A tailor makes a mask in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 23, 2020. These masks are specially designed for campaigns of political party candidates ahead of the local authority areas and regional council elections slated for Nov. 25 countrywide. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
By Ndalimpinga Iita
WINDHOEK, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- At his business premises in the northern part of Namibia, entrepreneur John David processed various branded promotional items including T-shirts, caps and scarfs. They were ordered by revellers and supporters of political parties in the area for a political party campaign organized ahead of local elections.
Namibia will hold local authority areas and regional council elections on Nov. 25 countrywide.
Since the lifting of the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, business was slow for the marketing and branding informal business.
"We were struggling to re-build after nearly months of stoppage, and the future in business seemed bleak," David said on Monday.
As luck would have it for the entrepreneur, election campaigns by political parties and candidates revived his business.
"Since the start of the political campaigns, the business started picking up slowly but surely," David said.
Orders are coming from groups of supporters, individuals and the political party nominated candidates.
Responding to the demand, he has since offered various packages to incentives clients.
"If individuals or parties order more than a certain number of items, we offer a reduced price and other incentives," David said.
According to the entrepreneur, the elections have catapulted his business, initially stifled by COVID-19 outbreak, to "success."
From generating less than 10,000 Namibian dollars (about 650 U.S dollars) in a month previously, proceeds have doubled since the beginning of November, as the elections draw close.
Meanwhile, tailors and fashion designers are also benefitting from the campaigns. For Selma Shilongo, making people look fashionable in political party themed-attires has aided in business revival.
"The demand is also enabled through discounted prices," she said.
According to Shilongo, they also make sure that each client's look is unique.
Prices for attires range from 50 Namibian dollars to 1,500 Namibian dollars, depending on the design, fabric and time spent on stitching the outfit together.
Shilongo thus marks the month of November for record income generated.
The masks, whose wearing is mandatory as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19, have also grown into big business for tailors. "Election time is the peak season for masks business," said Shilongo.
"You will be surprised to see how many people want masks that match their outfits or simply themed," said Stella Bianca, another tailor based in Windhoek.
Most political parties held their rallies and campaigns and embraced political party themes ahead of the election day of Nov. 25. Voters are not allowed to display political party symbols or poster at polling stations.
Theo Mujoro, the chief electoral officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, said that the commission had received 493 candidates' nominations across 121 constituencies and 57 local authority areas. Enditem
