20 Jul 2017

After graduating from Bradford University in the United Kingdom with a bachelor of science (BSc) degree in occupational therapy last year, Mr Wedu Samu realised that unemployment was high and therefore had to come up with a survival plan.

This motivated him to pursue business to make a living and at his youthful age, he is now the proud managing director of Peolwane Travel and Tours Company, Peolwane Media and Rehab Masters companies, all based in Gaborone.

In an interview, Mr Samu stated that Peolwane Travel and Tours was a citizen owned company that he started in December while still fresh out of university.

The company facilitates smooth travelling of overseas travellers, processing of visas, hotel bookings, airport transfers and shuttles and also processes travel arrangements for local travellers and currently has two buses.

Peolwane company has tour packages to Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa and Swakopmund in Namibia.

“I had to finance the businesses from my own pocket. This meant less partying and I had to reduce impulsive spending such as buying clothes unnecessary. It was hard but I found comfort in the words that say to live like a king, you have to work like a slave,” he said.

Furthermore, he said that it was difficult to run three businesses and to try to strike a balance by engaging in social events, seeing friends, going out, visiting family and keeping up with expectations.

His other business, Peolwane Media deals with services as photography, graphic design, branding and online marketing.

On the other hand, Rehab Masters deals with medical equipment supplies, mental health rehabilitation centre, physical rehabilitation, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services.

Like any other business, the entrepreneur stated that he encountered challenges such as lack of funds to implement an aggressive marketing strategy and expensive office rentals for new companies.

Some of the challenges he faced for his travel and tours business, he noted, included lack of funds to employ competent travel consultants and a marketing team.

“The travel and tour business is a seasonal one and is a highly competitive business environment that requires substantial capital. Despite the challenges, I am always striving and achieving success because I am highly focused and never gives up,” he concluded. BOPA