24 Jun 2015

With the unemployment rate not showing any signs of abating and job prospects becoming scarce, some youth have decided that using their hands to earn a living is the only way to go.

These young people had realised that waiting for that job offer, which might not come in the immediate future ould not take them anywhere.

The same goes for Mr Onkemetse ‘Zulu’ Mpalawali, 30, who is self-employed as a tyre patcher in Tati Siding. He carved a niche for himself by the roadside where he offered emergency assistance to clients.

Having gone as far as Form five at McConnell College in Tutume, he was initially employed as a bus conductor in public transport. However, he longed to be self-employed after discovering that there was a need for tyre patching services along the A1 road which services many vehicles which pass through.

In a recent interview at his makeshift workshop, he said while he was working as a bus conductor, he realized that tyre puncture was something that occurred quite often along the A1 road and he also had experienced a tyre puncture by the entrance of Tati Siding, where his business is based.

After making such a discovery, he said, he thought starting a tyre-patching business would not only be beneficial to himself but to road users as well.

He highlighted that he thought the business would be a success because there was only one person who provided the service. 

Mr. Mpalawali noted that although he has no formal training, he was taught by someone how to tyre-patch and out of that he was able to master the techniques of the trade and make a living out of it.

Fortunately, he mentioned that a selfless, Eric Majumane a friend, who bought machinery which Mpalawali uses to operate his business.

From the business, he highlighted that he is able to sustain himself. “I am able to buy food and clothing just like everyone else and this business has made a significant difference in my life,” he explained.

However, he noted that like any other businesses, he encounters challenges every day.

 He said that above all challenges, insufficient funds tops the list.

He expressed his disappointment that he has attempted to request funds from Youth Development Fund (YDF) but his attempts did not yield any results.

He said that the YDF rejected his proposal because he does not have good financial management skills which would have allowed him to save money and in addition he has no formal training to conduct such a business.

Mr Mpalawali explained that at first he was operating just a few meters away from the railway line in Tati Siding, however, officials from the Botswana Railways complained that he was operating within their plot.

“I was forced to move a few meters away from the railway line though I do not understand as to what disturbance I was causing,” he explained.

Despite the challenges he encounters, he continues to persevere and is currently working on addressing the issue of place of operation.

Mr Mpalawali hopes to continue operating where he is because he believes that there is a lot of business along the A1 road. ENDS