Challenge
What happens to a diamond mining town in the Namib Desert, if diamonds become too expensive to mine? A town that was closed to the general public since the 1920’s. Namdeb hired Freedthinkers to find out
Process
We began in 2015 with a visioning process, Oranjemund 2030, that embraced the mining house, municipality, union, businesspeople, citizens and schoolchildren. Six socio-economic goals, distilled through the process, were then subject to viability tests. Some goals fell by the wayside, others were strengthened. Between 2015 and 2017 we helped to lay the foundations of a new economy, restoring hope and belief.
Two critical success factors for town transformation are an active, organised citizenry, and a well-funded investment vehicle. Key goals include drylands agriculture, property development, SME support, and tourism.
The vast empty spaces of the world’s oldest desert, plus a town with an 18-hole golf-course and oryx roaming the streets, inaccessible without a permit since the 1920’s – was the tourism magnet. To make the town even more fascinating we recommended an ambitious public art project.
Freedthinkers process reached its natural conclusion, with the formal opening of the town, in November 2017.
Impact
OMD2030 was formed to help the community play a key part in the future of Oranjemund. OMDis has been created to accelerate the town Investment.
Sites and crops for agribusiness have been identified. A food nursery project flourishes with tomatoes, cucumber, pumpkins strawberries, and spinach feeding the local market. Three sites and feasibility plans for property development are being considered by investors. SME’s are being supported to transition from a mono-economy. During the pandemic, while the world held its breath, the art town in the Namib was born. Large public art projects are added each year, together with an an annual artist’s retreat in the desert.
It takes at least 15 years to change a town. Making a new Oranjemund is a work in progress.
