Allexer Namundjembo
Rehoboth resident Roberto “Berto” Gowaseb has turned graveyard maintenance into his source of income, spending his days repainting and clearing burial sites across Rehoboth to make a living.
Gowaseb says he started painting and cleaning graves because he wanted to survive through honest work.
He told the Windhoek Observer on Monday that the decision came from a simple desire to build a life without turning to crime.
“I don’t want to steal. I just want to earn the little I make so I can survive,” he said.
Gowaseb lives alone and has no children. He said creating his own work was the only way he could secure his future.
“I decided to start this initiative to support myself. I have to provide for myself and my future,” he said.
For him, working for himself holds more value than waiting for someone else to offer help.
He started the business in January, focusing on painting graves, debushing them, and cleaning cemetery sites. The work quickly spread beyond Rehoboth. “I even have customers in Swakopmund and other towns. It’s a growing business,” he said.
Gowaseb wants to expand but says funding is his biggest challenge.
“I’m struggling with funds. I want to register my company, expand it and employ a team, so I can also help reduce unemployment,” he said.
He hopes to one day create jobs for others who, like him, want to avoid the path of theft or crime.
He appealed for sponsorships and said that even the smallest support would make a difference.
“Even a wheelbarrow will help. I need equipment so I have something to work with,” he said.
Gowaseb said he follows municipal rules when cleaning cemeteries.
He collects and bags all waste for the town council to remove.
“The municipality picks up the trash. I pack everything and wait for their team to collect,” he explained.
He urged young people to think creatively about their future and to find ways to support themselves.
“Life is short. If we think and come up with something that can help us in the future, it’s never too late. Stealing and robbing is not a solution. We need to work for ourselves,” he said.
Gowaseb is seeking support or sponsorship to grow his business. He can be contacted at 081 214 6673 or 085 214 6673.
