Nande Chivela Wins Kapana Cook-Off, Receives Trailer
Nande Chivela secured victory in the 2026 Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off, claiming a fully furnished mobile food trailer valued at N$150,000 after outlasting nine other finalists. Alongside the trailer, the prize includes N$15,000 in cash—with N$10,000 deposited into a Nedbank account and N$5,000 allocated as ingredient vouchers from Bakpro. A business training course at Agra ProVision will guide Chivela through operational costs and revenue management as he shifts from competitive cooking to full-time entrepreneurship.
Chivela explained that the trailer will enable him to scale his kapana business into a sustainable enterprise.
The 2018 champion, Sakeus Kateya, expanded by hiring four staff members and purchasing a second trailer. Ester Silas, who won in 2023, opened a fast-food outlet within a month, while Eli Abel launched a coffee shop in Ongwediva.
Jenevieve Swarts, Nedbank’s head of small and medium enterprises, pointed out that many entrepreneurs struggle with startup equipment. Its mobility also allows him to reach underserved markets and increase sales.
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Nedbank’s Janet Kapenda, head of marketing, highlighted how small businesses fuel economic development.
Nedbank’s partnership with Agra ProVision ensures winners receive not just equipment but also training to manage operations. The program’s structure mirrors past successes, where winners like Kateya and Silas used their prizes to hire staff and open additional locations. Kapenda added that the initiative aligns with Nedbank’s broader commitment to supporting grassroots entrepreneurship.
The cook-off’s impact extends beyond individual winners, as the mobile trailers serve as mobile kitchens that can operate in high-traffic areas. Chivela’s victory follows a trend where past participants have leveraged their prizes to diversify their businesses, from food trucks to permanent storefronts. The combination of capital, training, and cultural recognition positions the competition as a key driver of small-business growth in Namibia.
