… Government steps in to secure permanent home for Prosperity Hotel School
By Feni Hiveluah
When Alex Matukarua left his village in the Otjozondjupa region to pursue a career in hospitality, he had no idea his passion would one day attract government support.
His journey began with an unpaid two month internship at the (then) Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino, where he worked across multiple departments before being sent home without payment. Despite the setback, he remained determined and eventually secured a career that saw him serving high profile international diplomats.
Today, Matukarua runs Prosperity Hotel School, where he is passing his hospitality knowledge and experience on to young Namibians.
After years of persistence, multiple name changes and recognition from leaders such as Swapo Party deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga, Matukarua has helped many students pursue careers in the hospitality industry.
“Every restaurant you go to, you will find a student who graduated from my school and they are holding on. They are pushing. They are growing. They are supporting their families,” Matukarua said.
In a country facing high youth unemployment, Matukarua believes practical skills are key to creating opportunities. Instead of relying only on classroom teaching, he takes trainees into real work environments to expose them to industry expectations and daily operations.
“What I do is that after training them, I take them to the industry with myself, show them how to mop, how to cook, how to save, how to set up and how to welcome people in a real environment,” he explained.
Matukaruaadded that he asks employers to prioritise skills development over financial rewards during training so students can focus on gaining experience first.
By promoting trade skills over qualifications alone, Matukarua’s grassroots approach has opened opportunities for students in hotels, restaurants and even state institutions.
According to Matukarua, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah endorsed the school and encouraged students to continue developing themselves so they can one day serve as ambassadors of service internationally.
Besides hospitality training such as waitressing and housekeeping, the school also offers computer literacy, German levels A1 and A2 examination preparation classes, Swahili, office administration and entrepreneurship courses. Programmes range from two to six months and are offered on a full time, part time and distance basis.
After years of renting temporary venues for classes, Matukarua recently received authorisation from the Ministry of Works and Transport to rent a permanent venue from the ministry.
“People have taken advantage of renting. They have taken our equipment and even taken us to court, but I thank the government because they see what we are doing and the challenges we face.”
He also applauded works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi and officials from the ministry of labour for considering financial support through the Social Security Development Fund once the school relocates to the new premises. Matukarua said the institution is not driven by personal gain, but by the need to help combat unemployment and create opportunities for young people.
“We are not doing this for our own gain. We want to make sure that we exist to remain and support employment.”
One of the students, Mbitjita Kazengurura, who completed a waitressing course at the school, said he enrolled because of his strong interest in hospitality and his desire to gain professional skills.
He said one of the most important lessons he learned was the value of customer service, professionalism and attention to detail.
“The hands on training at the school has given me practical experience in hospitality operations and customer service. It has helped me improve my communication skills and develop confidence to work effectively in a fast paced hospitality environment in Namibia,” Kazengurura said.
He added that the school equipped him with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to pursue a career in the industry and continue growing professionally.
