SA principal urges Namibians to process raw materials

If Africa wants to create jobs and grow its economies, it must move beyond exporting raw materials and focus on producing finished goods that generate greater value.This was the message from the principal of Orbit TVET College in South Africa, Dika Mokoena, who said beneficiation is the only way the continent will claim its fair share of wealth from its own resources.He was speaking at the NEV TVET Hub graduation ceremony held on Friday at the Rössing Foundation Centre in Ondangwa, where 628 graduands from Nakayale, Eenhana and Valombola Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) graduated in 22 occupational areas.Mokoena said when he landed in Windhoek, he chose to travel to Ondangwa by road to experience and explore Namibia.“Truly, as I travelled along the way, I saw how Africa has land in abundance, which is an asset,” he said.He said it does not make sense that Africa produces 75% of the world’s cocoa beans but only claims 2% of the US$100 billion generated from global chocolate sales.Mokoena said the continent must act to process its agricultural products, starting with turning cocoa into chocolate.He said once chocolate is processed locally, it can empower the local economy and help deal with unemployment.“Only if we can turn our cocoa beans into finished products will we benefit more," he said."The price of a finished product is far less volatile than that of raw material. Not only cocoa, but all raw materials that Africa exports without turning them into finished products should be reconsidered in order to make more money and create more opportunities which will reduce unemployment,” he said.He further said the price of cocoa might decline, but never the price of chocolate, indicating that a finished product has more value than a raw material.He said agriculture is the backbone of Africa’s economy.Mokoena invited students and graduates to his college to exchange ideas and change the narrative of exporting raw materials.“Knowledge and skills are a strong enabler for almost every shift in development happening nowadays. From here, graduates and everyone, let’s ensure that we make Africa the tree of life,” he said.He urged the graduates to go and make a direct contribution to the development of the country and Africa at large.

SA principal urges Namibians to process raw materials

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-21

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SA principal urges Namibians to process raw materials

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-21

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