WINDHOEK: Old Mutual Namibia on Tuesday handed over a unit trust investment to the value of N.dollars 10 000 to Namibia’s Paralympics’ gold and silver medallist Johanna Benson.
Old Mutual Namibia’s Chief Executive Officer for Operations, Sackaria Nghikembwa handed the investment to the gold medallist in the presence of senior officials of the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sports and Culture at the insurance company’s head office here.
Unit trusts are professionally managed funds which allow one to invest in financial markets, together with other investors, through a management company.
“Johanna Benson has done Namibia very proud. She has done her family members and all Namibians very proud. Her achievement is the first achievement of this nature for Namibia.
And, as we celebrate Johanna Benson’s achievement, we, at Old Mutual Namibia decided to offer her a unit trust investment to the total value of N.dollars 10 000,” said Nghikembwa, noting that Benson can access her money at any time that she wants.
Nghikembwa also announced that the management of Old Mutual Namibia will avail a financial advisor to the young Benson and her family in order to help the gold medallist to use her funds wisely, once they conclude the ongoing negotiations with the Namibian Government.
Speaking on behalf of Benson and her family, long-serving Director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sports and Culture, Dr Vetumbuavi Veii highly commended Old Mutual Namibia for the generous assistance provided to Namibia’s “golden girl”.
He said the Namibian Government, through his ministry, has so far identified three houses at the coastal town of Walvis Bay in the Erongo Region, from which Benson and her family have to choose one.
“We are now happy to announce that the Namibian Government has identified three houses at Walvis Bay. It is now up to Johanna Benson and her family to select one.
The Namibian Government wants to fully protect Johanna’s future and her family. We do not want to see her in the streets in the near future. For these reasons, we are determined to make sure that Johanna’s future is secured and placed in good hands,” explained Veii.
The director further stated that a street will also be named after Benson at the coastal town of Walvis Bay soon.
Last week, President Hifikepunye Pohamba awarded Benson a diplomatic passport as a token of appreciation for her great achievements during a reception at State House in her honour.
Benson brought home two medals from the 2012 London Paralympics Games – a gold medal for winning the 200m T37 sprint, and a silver medal for the T37 100m.
The Namibian Government had pledged N.dollars 100 000 for a gold medal, and N.dolllars 70 000 for a silver medal won at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
At the reception at State House, Pohamba encouraged the youth to become more serious with their schoolwork, and to take part in sports so that they could one day follow in the footsteps of their fellow countrymen and women such as former star sprinter Frank Fredericks, boxer Harry Simon, cyclist Mannie Heymans, middle-distance runner Agnes Samaria and Benson.