28 Aug 2014

Lobatse Clay Works general manager, Mr Buzwani Manyepezda has applauded government for taking a bold step of improving the livelihoods of Batswana by concentrating on programmes such as poverty eradication that he said, will bring sustenance to Batswana’s livelihoods.


Speaking during the official opening of a poverty eradication entrepreneurial workshop in Lobatse and scheduled for four days, Mr Manyepedza said the envisaged goal for Botswana was to surpass the millennium development goal target of reducing extreme poverty by half by 2015.


He said poverty eradication programmes had packages that had been developed to provide an all-embracing guidance in the implementation of empowerment projects.


He explained that such packages when meaningfully implemented should “economically empower individuals and families, enhance self-esteem amongst beneficiaries and deliver prosperous, productive and innovative individuals”.


Mr Manyepedza said programmes such as home based laundries, bakeries, sewing and food catering accord beneficiaries the opportunity to uplift themselves and the communities that they live in.


He said poverty eradication workshops serve a good purpose of divulging knowledge and skills to emerging entrepreneurs in order to successfully prepare them for the eventualities and opportunities that could show in their businesses.


He also encouraged them to have passion and love in order to run successful business operations, saying where there is no passion, businesses are likely to collapse.


“Most businesses fail due to lack of passion and lack of courage” he said.


He said any skill that entrepreneurs acquire in their entrepreneurial journey, will largely be helpful if coupled with a double dose of passion.


Furthermore, he said beneficiaries should develop more life skills to develop into competitive entrepreneurs by equipping themselves with more information.

He added that, entrepreneurs should stay abreast with current affairs, particularly the middle section of newspapers that he said is considered ‘boring’ by most readers.


Mr Manyepedza said entrepreneurs should be innovative, determined and develop strong self-esteem to stay abreast with competition in the entrepreneurship world.


“You should be strong and a person of action because men of action are favoured by luck” he said.


He said government has contributed enormously by making positive changes in the lives of many Batswana, improving household food security, empowering the poor by engaging them in income generating activities, generating employment opportunities which ultimately led to the promotion of sustainable economic diversification.


He said beneficiaries should ensure that, they use public funds meaningfully, not to fail the system but showcase that Batswana have a true spirit of self-sufficiency and a desire for success in their lives.


Lobatse District Commissioner, Mr Geoffrey Gare had earlier in his welcome remarks, applauded the Social and Welfare and Community Development Department in conjunction with the Gender Affairs Department for hosting a business management workshop for poverty eradication beneficiaries.


He said the workshop serves as the platform for beneficiaries to share and gain knowledge on how to operate competitive businesses that will sustain their lives economically and also play a role in developing their localities.


“You as entrepreneurs should set up viable businesses that will open doors to other investments that will in future turn Lobatse into a business hub” he said.


Mr Gare encouraged entrepreneurs to support each other in order to realise their potentials and reduce dependency on government, as well as allowing easy penetration into international markets.


Furthermore, he urged them to abide by the guidelines and policies that govern businesses and urged them to utilise government offices for assistance.


The workshop is expected to cover business areas such as management of micro and small enterprises, ingredients of successful business operations, guidelines, policies and governing businesses, life skills for beneficiaries to develop into more competitive entrepreneurs and psycho-social support and motivation to enhance the self-esteem of the beneficiaries. ENDS