19 Apr 2016

Mr Rebaone Qhokwe of Chanoga near Maun believes  his welding and fabrication business has great potential.

Mr Qhokwe said in an interview that he started his business, Fast Score Metal Works after finishing school at Maun Technical College (MTC) in 1996. 

“I used to do piece jobs and fishing business when I was still at MTC and that is where I got the money to buy my tools and materials needed to start my business”, said Mr Qhokwe.

He, however, said although he tried to get funding from the defunct Financial Assistance Programme (FAP), he was never successful. He said lack of financial assistance made him more determined to grow his business.

Mr Qhokwe said there had been many obstacles since he started his business.

 “I used to rent places and that affected my business because people got confused about where they could find my services”, said Mr Qhokwe. He explained that had now settled in his business plot, which was given to him by his parents.

Amongst the challenges, he said, people were initially not interested in the metal items such as burglar doors and window burglars and his business was growing slowl especially around 2003.

This, he said, could have been caused by the low rate of crime such as house break-ins and therefore people were reluctant to see the importance of having such items.

Mr Qhokwe explained that in recent years, people realised the importance of having burglar doors and windows because crime rate increased over the past years. Some of his works included trailers, donkey carts, door frames and window frames, gates, cattle brands, car bumpers and rails, grave stands and brick moulders.

He said his business had reached maturity stage and that it could sustain itself.

Mr Qhokwe encouraged the public to have commitment and perseverance towards their businesses. Ends