22 Apr 2018

Co-operatives contribute to social integration, job creation and eradication of abject poverty, the Minister of Agriculture Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia has said.

Mr Ralotsia who was officiating at the Motswedi Savings and Credit Cooperatives Society annual general meeting on April 21 said co-operatives had been pivotal in developing the livelihoods of Batswana over the years.

“Co-operatives are renowned to be enterprises based on ethics, values and principles that put the needs and aspirations of their members above the simple goal of maximizing profits,” he said.

He stated that business models like the ones used in cooperatives which operated within universal business parameters, were important to create a sustainable world that could thrive over time.

With the critical role that the co-operatives had demonstrated to play, Mr Ralotsia expressed no doubt that such entities had the potential to compete with well-established organisations both locally and internationally.

He said for every organization to thrive in the current volatile business markets, it must be mindful and accommodative of the rapid changing world. He added that the global landscape had been changing profoundly over the last few years with inevitable environmental imbalance and fast paced technological advancement.

He emphasised that government aspiration was to see its people prosper in all spheres of live, a desire which he said was embedded in the country’s vision 2036 slogan that said Prosperity for all.He therefore implored Motswedi SACCOS to develop and implement robust strategies that would catapult the society to greater heights so as to become a renowned co-operative society of choice.

“As a co-operative pace setter of good repute, I urge Motswedi SACCOS to endeavor to be a torch- bearer of co-operative’s success in the local economy and beyond and pleaded for a robust campaign to increase awareness and public education on co-operatives,” he said.

Further, he applauded Motswedi SACCOS for promoting mobilisation and engagement on co-operatives as co-operatives were hubs for financial inclusion and wealth creation as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth.

He said Motswedi SACCOS had over the years made remarkable achievements as it had experienced tremendous membership growth from 50 founding members in 1985 to its current membership of over 3000 members. ENDS