26 May 2014

While many people were readying themselves for the official opening of the Africa Youth Games, other youth in Mochudi met at a Youth Pitso to share business and entrepreneurship skills with stakeholders.


Giving a testimony to his fellow potential entrepreneurs, Dee Zone Productions director, Thabiso Maretlwaneng said his love for karate motivated his decision to do film and television production after being exposed to martial art movies from a young age. 


He said from that time he always saw himself as a star and began to aim higher and did well in karate and represented Botswana in many competitions where he won medals. 


Maretlwaneng said despite doing well in sport, the idea to start a business was always there and when an opportunity struck he went for it. 
The Dee Zone director said he went to study film and television production in Australia and when he came back he did exactly what he wanted. 


Through the assistance of Youth Development Fund he started his own company which was driven by passion to see home brewed television productions. He told the youth that his success did not come cheap as he faced stiff competitions but he never backed down. 


Maretlwaneng said the go getter attitude worked for him as he never gave up nevertheless with respect and a humble spirit for the people he discussed business association with.


He encouraged the youth to start small and with time they will grow big and begin to reap the benefit of sleepless nights.


Maretlwaneng said many youth do not make it in the market because they always put money first and that destroys their business when they do not make profit.


“Sometimes you need to do things for free and give people a reason to trust your business,” said Maretlwaneng adding that they should change their attitude, put God first in all they do and be involved in their business beginning with making their own proposals.


Currently, Maretlwaneng said his company has employed 30 youths who have built a strong team which has seen the success of his company which produces shows like Ntwakgolo, Letlhabile, First Issues and have a show slot “Good morning Africa” in DSTV channel 154. 
He said passion has made him what he is today because he never gave up and keeps aiming higher believing God for more breakthroughs. 


Member of Parliament for Kgatleng West Mr Gilbert Mangole said if many youths could learn from Mr Maretlwaneng and the passion he has portrayed for his business success Botswana would have many young entrepreneurs who will grow the economy. 


He said every human being has the innate ability given to him or her by God which needs one to unlock it to see their potential in life.


Mr Mangole encouraged the youth who came in large numbers to build their dreams step by step because everything begins with an idea which needs to be built from there.


He told them that whatever their minds can conceive and believe, they will achieve.


Mangole implored them to take responsibility and change their attitude to build their dreams.


The District Youth Council Chairperson Mr Mogomotsi Motlogelwa said the objectives of the youth Pitso were to create awareness on the available business opportunities and equip the young people with business and entrepreneurship skills.


He said it was also to share information, knowledge and skills that will help them start their own businesses. ENDS