08 Nov 2016

The saying that another man’s waste is another man’s treasure is evident in the case of a 25-year-old man who turns waste material into usable materials, and in the process making a living and saving the ozone layer from unnecessary pollution.

The young entrepreneur from Francistown, Mr Khumoyaone Ndove turned heads in Kasane recently as he decided to penetrate the market and showcase his products.

Mr Ndove uses car tyres and rubbish bins which are considered rubbish to make tables and couches and has been doing this for a year now.

“I decided to come to Kasane because this is where most of my target market is,” he stated.This has not however stopped passersby from admiring the products displayed by this young man. He stated that he also sells to individuals according to their specifications.

To start the business, he funded himself with the salary he received from his job as a special constable with Botswana Police Service in Francistown.

He initially started the business with a partner but has since become a sole proprietor as his business partner had a different vision for the business.

Mr Ndove said although he has a full time job as a special constable, he still manages to run his business because he tries to manage his time accordingly. “I used to be a reckless person, I used to waste money on alcohol and smoking,” he noted.

Upon realising his talent in making couches and tables with waste material, he decided to quit the old lifestyle.

This helped him to pay his bills and change his life for the better. He also managed to do charity work and donations as he aims to change lives in the community.

Even though there are challenges such as transportation, financial constraints and lack of an operating space, he still has a vision for his business. “In the next two years, I want my business to be known internationally, and I want to grow it so that I employ other youths like me who are unemployed but underwent courses such as carpentry,” he noted.

Mr Ndove said perseverance can lead to positive thinking, stating that to achieve one’s goals, they need to go step by step as well as trust in God to get the guidance they need. ENDS