After a shoe factory at Omaruru failed to secure a government contract to produce boots for the Namibian police and army, and had to close as a result, a new attempt is being started at Okahandja. A visiting Czech government delegation under its foreign affairs minister Cyril Svoboda, visited the site of the new shoe factory at Okahandja this week. This was followed by a short business forum, where Czech investors met Namibian business representatives. Interestingly a company set up and owned by the Namibia Defence Force, the "August 26" company will set up the shoe factory with the aid of the Czech government. Although not confirmed, it appears that the new shoe factory will mainly produce boots for the NDF and the Namibian police.

"It is a bit weird that the government wants to set up the factory", a local business, who did not want his name published, told PLUS. "This should be left to the private sector, I wonder if a thorough business plan exists and if a feasibility study was carried out", the man said. The "August 26" company received strong criticism in the media when it was revealed that it formed a subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, because the Namibian government was given a diamond area to exploit in the DRC about 6 years ago.