‘Rail It’ ambassador redefining tracks
Khaebeb drives innovation on the rails
Desmond Khaebeb, recently achieved a major career milestone when he was incorporated as a mechanical engineer.
TransNamib’s ‘Rail It’ ambassador, Desmond Khaebeb, serves as a senior engineer of carriages and wagons (C&W) in TransNamib’s engineering and technical services department. In July, he achieved a major career milestone when he was incorporated as a mechanical engineer. “An engineering degree without a government competency certificate is just a degree. I am very proud of my registration,” he said.
Khaebeb has a wealth of engineering experience, having spent close to 20 years in the mining and automotive industries. “I have held senior positions in the mining industry, serving both Namdeb in Oranjemund and Lüderitz. My extensive experience spans areas such as maintenance production, processing, earthmoving, business and strategic development.”
Before joining TransNamib, Khaebeb was the site manager of B & E International Oranjemund Orange River Diamond Drilling. He also held the position of senior technician at the Tschudi Copper Mine crushing plant in Tsumeb. In 2018, he was a part-time teacher at Windhoek Technical High School (HTS) – the school he matriculated from in 2002. “I taught technical drawings, design and communications and introduction to technical studies.”
Pursuing engineering
After matriculating from HTS, he pursued an engineering career, obtaining a bachelor of mechanical engineering from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust). Additionally, he holds a national diploma in mechanical engineering from Cape Peninsula University of Technology and an N6 certificate in mechanical and electrical engineering from Northlink College, both in Cape Town. He also attended the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology, where he acquired his diesel trade diploma and an N3 certificate.
His passion for vocational training is evident in the various roles he has taken up as a diesel mechanic artisan in various mining sectors. These include Rossing Uranium Mine and Areva Mine as a foreman in Arandis, Okorusu Mine in Otjiwarongo and Matchless Copper Mine in Windhoek.
He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leadership and change management at NUST, along with preparing for his PMP (Project Management Professional) exams. “My immediate goal is to successfully pass the PMP exams, and upon completion, I aim to strategise my next steps. At present, my focus is on contributing to the growth of Transnamib and developing within the company.”
TransNamib accomplishments
Khaebeb made his debut with TransNamib in February 2019 as an intern. In June of the same year, he was employed as a graduate engineer in training. At the time, he worked at the diesel depot for six months and later rotated to C&W for two years. “My breakthrough into senior positions came in 2022, when I was placed in an acting position for vehicle maintenance.”
On the accomplishments within TransNamib, he said most of them are from the C&W department. He underscored repairing the old ‘Cowans Sheldon Rail Crane’ – a project they took on to redesign and modify white metal bearings. The project was successfully completed, and the rail crane covered over 2 000 km. Additional projects include refurbishing passenger couches, redesigning the desert express drainage system and wagon door manufacturing at their C&W workshop in Windhoek. “TransNamib has great potential and can greatly contribute to the ever-changing rail network industry.”
Khaebeb has a wealth of engineering experience, having spent close to 20 years in the mining and automotive industries. “I have held senior positions in the mining industry, serving both Namdeb in Oranjemund and Lüderitz. My extensive experience spans areas such as maintenance production, processing, earthmoving, business and strategic development.”
Before joining TransNamib, Khaebeb was the site manager of B & E International Oranjemund Orange River Diamond Drilling. He also held the position of senior technician at the Tschudi Copper Mine crushing plant in Tsumeb. In 2018, he was a part-time teacher at Windhoek Technical High School (HTS) – the school he matriculated from in 2002. “I taught technical drawings, design and communications and introduction to technical studies.”
Pursuing engineering
After matriculating from HTS, he pursued an engineering career, obtaining a bachelor of mechanical engineering from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust). Additionally, he holds a national diploma in mechanical engineering from Cape Peninsula University of Technology and an N6 certificate in mechanical and electrical engineering from Northlink College, both in Cape Town. He also attended the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology, where he acquired his diesel trade diploma and an N3 certificate.
His passion for vocational training is evident in the various roles he has taken up as a diesel mechanic artisan in various mining sectors. These include Rossing Uranium Mine and Areva Mine as a foreman in Arandis, Okorusu Mine in Otjiwarongo and Matchless Copper Mine in Windhoek.
He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leadership and change management at NUST, along with preparing for his PMP (Project Management Professional) exams. “My immediate goal is to successfully pass the PMP exams, and upon completion, I aim to strategise my next steps. At present, my focus is on contributing to the growth of Transnamib and developing within the company.”
TransNamib accomplishments
Khaebeb made his debut with TransNamib in February 2019 as an intern. In June of the same year, he was employed as a graduate engineer in training. At the time, he worked at the diesel depot for six months and later rotated to C&W for two years. “My breakthrough into senior positions came in 2022, when I was placed in an acting position for vehicle maintenance.”
On the accomplishments within TransNamib, he said most of them are from the C&W department. He underscored repairing the old ‘Cowans Sheldon Rail Crane’ – a project they took on to redesign and modify white metal bearings. The project was successfully completed, and the rail crane covered over 2 000 km. Additional projects include refurbishing passenger couches, redesigning the desert express drainage system and wagon door manufacturing at their C&W workshop in Windhoek. “TransNamib has great potential and can greatly contribute to the ever-changing rail network industry.”
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