31 May 2016

The ambiance of Botshelo-three way complex is a true reflection of the maxim “hard work pays”. The breathtaking greenery around the complex has an instinct feel and touch to it.

Located in the south of Lake Ngami, this shopping complex is a pure majesty of beauty and ardor.

Mr Christos Tlhobolo, 45, is a renowned business man from Sehithwa.The prime attractiveness of his multifaceted complex is the banana plantation surrounding his shops.

He started his banana plantation back in the year 2010.Speaking in an interview with BOPA recently, he narrated his story with frivolity and wit. ‘‘This whole idea of creating a banana plantation started out of curiosity and a complete twist of fate. The labourers at Maun Prison just pruned and threw away a bay of banana plants, so I decided to pick and make use of them. That is where my life journey began,” said Mr Tlhobolo.

He took a leap of faith and decided to make a banana plantation around his shops for decorative purposes. Little did he know, the best was yet to come. People, more especially customers vehemently took an interest and complemented the sight of beauty around the shops. He took the complements to his stride and decided to revamp and intensify the foliage around the complex. He decided to plant a lawn as well as other stunning trees such as the elephant ear and different flowers.

This place is a lover of many, especially tourists, the localities and passersby. Botshelo Three-Way complex is also a host of wedding expedition and people usually take photos from the amazing greenery. “I usually charge them P300-P400 per session, depending on their social standing, if they cannot afford the fees I service them for free,” said Tlhobolo.

Tlhobolo explains that the love and desire to succeed pushed him to aim for greater heights. He explains that he was fortunate enough to plant his trees near Lake Ngami because that is where his business is located. He highlights that the soil is rich and does not need a lot of tending.

He states that a banana tree is easier to maintain but needs a lot of watering. He posits that it is cost-efficient and less time consuming, adding that when you cut down some of the bearings of the fruits, you can transplant them and grow them again. A banana tree is an evergreen tree and its bays of leaves do not litter the environment unlike other plants.

When the bananas have ripened and turned into a yellowish delight, he sells them in his fresh produce and they cost around P3 each. He also grows and sells other fruits and vegetables such as lemons, paw-paw, oranges, rape and spinach. “I started out with only 4 banana trees now they are over a thousand. Every year they reproduce,” says Tlhobolo.

The business savvy gives back to the community by donating trees to the less-fortunate through the poverty reduction programme.He donates these stacks of trees to others every now and then to encourage them to make an honest living with their own hands. Tlhobolo also imparts his knowledge of banana plantation on the agricultural students of Ngami Junior Secondary School, he makes time and tutor them for free.

In addition to the banana enterprise, he also runs a number of different businesses such as a filling station, restaurant, a bottle store as well as a fresh produce. He is also benefitting because the lake is about a 100 metres away from his premise, hence he does not spend a hefty amount on water-bills.

He also explains that the beauty of owning a business along the road is that customers, more especially tourists are easy to come by. He highly emphasised that there is customer-satisfaction in his business and consumers habitually rave about the cleanliness of the area.

Mr Tlhobolo also notes that the customers give a valid contribution towards how his business is done and run. He also has a two-seater range rover cruiser to his list of achievements which is tailor-made to transport tourists when they are sightseeing the village.

Several members of his community are employed in his businesses but like any other mortal being, he has dreams and aspirations that he still wants to explore.

“Indeed my business is doing well and my lifelong-dream is to build a lodge and a camping site behind my plantation. I also want to make a photography license and buy a boat to increase my annual earnings,” says Mr Tlhobolo.
The only challenging factor he comes across in his business is that his borehole is dismantled. So, he wants to drill a new one and reserve it in case there is drought and the lake dries-up. Ends