150 000, N$10 000 in a Nedbank account, a N$5 000 Bakpro voucher and an Agra ProVision short course.  Speaking after the competition, Chivela said the win would help him take his business to the next level. 

“This win gives me the opportunity to take my kapana cooking further. I want to use the trailer to continue growing my business,” he said. 

Nedbank Namibia’s head of small and medium enterprises, Jenevieve Swartz, said many entrepreneurs have the skills to run a business but lack the equipment to do so. 

“Many entrepreneurs already have marketable kills but may not have access to the equipment needed to trade consistently. The trailer gives Nande a base from which to serve customers and generate income,” she said. 

Swartz said the trailer would allow Chivela to operate from different locations and reach more customers. 

She added that the training included in the prize package would help him manage the business and build a sustainable source of income. 

“If managed well, the business can support Nande’s livelihood and provide a route towards a more structured operation. As it grows, it may also create work for someone else. This is how access to one opportunity can begin supporting a household and contributing to the local economy,” Swartz said. 

Nedbank Namibia’s head of marketing and communications, Janet Kapenda, said that small businesses play an important role in Namibia’s economy. 

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and every successful entrepreneur contributes to job creation and economic growth. Through the Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off, we are creating an opportunity for local traders to showcase their talent and entrepreneurial skills,” she said. 

Kapenda said the competition also celebrates kapana as part of Namibia’s culture and helps entrepreneurs create opportunities for themselves. 

Previous winners have also used the competition to grow their businesses. The 2018 winner, Sakeus Kateya, expanded his kapana business, employed four people and later bought a second mobile food trailer.  

Ester Silas opened a fast-food business a month after winning the competition in 2023, while Eli Abel went on to run a coffee shop in Ongwediva. 

The 2026 Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off was held in partnership with Bakpro, Agra, Agra ProVision and the Namibian Chefs Association. 

-pmukokobi@nepc.com.na 

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