20 Apr 2016

Botswana Democratic Party women’s wing has  that entails the manufacturing of paper bricks to replace firewood for domestic purposes.Eight women from Gaborone North women’s wing partnered to mould these bricks from waste paper.

When launching the project in Gaborone on Tuesday, women’s wing chairperson, Ms Dorcas Makgato, stated that they had a goal to help women to find means to provide for themselves.She stated that their aim was to distribute the project to various regions where women would be trained to produce such bricks.

Ms Makgato encouraged women to pilot the project in Gaborone first by using the bricks for domestic purposes before selling them.The chairperson said the paper bricks curbed deforestation because it  would fight the need to cut trees for firewood, adding that the bricks were also cost effective and environmentally friendly.

Ms Makgatho told the women to sell their bricks to everyone despite political alliegence upon producing in bulk.She stated that they had already spoken with Choppies Group of Companies for a partnership and the latter had agreed to give the women an opportunity to display their bricks in their premises.

The Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele, said the nation’s priority was to eradicate poverty adding that the paper bricks project was also heeding this call as it helped women sustain themselves.

He said the war to fight poverty had accelerated with poverty eradication projects having increased countrywide.Mr Makgalemele said projects such as this one could help women provide for their families and further motivate others to do the same.

“We encourage every Motswana to be self-sufficient and hence we invite every creative idea geared towards poverty eradication.”Project representative, Ms Gasethata Letsatle, stated that they were faced with challenges when the project started with other members pulling out but they persevered.

She said the paper bricks required skill because they had to soak the papers in water then compress the mixture.Nevertheless she said this was something they enjoyed doing, “we love our job and we do it with passion because without love we wouldn’t have managed.”

She said they were faced with a challenge with lack of space where they could mould their bricks and also shortage of waste paper.She concurred that paper bricks helped preserve trees in that they since they would replace firewood. ENDS