Manica Namibia turns 90

12 Nov 2014 - by Staff reporter

Manica Group
Namibia is
celebrating the 90th
anniversary
of its founding, making
it one of the longestserving
logistics
companies in
southern Africa
and the oldest in
Namibia.
“Manica is the
product of the
foresight and
determination of
Theodore ‘Tetje’
Woker, who started
a humble shipping
and forwarding
company in
partnership with Walter
Maertins in a small two-room
building in Walvis Bay on 1
October 1924,” says
Manica MD, Hans-
Werner Timke.
It was Tetje
Woker’s ability
to adapt and
innovate
during the early
1900s that
led to various
improvements
in the port
of Walvis Bay
and dramatic
advancements in
the local logistics
industry.
“It is
his vision,
humility,
f lexibility,
innovation and
the pursuit of
excellence that
are the key
ingredients of
our success
and the
foundation
on which Manica is built and
continues to grow,” says Timke.
The company now offers
a “one-stop-shop logistics
approach,” with a portfolio of
services ranging from customs’
clearing and forwarding to
bunkering and airport ground
handling support.
This is a far cry from the early
days of basic goods clearances,
ship husbandry and coalbunkering
for steam ships, he
said.
“Manica has grown and
transformed tremendously over
the last few decades.
“Last year, we started a
business centre that provides
office-away-from-home facilities
with the auxiliary support
of visa applications, travel
arrangements, accommodation
bookings, airport shuttles and
car hire.
“With the recent oil and gas
exploration drilling campaigns
we further expanded our
portfolio with a sourcing and
trading division that specialises
in sourcing marine equipment
and spares,” says Timke.
Earlier this year, Manica
partnered with Danish bunkering
company Monjasa to provide
bunkering services along the
Namibian coast and started a
specialised transport wing in its
freight handling and warehousing
division, Rennies Consolidated.