Africa-Press – Namibia. Freight Services firm IIDDASS is a new courier service provider that is quickly establishing a name for itself in the sector.
The company’s operations manager, Haikela Tassiia, says they are unique since they offer door-to-door collection and delivery of parcels in Windhoek, the north and the south, giving them an edge over competitors.
“We will deliver anything to anyone … even if it’s a live chicken, we will do it,” Tassiia says. His partners are Haikela Tulela and Mudjanima Mandume. Tassiia says they mainly collect parcels of goods imported from overseas, especially China.
“We also collect and deliver small parcels for Namibians selling goods through social media platforms,” Tulela says.
He says the company has four delivery vehicles and markets itself through social media. They are in the process of setting up an office in Windhoek’s Northern Industrial Area, he says.
“This will enhance trust the public has in the company,” Tulela says. He says the company has found a commercial use for the seven-seater vehicles the government refuses to allow permits to carry passengers.
Their vehicles have been certified to be used as delivery vehicles, he says. The biggest challenge the company is faced with is the ever-escalating price of fuel, and delivering parcels on time.
“Our motto is to deliver parcels in 24 hours, but at times it becomes uneconomic to drive to the north with only one or two parcels although we sometimes pick up others on the way. The vehicles usually return to Windhoek with no deliveries.”
Although Iiddass was registered less than two months ago, it has been operating for much longer. Tassiia says the Covid-19 pandemic has brought growth to the courier business.
“As a registered essential service provider, we were allowed to make overnight deliveries during times when other transporters could not.
“Covid was to our advantage, because business grew, and although we were exposed to the virus, luckily none of us caught it,” he says. Tulela says customs officers are slow in clearing people’s goods, and sometimes steal goods under the guise of looking for prohibited imported goods.
“They must educate members of the public on what goods to import and what not to import, instead of confiscating the goods on arrival. At times things like phones are removed from parcels, but we never hear of the government auctioning confiscated prohibited imports, so where do they go?” he asks.
He says they plan to grow the company to serve not only Namibia, but also the southern African region. “In our company, we have zero tolerance for theft. Customers’ goods are sacrosanct and must be respected and delivered to their owners without fail,” Tulela says.
Mandume says drivers should be tolerant, ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy, and must not consume alcohol while driving. Although the courier business can be profitable, it demands dedication and hard work, Tassiia, who has two other ventures, Tassiia Consultancy and Accountancy and Tassiia Agency, says.
“I am an author and published two books, ‘Homeless Professor’ in English, and ‘Ounongo wapewa Elai’ in Oshiwambo, and a third is yet to be published,” he says.
Tulela also has an air conditioning and refrigeration company, called Efigo Cooling and Heating. He says financial institutions are stifling the growth of small businesses by always demanding collateral.
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