Placido Hilukilwa
FOR nine years, Hilma Nakashole has been the only woman operating a bulldozer for NamWater in Oshakati, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I don’t feel any discomfort being the only female operator among so many men,” she said.
“In fact, I feel like I am proving a point, namely that both men and women can do it.”
She said that when she walked into her job interview nine years ago, few expected her to make it. Even some of the interviewers were openly sceptical.
But Nakashole passed with flying colours.
Nine years on, she has bulldozed any lingering doubt about women’s ability to perform jobs previously reserved for, or dominated by, men.
“Operating a bulldozer is my main job, but I also operate tipper trucks,” Nakashole said, shattering assumptions about who can handle heavy earthmoving machines.
Informanté caught up with her at the Oshakati purification plant extension, a N$743 million, 26-month project that kicked off in July last year.
The upgrade will increase the purification plant’s water treatment capacity from 40,000 to 90,000 cubic metres per day, securing supply for the Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions.
