JOHN Kanda (32), hailing from Rundu, says he was unemployed and used to suffer, but now he is an entrepreneur with an innovative idea of generating electricity to start a business cutting hair and charging people's cellphones.

Kanda is one of the few people in Windhoek's Okahandja Park informal settlement who has solar electricity.

Through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture's Youth Credit Scheme which lent him money to start his own business last year, Kanda bought solar panels, a shaving machine, a battery and corrugated iron panels to set up a structure from which he operates. He connected the solar panel to a battery to generate electricity to cut his customers' hair for N$10 and for children he charges N$7. He charges customers' phones for N$3.

"I am feeling good about my business. Before, I was suffering but now I am better," said Kanda. He said he plans to save more money to buy bigger solar panels and expand his business. Kanda said he supports his three children with the money he makes.