21 Nov 2017

Women In Business Association (WIBA) president, Ms Nametso Ntsosa-Carr says the association has established partnerships and collaborations with various organisations in the country and across borders.

Speaking at the WIBA annual general meeting on November 18, Ms Ntosa-Carr explained that WIBA had partnered with the North West Province in South Africa in the agricultural sector.

It has also partnered with Kenya Embassy, Air Botswana and Ethiopian Airways.

She said the Ambassador of Kenya had invited the association to visit his country on benchmarking purposes.

She said WIBA was currently negotiating prices with Ethiopian Airways and Air Botswana.

Ms Ntosa-Carr further explained that WIBA was also negotiating with Jamal Trading Company and Tyre Services, for WIBA members to buy building materials and tyres at reduced prices.

She also said WIBA would introduce its newsletter next year as a communication tool for the association and pleaded with WIBA members to stand up and work for the organisation for it to prosper.

She explained that WIBA investment policy aimed to empower women economically so that they could grow and become economically empowered to have an equal footing in the economic development of Botswana.

The WIBA president appealed to members to take every advantage that they came across and graduate from poverty, which is one major challenge facing women not only in Botswana, but across the continent.

Further, she stated that WIBA would next year spread its wings across the country by opening regional offices in Kang, Maun, Francistown and Mahalapye.

She said the offices would be manned by Peace Corps and Tirelo Sechaba participants, saying for the time being WIBA services could be accessed through Gender Affairs offices in those regions.

The meeting also saw the introduction of WIBA membership cards, which will be used in all the above activities for easier access of services.

The challenges facing WIBA include lack of funds to pay officers and rentals, lack of office space, disconnection of the telephone line, lack of office equipment such as computers as well as a fax machines.

The WIBA president explained  that since assuming office the new executive committee had embarked upon restructuring the association, which she said was an uphill battle.

After being informed of challenges, members contributed P10 each towards the payment of the telephone bill, which stood at P6 500 and to buy a cellphone to be used by officers in the meantime.

The meeting agreed on a number of fund raising activities to augment the association funds and also agreed to pledge donations of any kind and promised to deliver on their promises.

The meeting was enlightened on the association’s long term strategic plan aimed at taking the association forward into the future.

Meanwhile, a motivational speaker, Ms Tebatso Mashabela said government was not performing as expected in the delivery of a deepened and diversified national economy, and that women from all segments failed to realise diversification of the economy to the extent needed to nurture their entrepreneurial ambitions.

A renowned entrepreneur, Ms Mashabela said unemployment rates sat at an alarmingly high national average of 20 per cent and women and in particular the youth were most impacted.

Junior and secondary school graduate unemployment stands at 27. 5 and 27.9 per cent respectively while brigade certificate and diploma unemployment stands at 23, 5 and 19.8 per cent, she added.

Vocational certificate and diploma unemployment stands at 17 and 13 per cent respectively while university certificate and diploma unemployment sits at 15.2 and 15.5 per cent respectively.

“What these statistics tell us is that, if you count no more than six people to either your right or your left, either you or one of your peers will be a victim of this sad state of affairs,” she said.

She said such required WIBA to continue its constructive engagement with stakeholders and government.

Ms Mashabela urged women to constructively engage with influencers and decision-makers nationally by telling government and stakeholders great things they intend doing or those that they had done.

The WIBA Botswana was formed in 1990, through the initiative of the then BOCCIM and some few small-scale businesswomen.

The concern was that although women owned businesses in Botswana, they constituted about 75 per cent of small & micro businesses.

Those women in business had no forum where they could meet to share ideas and tackle unique problems they faced that inhibit success of their enterprises. ENDS