07 Dec 2016

The Business Botswana executive coordinator said he was grateful that despite challenges encountered, that led to the collapse of almost all thrift and loan cooperatives, the Morwa society stood the test of time.

Delivering a keynote address on behalf of Business Botswana executive officer at Morwa SACCOS 50^th Anniversary recently, Ms Patience Lebotse expressed gratitude over the level of member commitment that led to the immense growth of membership from 50 to 400.

She said it was the desire of Business Botswana to see owned business enterprises positioning themselves towards national development agenda.

“We are therefore on a crusade to encourage the sector businesses which are well managed to ensure full member commitment and participation at community level indicated,” she said.

She advised Morwa SACOSS to consider benchmarking from similar entities, citing the Rwandan’s cooperative economy that he said has grown massively over 10 years of its existence to be contributing eight per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Ms Lebotse further urged Morwa SACCOS to align its development strategies with the Cooperative Transformation Strategy meant to re-direct cooperative movements,

She said this would help in poverty reduction, ICT, adapting to the new environment of good governance practices and embracing-stigmatisation of the concept that cooperatives were for the old, raise public awareness on cooperatives through evidence based as well as advocacy and sensitisation on cooperatives values and principles.

She further implored society members to support their leaders and not become spectators, adding the membership should come up with strategies that could attract young people to such societies.

Ms Lebotse emphasised the need for SACCOSS to mentor its membership to ensure creation of linkages for prosperity.

The director of Cooperative Development, Mr Ramogala commended Morwa SACCOS for being one of the chosen few cooperatives to be in existence after the collapse of many due to lack of proper management, misappropriate of funds, poor leadership among others.

“You should be grateful of the fact that you are operating within the church that may have played a significant role in guiding members against unfair practices common to most cooperatives societies that failed efforts to be resuscitated,” stated Mr Ramogala.  

He applauded the founder and visionary leaders of Morwa SACCOS for portraying adding that the

Government is committed towards supporting cooperatives through its skillful human resource for members’ economic empowerment, he said.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of Morwa SACCOS, Ms Boitumelo Tau called for recognition of cooperatives society, arguing that despite the significant contributions they make towards empowering community’s wealth their presence was never recognised.

Ms Tau however decried challenges they faced such as failure to service loans by members. ENDS