Page 40 - Gondwana Value Creation Report 2020

OUR HERITAGE AND OUR FUTURE We do business in such a way as to make Namibia and the world a better place. PEOPLE

The financial value we distributed
Gondwana’s people are an indispensable part of our operations. They do not represent
N$122 million
Gondwana, they are Gondwana.
SUPPLIERS (direct and indirect cost of sales and
expenses), many of which are small businesses
2019: N$202 million

N$803 000

CONSERVATION SPENT N$112 million Why our people are important Covid-19 impact on our people Meet some of our people
The health and wellbeing of our people was our top priority
Our country has a great need for quality employment in rural
EMPLOYEES in
in Gondwana parks salaries, wages and areas. Of Namibia’s approximately 2.54 million people, only 55% during a year that greatly affected each of their lives.
2019: N$820 000 benefits live in urban areas. At the end of 2020, youth unemployment Lodge-based employees had extended periods at home
2
2019: N$118 million 1 stood at 41.17% (2019: 39.53%), and the national unemployment as lodges were shut down, and only small rotational teams
rate stood at 20.59% (2019: 20.27%), according to Statista. remained to maintain and look after properties. While we
proudly maintained salaries, employees who needed to be
As the largest private employer in some rural areas, Gondwana off-site had to sacrifice their daily company-subsidised meals.
meets this need, and our economic contribution is apparent. In Windhoek-based employees efficiently adapted to working
conservancies we employ nearly 300 Namibians directly from the from home with new or amended work schedules.
WE PAID surrounding communities. Many members of our dispersed teams live in remote areas,
We aim to be an employer of choice that fosters a sense of which made constant communication difficult. We established
belonging, dignity and self-confidence among employees. We WhatsApp groups to send official updates and internal letters
N$286 000 N$9 million believe in providing job security and a stable, fixed income to and eventually voice notes of encouragement to them. This
helped keep our people reassured of Gondwana’s resilience
NAMIBIAN our employees, which is why we prefer full-time above seasonal
GOODWILL GOVERNMENT in employment. Even in 2020, when we lost 66% of our income, we and their job security.
CONTRIBUTIONS and taxes and levies refused to retrench a single employee. Employees also get to The initial lockdown affected families with children, as schools
donations to help the 2019: N$70 million travel and experience the country as and when they are being were closed while some employees had to continue working.
vulnerable transferred between lodges. Gondwana implemented flexible schedules to accommodate
2019: N$340 000 N$3 million Our stable and loyal workforce is a great asset to Gondwana, as it moms and dads who had to rotate parental duties. This
created a difficult period of adjustment but presented an
CONSERVANCIES and COMMUNITY FUNDS is the face of our business. The appeal of our brand enables us to opportunity to determine whether flexible schedules could Agnes Iipumbu
we partner with to provide accommodation attract, retain and develop a loyal, talented and diverse workforce: work for Gondwanians in future. Agnes grew up at Onuumba village near Oshikuku where she
2019: N$5 million people who have the Gondwana DNA and do things according to We applied a hiring freeze, but we honoured our commitments dreamed of working as a hotel manager or social worker.
the Gondwana Way. to new hires. The Board approved the appointment of a Chief She joined Gondwana Canyon Roadhouse in 2005. At the time,
Our success directly empowers Information Officer to deliver our IT strategy. While recruitment she was a student from Baumgartsbrunn, sponsored by the
was frozen, we encouraged candidates to send us their CVs so
Payments to suppliers and other Gondwana-dependent stakeholders are Namibians, especially those we could be ahead of the curve in vetting candidates. Helmut Blecks Foundation. A Gondwana employee immediately
recognised her potential. Soon after she completed her two years’
directly linked to operational costs and thus impacted by the effect of the We aimed to put 65 new Namibian interns on fixed-term hospitality course at Baumgartsbrunn, she was permanently
Covid-19 lockdown on our business. in rural areas. We uplift them contracts, looking to employ them after their internships, but employed at the Namib Desert Lodge as Guest Relation Officer.
the pandemic and travel restrictions lowered this figure to
by employing, training and 25. We also had to delay our partnership with the Ministry of In 2012 she transferred to Etosha Safari Camp as Assistant Camp
DISTRIBUTED TO Home Affairs and Immigration and the Federation of Namibian Manager, finally becoming Etosha Collection Team Leader in 2020,
N$76 million THE GONDWANA N$2.2 million developing them, and paving Tourism Associations (FENATA) to provide training to customs where she oversees 170 employees at three locations. She mentored
WE No dividends to WE in ASSET DISTRIBUTION CARE TRUST to NAMIBIANS the way for their careers. officials at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport. and led the team that was responsible for the opening of Etosha
shareholders
3
(acquisitions, maintenance
DISTRIBUTED 2019: N$17.5 million SPENT and upgrades) AND OTHER in need King Nehale alongside the King Nehale Conservancy team. Agnes
participated in the GO1000 Development programme for senior
2019: N$139 million DONATIONS 2019: N$1.5 million “Gondwana has invested a lot in my managers in 2020.
Agnes completed a three-year certificate in hospitality
1 2019; Increase in salaries, wages and benefits due to the acquisition of Palmwag and Omarunga Epupa-Falls in May 2019 (6 months) training, knowledge and development, Through Gondwana’s training and development programme
2 2020; Reflects the salaries, wages and benefits for Palmwag and Omarunga Epupa-Falls for a 12 month period and for Etosha King Nehale for a 5 month period. Due to Covid-19, cost savings measures were implemented like the restriction management from the University of Johannesburg, which she
on overtime and shift allowances as from April and voluntary reductions in salaries as from October. and I’m very grateful.” – Agnes Iipumbu passed with distinction.
3 No dividend was distributed.
38 VALUE CREATION REPORT 2020 GONDWANA COLLECTION NAMIBIA 39