20 Sep 2018

An idea that emanated from a Food and Nutrition project at secondary school has kept Ms Thato Mosweu hopeful of getting returns for her madila dessert.

Narrating her business journey, the 22-year-old Thamaga-born Ms Mosweu said she got the idea while preparing for a fair at high school.

She said although a different project was selected as the best at the fair, she still maintained faith that her project could be worthwhile if pursued.

The fourth-year Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety student at Boitekanelo College said during her second semester, she made her first madila dessert and went from office to office at Fairgrounds Mall in Gaborone selling it, adding that the feedback she recieved was amazing as a number of people were impressed with it.

“What was planned to be a market test instead made me realise that there was light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

Ms Mosweu said her yummy and sour dessert has a unique taste.

“I try by all means to give my clients a taste of traditional madila and I am keen to maintain that. The aim of my product is to promote traditional Setswana cuisine and to access the global market. I have worked on securing a copyright for my recipe as well as registering my business,” she said.

Ms Mosweu said there was doubt among members of her extended family when she first talked about the idea, but that when they finally tasted the dessert they were impressed and encouraged her to continue with the project.

She markets her product on social media but noted that although such platforms were good for advertising, people should first acquire copyrights for their works before advertising on social media as some people could steal their ideas from the platforms.

‘‘Towards Botswana’s 50^th independence celebrations, I met a certain guy who said he was a chef and offered to assist me sell my product at the BOT50 celebrations only for him to go and make a similar product and sell it for his benefit as he was aware that I didn’t have its copyright,” she recalled.

She said as a student and business woman financial challenges were a stumbling block, and that mixing business with studies was tough and needed good multi-tasking skills.

Ms Mosweu said one has to be creative, hardworking and have faith in God to penetrate the business industry.

The Milk MÈ Cow business owner said she financed her business from her pocket.

She sells her madila dessert at weddings and as well as to individuals.

She indicated that she has dreams of expanding her business by doing more marketing and personalised packaging after completing her studies. ENDS