09 Mar 2016

Having started in 1986 in Maun, Aliboats have continued to broaden their horizon and contribute to the socio-economic development of Ngamiland.    

The company initially manufactured and supplied various lodges in the Okavango Delta with aluminium boats. They also obtained the Yamaha dealership in 1987 to supply Yamaha motors onto their boats.

The company has since opened branches in Kasane, Lusaka Zambia and Rundu, Namibia, where they also manufacture boats.

“Since 1986 the company has grown substantially and we have now employed 70 Batswana and manufacture approximately 200 boats and trailers per year,” explained the company’s financial director, Ms Sue Bateman in an interview recently.

She said 80 per cent of their production was exported to Namibia, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Congo, Angola, Uganda and Malawi.

Furthermore, she said they have sent their boats as far as the United Kingdom, the Maldives, and the Seychelles.

She also noted that as the only aluminium boat builder in Botswana, and one of only three in Africa, they believe they have a unique product and were continuously striving to improve their products and to broaden their horizons.

Ms Bateman was, however, worried that although Botswana’s education offers various courses on steel welding and fabricating, it briefly touches on the fabrication of aluminum. She said welders who understand the softness aluminium and were light handed in their work were hard to find.

To cater for the deficiency, she said they have embarked on an in-house training programme.

She explained that they source material from South Africa.

“It is aluminum in raw plate form and is sold by weight thus making it very expensive, and the smelting process is also extremely costly as huge amounts of power is used,” emphasised Ms Bateman, adding that transporting aluminium was also expensive.

To make their production effective and efficient, Ms Bateman said they have purchased a computerised laser cutting machine and were planning to buy a new improved machine to improve the quality of their boats.

“These machines are valued at around R1million. We use hull designs which are American Coast Guard approved and feel that our product has evolved to withstand most rough conditions in Africa,” she quipped.

Due to the durability of their boats, Ms Bateman said they have been forced to look further afield for sales as local sales have decreased over the years.

“We pride ourselves in the fact that our hulls can last in excess of 20 years. We are still refurbishing boats that were manufactured 15-20 years ago,” she stated.

Ms Bateman said the nature of their material allows them to panel beat, re-weld and patch any boats that were damaged and increase their lifespan.

The recent world economic recession, Ms Bateman said, affected their company as a boat was considered a luxury item for most individuals.

She said their private customer sales decreased considerably due to the recession. She added that they noticed that the size of boats decreased as costs meant that the smallest possible boat would be purchased rather than bigger more spacious vessels.

“We were forced to keep our prices fixed in order to make the required sales.”

Also, Ms Bateman said lodges refurbished boats and did not buy new ones and that governments followed a similar pattern of cost cutting. She said the price of raw materials increased, but in order to make sales, they kept their prices constant.

As for participation in the socio-economic development of Ngamiland, Ms Bateman said her company was the sponsor of recreational fishing, and had also sponsored one of the recreational fishing competitions in the 1980’s at Ikoga.

“We as members of the organising committee introduced the system of “catch and release” to the annual fishing competition in Shakawe. This promotes sport angling and involves the local community,” she observed.

Ms Bateman said last year, they sponsored six fishing teams introducing the concept of catch and release to show how recreational fishing was sustainable.

She said they were part of the founder organisation of Neighbourhood Watch.

 “We have provided radios and equipment to various satellite police stations through Neighbourhood Watch and maintain their systems,” she said.

Ms Bateman explained that the Maun Neighbourhood Watch has approximately 375 members including businesses, schools and private homes.

She said they were supporters of animal welfare and donate to the wellbeing of animals in the community.

“This organisation carries out field services with free spraying and neutering of dogs, cats or any other animal thus preventing the continuous battle of unwanted puppies or kittens. Ends