26 Mar 2017

 Shortage of employment is driving Batswana to find ways and means of earning a living through self-employment such as running small businesses at bus ranks in various villages and towns.
In Nata, Mr Kabelo Kelebogile, 38, is one of the people determined to make it in life through self-determination. He runs a small clothing stall in the village commonly known as Criz Corner.   
In an interview, Mr Kelebogile said he entered the dog-eat-dog world of the self-employed in 1999 while still living in the copper/nickel mining town of Selebi Phikwe.
 “I started as a street hawker selling sweets, Simba chips and water at the local rank inside buses, and I found it profitable because it gave me plenty of time and chances to explore other prospects,” he said.
With time he increased his stock by selling wrist watches, ear rings, necklaces and the result was not disappointing, he said enthusiastically.
Armed with a Trade B certificate in bricklaying, plastering and painting from Mosetse Brigade, Mr Kelebogile said in 2007 he abandoned the selling business after he had landed a job at Mowana Mine.
Unfortunately, in 2013 the young man was forced to return home because the mine could no longer keep some employees.
“I used my savings from work  to revivie my old business of selling items such as shoes, sunglasses, trousers, T-shirts, belts, necklaces, socks, hats, traditional cooking utensils, pots, school uniforms, school bags, and many more,” he said.
Mr Kelebogile said he had realised that in Nata many things were in short supply yet they were needed every day; as such, he has taken it upon himself to avail stocks to the community by ordering from Francistown and as far as Zambia.
He said despite the challenge of well-established shops, he manages to keep his customers by offering them value for their money.
“I look around and identify goods that are not available in local shops such as school uniform and then act fast with attractive quality brand,” he said. ENDS