13 Jun 2016

Beneficiaries of carpentry and leather works in Kgomodiatshaba have decried negligence of a bulding that houses their workshops.

Speaking in an interview, Ms Olebogeng Mmualefe and Mr Maologane Makgophe who could be running the Kgomodiatshaba leather works said they watched their dreams slowly fade as they never got a chance to work in their workshop since its completion.

The duo said they underwent training at Rural Industries Innovation Centre in Kanye some years ago and had hoped to come back to put their skills into practice.

Ms Mmualefe said she was driven by passion, hence she opting for the then male dominated undertaking. 

She said her love for making shoes drove her to join Mr Mologane adding that they were first a team of 10 and later other members withdrew following delays to work in their local workshop.

Mr Makgophe said even though leather is hard to work with and despite his age he can still work in the workshop should it open.

 He said he is also willing to impart his knowledge to the youth so the leather work lives on.

The two said they have crafted a few products while still training in Kanye and they sold the goods and some were stolen when the building was robbed years back. 

They said the remains were later moved to the local school when their workshop was wholly robbed and became dilapidated.

Meanwhile, Mr Lelatlhego Khana of Kgomodiatshaba carpentry shares the same sentiments as Mr Makgophe and Ms Mmualefe as they are housed in the same complex.

Mr Khana said he was trained at RIIC many years back and was never able to execute his skills in carpentry.  He however said he anticipated success in carpentry work as he witnessed good sales the time they operated from RIIC and sold their merchandise in Kgomodiatshaba and surrounding areas.

He further said he had hope in the business as the council was to buy coffins for destitute people from them.

 He said the business could have yielded more profit as they also intended to carve furniture and sell it to the residents who usually have to buy furniture from as far as Mochudi.  

He added that they were able to sell some of their furniture to the local school and they made a fortune.

Furthermore they said they still wake up and visit the ruins which once brought them hope of survival. They added that they volunteer themselves to help rebuild their workshop. 

Kgomodiatshaba Carpentry and leather works is said to have had 20 members when it was first established and currently has only three left, two for leather works and one for carpentry.

 The team said they are now part of statistics of unemployment and plead for assistance to reopen their workshop.

The team said they were hopeful they will be revived preceding recent government initiative of growing leather industry in Botswana.  They also said they are not yet to give up their passions despite the current situation.ENDS