He is a committed leader driven by a strong desire to promote economic growth and community development. He has founded several businesses, particularly in the trade and agriculture sectors.

Festus Malakia (photo), a Namibian entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Mepya, a startup specializing in food distribution and agro-processing. The company leverages technology to support smallholder farmers, enabling them to grow their operations and access broader markets.

Founded in 2021, Mepya is a B2B tech-focused start-up in the food distribution and agro-industry sector. It connects producers directly with buyers, aiming to make nutritious food more accessible while strengthening food security.

“Our goal is to create an integrated market where farmers can connect with a larger customer base and utilize resources efficiently. Through this marketplace, we aim to reduce waste, increase farmers' income, and contribute to agricultural sector growth,” states the company’s website.

Before launching Mepya, Malakia founded Central Commerce Group in 2017, a multi-sectoral social enterprise operating in agriculture, agri-tech, e-commerce, logistics, and more. In 2018, he co-founded the Unique Empowerment & Employment Initiative Foundation (UEEIF), an organization focused on youth development, where he also serves as CEO.

An active member of the Global Shapers Community, Malakia has worked as a business consultant since 2012, collaborating with over 5,000 young professionals and entrepreneurs on projects across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.

Malakia graduated from NUST Namibia in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Development. His career began in 2011 at Namibia’s National Planning Commission as a data collector. He later worked as a banker at Nedbank Namibia in 2015 and as a data entry clerk at the Ministry of Health and Social Services in 2017.

By Melchior Koba,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji