18 Apr 2016

As preparations for Botswana’s upcoming golden jubilee independence celebration continues to gain momentum, this also brings along a business opportunity for many.

One opportunity that one cannot turn a blind eye on is the demand for the national flag colours merchandise such as t-shirts, hats and many more.

Some individuals have already tapped into the opportunity to design the merchandise so as to boost their business profit margins.

Normally, such merchandise is in demand when the senior national football team, the Zebras have a game to host.

Of late, the trend seems to have changed as some organisation and some government departments allow workers to wear such colours on Fridays and weekends so as to keep up with the vibe and the mood of BOT50 planned celebrations.

Recently, BOPA caught up with a 55-year-old Ms Shadi Rakakae and her business partner, Ms Balathilwe Mabophiwa aged 43, the two operate as Bops and Rex Textiles.

Ms Mabophiwa expressed that Botswana flag colours merchandise they design, which include items such as t-shirts, dresses, hats and several others have taken their business to a higher level.

Narrating her story, Ms Mabophiwa noted that they started designing the merchandise for a relatively small number of people and just giving it a try.

“Few weeks after designing several items that we used as samples, a lot of people called to place in orders, particularly the t-shirts,” she said.

She said they have received calls from as far as Bobonong, Palapye, Tonota and  Kasane, noting that they design t-shirts that have a combination of all the national flag colours and that some of them bear the BOT50 logo.

For her part, Ms Rakakae said they can personalise the t-shirts depending on the customers’ desire.

She highlighted that they buy locally the material they use on t-shirts and design the logos in Francistown.

Ms Rakakae said though such merchandise was an opportunity that one could not ignore, it was wise that people who take advantage come up with good quality products.

She also criticised some who have a tendency to price highly their goods; something which she feels would disadvantage other Batswana to buy the products.

One of the individuals spotted wearing the national flag t-shirt, Mr Olebantse Kealopa said wearing such colours gives him a sense of belonging.

He said he takes pride in the fact that from humble beginnings, the government has managed to put the interests of Batswana at the forefront, citing issues of free education, health and other services.

Clearly  BOT50 golden jubilee independence celebration is one of the events that Batswana are eagerly waiting for.

Every village is engaged in preparations, clean up campaigns are conducted time and again; songs and other activities to be performed on the day are also rehearsed with enthusiasm. ENDS