29 May 2017

Botswana Telecommunication Corporation (BTC) managing director, Mr Anthony Masunga has implored local businesses to utilise the limited resources at their disposal to respond to changing market demands.

Officially opening the 23rd Business Botswana Trade Fair on May 26, Mr Masunga said the theme of the fair: "Business agility in Botswana; Optimising businesses at 50 years and beyond," was about change, resilience and the future.

He said the theme called upon all stakeholders not to bask in the glory of past successes, but to reinvent themselves if they were to enjoy a diversified sustainable economic growth and stay relevant for the next 50 years.

Mr Masunga said it required a change in mindset on how people conduct themselves and how they do business.

He noted that 50 years ago Botswana was not what she was today as she was the poorest of all her neighbours and could not compete. Despite that she persevered and enjoyed significant economic growth and transformation.

“Our people came together and home-made brands such as BTC were born and decades later some of those brands including BTC grew to become leading blue chip companies in the Botswana market,” he said.

Mr Masunga said since BTC was an investment not brought about by external thoughts but rather local people it was evidence that it could be done.

“We have our own people, our own businesses that demonstrate what it takes to rise above challenges, creating sustainable home-made solutions, and it is time to ponder how far we can go not only as a collective, but as a people who make up the collective,” he said.

He urged business people not only to draw inspiration from global brands, but to also ask themselves what it takes to be like Mr Moss Sesupeng and Mr Austin Mbakile and many others who were astute local entrepreneurs and businessmen of repute.

Mr Masunga implored business people to do their homework, research, use technology, and innovate, partner, be flexible, creative and work smart to do whatever it takes to keep going.

“Our businesses must graduate from small and medium to large sustainable enterprises that produce quality marketable products,” he said.

He noted that already there had been the closure of several mines around Francistown, but that the resilience of people has seen the emergence of slogans such as Turopo ya Muka, that was inspirational and showed the resolve of the people to triumph against all odds.

He said the fair’s theme was a clarion call for all to focus, introspect and strategise if the nation was to realise another 50 years of socio-economic growth and transformation towards a vibrant, diverse and resilient economy.

Mr Masunga also called on Business Botswana to consider hosting fairs in other parts of the country such a Chobe and Ngami.

In her welcome remarks, Francistown mayor, councillor Sylvia Muzila expressed hope that the fair would help optimise business in the city despite challenges such as the closure of mines.

She said Tafic Sporting Club joining the premier league showed the potential of other sectors of the economy.

Ms Muzila urged the business community to support Tafic during its reign in the premier league. ENDS