Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #BuildingBatswanaForBotswana
Most recents (5)
IN BUSINESS, PATIENCE IS A REQUIREMENT
Not many Batswana have warmed up to commercial orchard farming, or citrus plantation to be precise. Perhaps this reluctance is borne out of the long patience that is needed before citrus trees can finally bear fruits for the market.
Not many Batswana have warmed up to commercial orchard farming, or citrus plantation to be precise. Perhaps this reluctance is borne out of the long patience that is needed before citrus trees can finally bear fruits for the market.
Apparently, an orange tree grafted onto rootstock may take three years to begin producing, while a tree grown from seed can take up to 15 years. Mme Morwadi Rantsudi (60) is, however, one of the few Batswana who decided to venture into this painstakingly slow, yet handsomely ...
..rewarding type of farming. She grows oranges at her farm at Letlhakane lands, near Mmadinare. According to her, a single tree can produce 20 bags of oranges. You do the math. Mme Rantsudi was funded through CEDA’s Mabogo Dinku loan facility.
“I WENT TO CEDA THINKING I KNOW WHAT I WANT, UNTIL THEY SHOWED ME WHAT I REALLY NEED”
After quitting his job as mechanical engineer at Orapa Mine in 2011, Rre Moses Manake (56) pondered on what he could venture into.
After quitting his job as mechanical engineer at Orapa Mine in 2011, Rre Moses Manake (56) pondered on what he could venture into.
He came to CEDA in 2014 to ask for funding to start a horticultural project. This, not because he knew anything about horticulture but only because he had a 20-hectare farm lying idle.
He was so ambitious he asked for a loan running into millions of Pula. CEDA advised him to start small so that he can gain some experience before he could go on full throttle. At the time, he was fuming because he wanted the millions in his bank account.
POWER COUPLE TRANSFORMS MATHATHANE INTO PARADISE
A real estate magnate, Rre Bale and his wife have established Selepswe Resort in the area, just five kilometers shy of Mathathane village.
A real estate magnate, Rre Bale and his wife have established Selepswe Resort in the area, just five kilometers shy of Mathathane village.
We visited the place to inspect the ongoing construction works and the project is already at 95% completion and earmarked to accept visitors and guests by November this year.
The Bale family started this project from their own savings and approached CEDA to part-fund some of the infrastructure such as the 300-seater conference facility, offices, kitchen and reception area.
DON’T CONFINE YOURSELF TO YOUR HOME VILLAGE
When it comes to chasing businesses opportunities, don’t just think of Tobane because you come from Tobane. If it’s anywhere within Botswana, CEDA will still fund it.
When it comes to chasing businesses opportunities, don’t just think of Tobane because you come from Tobane. If it’s anywhere within Botswana, CEDA will still fund it.
Rre Letimile Kebafithetse (44) hails from Shoshong but when his market research showed a lucrative market for bread in Bobirwa, he decided to setup a bakery in Bobonong.
Sea Bread Bakery is fully equipped with ovens that have the capacity to produce 240 loaves of bread every 30 minutes. Rre Kebafithetse employs 12 Batswana at his bakery. In addition to funding his bakery operations, CEDA has acquired him two delivery vans.
YOUNG, FOCUSED & UNSTOPPABLE
One wiseman once opined that motivation is what gets you started and commitment is what keeps you going. He must have been referring to the likes of 27-year old Molatlhegi Mabelebele of Molalatau in the Bobirwa district.
One wiseman once opined that motivation is what gets you started and commitment is what keeps you going. He must have been referring to the likes of 27-year old Molatlhegi Mabelebele of Molalatau in the Bobirwa district.
This amazing youngman( ka lerato )first approached CEDA when he was only 23 years old and just after graduating with a CIMA qualification from Botswana Accountancy College (BAC). And no, he wasn’t looking for a job at CEDA.
He was looking for money to start his own business, a supermarket in Molalatau.
He rocked up at CEDA and said “look here, my mother has a building that’s lying idle and I want use it to establish a supermarket”.
He rocked up at CEDA and said “look here, my mother has a building that’s lying idle and I want use it to establish a supermarket”.
