22-yr-old IT student develops Namibia's own social network

A 22-year-old information technology student, Gerson Mangundu, has developed local social network to connect Namibians all over the world.

Mangundu's website, Namhook, has been called the 'social network for Namibians.'

Speaking to New Era, Mangundu, said his plan was to connect his compatriots all over the world.

"I thought having our own social network could be a great thing, to be able to connect Namibians all over the world," he said.

"Namhook is not just a social network, it's more of a business platform too."

The tech whiz has great plans for his Namhook.

"Namhook will help solve many problems like offering free advertisements, artists can sell their songs on the network to their fans rather than roaming around the streets to sell their CDs.

"We are also launching safe online shopping where shops in Namibia will be able to sell their products to the rest of the nation via Namhook hence helping them expand their business."

Mangundu however noted that it was not easy combining his studies in Cuba with developing the app.

"It took me a year to finish the project with help from my professors and other developers," he said.

"The main challenge was only time since I had to divide my time of developing the site with school."

He revealed that the site currently has about 2 130 members, six months after it went up, with "100 per cent satisfactory feedback from people."