10 Sep 2017

Government, in its endeavour to improve the livelihoods of Batswana has come up with economic empowerment programmes which offer support and provide an opportunity to the less privileged to earn a better life.

Speaking at the official opening of Kgatleng District Poverty Eradication Expo in Mochudi on Thursday, director of Business Development from Business Botswana Ms Zoe Isaacs said the day provided a platform to promote networking and product marketing.

She said the theme Poverty Eradication, a Key to Prosperity and Wealth: Stand Up and Shine, calls on beneficiaries to  be committed on their projects and create job opportunities leading to improved economic growth.

Ms Isaacs urged beneficiaries to promote cluster development which would  enable them to have markets for their products.

She further emphasised the importance of banking as a business person which ensures that projects grow.

She pleaded with the beneficiaries of the 99 projects which were doing  well to maintain the momentum.

The director said,“as we strive to reduce rural poverty, promote sustainable livelihoods, stimulate rural employment and income generation and diversify the rural economy, there is need for us as programme implementers to establish linkages with private sector, the business community and other stakeholders to ensure sustenance and growth.”

Ms Isaacs  said through integration and improved coordination, “these programmes through similar gathering like this expo, can go a long way in overcoming market barriers and give beneficiaries an opportunity to grow bigger and become better entrepreneurs and business entities.”

She said the vision of Business Botswana aimed at nurturing business development in Botswana by being the voice of business and drive the process of sustainable economic and social development and promotion of good governance.

She therefore encouraged beneficiaries to utilise business Botswana services so that they could see growth in their businesses and find market.

Ms Isaacs implored beneficiaries to help each other grow and benchmark from those who have achieved more in their businesses.

Kgatleng District Commissioner Mr Mompoloki Mochanang said the objectives of the expo were to help poverty eradication beneficiaries learn from one another and also expose them to the community as a market strategy.

In addition, Mr Mochanang said another objective was to showcase progress of the programme in Kgatleng District.

He said the expo made interaction with customers where products were sold and businesses built brands.

He said the district had  1012 beneficiaries who had  been assisted through the programme and 765 projects were doing  well while some were going through challenges but they were helping them to keep going.

The district commissioner said the programme was going well giving an example of bakery projects which 19 of them had been engaged to supply bread to some schools at P152 000 per month.

Mr Mochanang said backyard nurseries were also doing well and on average they make P65 000 per month.

For those projects which were not doing well,  Mr Mochanang said all stakeholders were working together to help them  including the district development committee which conducts  site visits.

Giving vote of thanks, Kgatleng District Council chairperson Mr Mpho Morolong commended the beneficiaries for utilising the programmes. ENDS