Living on sunflower dreams

Shepherd Chipoyera left his native country in 2016 in search of a better life in Namibia and although he did a short course in computer studies at Victory College in Zimbabwe, he has been struggling to find a job in Namibia. It is for this reason that he has resorted to selling cut sunflowers to make ends meet. He says life back at home is hard which forced him to come to Namibia. “Life in Zimbabwe is tough, I had to come to come to Namibia to make something of myself,” said Chipoyera. He says that his parents supported him in Zimbabwe helping him with food and a room and that putting money in his own pocket was very hard. He felt as though he was too grown-up to still be living under his parents’ roof and had to do something about it to help them out. “Part of the reason I came to Namibia is to make money so that I can support my family back home,” he said.When Chipoyera arrived in Windhoek he first settled with his uncle in Oshitenda, Katutura but has now moved out to stay on his own because he likes to be independent. “I like being on my own because it teaches me responsibility and it gives me the sense of independence,” Chipoyera said.He maintains that he keeps in contact with his family back in Zimbabwe. “I call them on a regular basis and they also call me sometimes.” Chipoyera has three siblings, two brothers and a sister and he is the eldest of the four. Growing up in Norton in the province of Mashonaland West about 40 km west of Harare Chipoyera attended Cheza Norton Primary School and completed his matric at St Eric High School. He adds that he grew up in a Christian family and he had fun growing up. After completing his short course at Victory College, the talented Chipoyera used to produce and shoot music videos for his friends. “I used to produce music videos for my friends and I can make beats as well as edit videos, so my main reason for coming to Namibia is to make money so that I can buy studio equipment to start my own studio back home,” he said.He went on saying that this is what motivates him to work harder. “I come to Eros Shopping Centre every morning and have to go to riverbeds in Katutura to cut the sunflowers every day because I know what I am chasing,” he said. He says that he does not care about being ridiculed or looked down upon at because he has goals in life to achieve.When he is not on the streets of Eros selling sunflowers, Chipoyera is always listening to music and writing music. “I love music and want to be able to make my own. I want to be a celebrity,” he said. He adds that he does not just want to do music for fame but feels it is his calling in life and wants to be able to provide a better life for his family.He says he is very crafty with his hands and before he started selling sunflowers he used to sell wire cars for kids. “I used to sell wire cars but that business was not bringing in enough money to sustain myself and thus I had to find an alternative… that is when I started selling sunflowers,” he said. He got into the business of selling sunflowers because he saw there was a market for it. “After my wire cars business failed I realised that flowers could make me money too because they can be used at functions as well,” Chipoyera said. He went on to say that he opted to sell sunflowers because sunflowers are easy and he did not need start-up capital. He sells sunflowers for N$40 per bouquet.He maintains that even though he noticed that there was a market for selling flowers in Windhoek he had to take this risk. “I was not sure if people were going to buy sunflowers from the riverbeds, but the first time I tried it I sold out every bunch I had. Sometimes I sell everything and sometimes I do not sell anything at all… but that is just the nature of business and it does not hold me back,” said Chipoyera.He says that in Namibia one can make money with the smallest business venture and that people in Namibia are willing to spend money. “Namibia is a very good country and money circulates. Back in Zimbabwe one cannot sell sunflowers like I am doing in Namibia,” said Chipoyera. He went on to say that Namibia is nice and he is loving his stay here, planning to go back only when he has acquired his studio equipment. “I have been saving for my studio equipment and have set a timeframe for myself.”MICHAEL KAYUNDE

Living on sunflower dreams

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-06

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Living on sunflower dreams

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-06

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