05 May 2016

A member of the Jwaneng Chamber of Commerce, Mr Julius Sebako, has called on Jwaneng residents to look for business opportunities around them.

Speaking at the Jwaneng district commemoration of Vision 2016’s pillar of a prosperous, productive and innovative nation recently, Mr Sebako said business could come from anything within the surroundings.

He said instead of waiting for government to provide for them, they should work hard to make things happen. 

“Let us get rid of our entitlement spirit because it won’t benefit us. The biggest challenge is within us and we should introspect and assess ourselves before we ask for assistance from the government,” he said.

He said as an affiliate of Business Botswana, the Jwaneng Chamber of Commerce brought together business people and shared ideas on how their challenges could be addressed. He urged business owners to come forth and register with them so that together they could tackle these challenges and take the town further.

One of the business people who came to showcase his services Mr Serefete Ramantsima emphasized the need to be patient with business. He said as a bee keeper, he ventured into a business that was initially not common but hardwork and determination made him to perservere.

He encouraged enterpreneurs to make use of organisations such as LEA to get guidance and the necessary skills for their businesses adding that  their relationship with such organisations would also help convince financers in the future.

Mr Ramantsima also underscored the need for vigorous marketing, which he said required the highest level of patience since it determined the market reached. He said they should not expect customers to embrace their products and services at first glance since it took time to finally reap the rewards.

He also encouraged aspiring business people to group themselves so that they could uplift and encourage each other, as well as share ideas on how to take their businesses further. He said working as a group also gave them an upper hand in acquiring finances from the government.

Another entrepreneur Mr Tlotlego Mpodi said challenges should not be used as an excuse to close the business but rather as a learning curve. As a farmer,  he has encountered several challenges with drought being the major one.  

He also encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs do go an extra mile in everything they do, and not let shortage of land hinder their progress. 

“I have been in this business since 2009 but every year I lease people’s land and pay around P40 000. This shows that my commitment outweighs my challenges,” he said. Ends