August 26 CEO innovates

George Kaxuxwena has been the company’s leader since May 2019 and there have been many ups and downs.
ELIZABETH JOSEPH
Elizabeth Joseph





Colonel George Kaxuxwena has a Master of Science degree in Defence from the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras in India.

He is driven, hardworking and self-motivated. Throughout his career he has had to be disciplined and to accept discipline from others.

“My military history goes all the way to the founding of the Namibian Defence Force and retirement without a blemish in 2016,” he says.

So how did he make the transition from military administration to business management? Kaxuxwena says that was fairly easy as the two are fundamentally the same.

August 26 Holdings, which is wholly owned by the ministry of defence, recently held its first AGM where it tabled a strategic plan for change and growth in the years to come.

“The company crafted the business plan, the first of its kind, and signed performance agreements between the chairman and the ministry of defence. Individual managers have signed their performance agreements too. The only way is up for August 26 Holdings,” Kaxuxwena says.

He wants the youth to reach for their goals and to never waver in the decisions they make.

A day in the life of a CEO

Kaxuxwena says that the company is very busy with various projects and he spends his days attending a series of meetings from Monday to Thursday.

The 64-year-old does not let his age stop him from having hobbies and staying fit. In his spare time, he enjoys playing football and volleyball. He also loves reading books about leadership and management.

“Documentaries to a lesser extent; movies are a good pastime. Many writers, late and alive, have inspired me. Robert Greene has particularly made a lasting impact on me.

“I like gardening and agriculture in general. I did a three-year agriculture course at the Home Study College of Southern Africa and that gives me the strength to plan for our August 26 Agrotour farm,” he says.

Kaxuxwena has proven himself to be a man of substance and he says he enjoys imparting knowledge on the less fortunate regarding sanitation, food production and children’s education.