Bread or data? Internet costs hinder Namibian businesswomen

Ruusa Shikwanyu braids a clients hair in the Horse Shoe Market in Windhoek, Namibia. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

WINDHOEK: Ruusa Shikwanyu’s fingers move at lightning speed, expertly weaving together long braids on her client’s head at a market in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital.

Shikwanyu has been braiding hair for 16 years, but her clientele and income have doubled since she started advertising online in 2015, joining a growing number of female entrepreneurs who are embracing the internet to grow their businesses.