28 Jan 2019

Of recent, Batswana have been making strides in the multi-million Pula tourism industry. 

Such Batswana include a family in Molepolole, Mr Isaac Motlhabane and his wife, Lesang, owners of Lemepe Lodge. 

Located at goo-Ntloedibe ward in Molepolole, about 60 kilometres from Gaborone, Lemepe Lodge has become a hub of activities in a village that serves as the gateway to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). 

The lodge provides services ranging from accommodation, In and Outside catering, conference facilities, private parties and other social events. 

 In an interview with BOPA Ms Motlhabane said her business started from humble beginnings and was officially opened on September 1, 2001, with eight rooms, one conference room and eight staff members. 

Today the business has 27 rooms, three conference rooms and 41 full time employees. 

As an old English saying goes ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step’, it all started in the dusty village of Mochudi for Ms Motlhabane.

Being a first born and raised under the strict parenting of Mr and Ms Diswai, Ms Motlhabane said she learnt to take responsibility at a younger age. 

She said her father’s salary was not sufficient to support the entire family, forcing her to play a role of ‘deputy parent’, as she had to help support her younger siblings. 

Responding to how her upbringing has helped her in the business world, she said she acquired a skill in tailoring, which she learnt at a young age and now this has subsequently reduced costs as she is able to make her own table cloths and curtains. 

“Born poor like the majority of Botswana children, I have always wished for a better life for myself and my family. 

My mother is a tailor and therefore I learnt to tailor clothes as a young girl. 

I have always tailored stuff for myself and for others to raise little extra cash,” she passionately expressed.

Often people see the results of years of hard work, dedication and think that success is an overnight ordeal, but this couple shares a different sentiment. 

“Failure teaches you a lot. 

Like a child learning to sit, crawl and stand, they fall and fall and fall. 

It is the falling and dusting ourselves and trying again that helped us manage the present business better,” Mr Motlhabane added. 

Taking a short trip down memory lane prior to settling for lodging business, the couple experienced several eye-opening failures that best prepared them for Lemepe Lodge. 

In 1990 after trying to start up a sorghum milling plant, the business failed because most of the time they were absent during the time when the business needed nurturing. 

The family also ventured into a recreational club, but it also crumbled as they failed to identify its specific market. 

Speaking about the lodge, Ms Motlhabane said as a way of retaining and maintaining a loyal customer base, they provide quality customer experience to ensure that customers return, adding that they also have a customer database that they use to keep in tough with their clients.

“We are continuously expanding to meet our client’s needs in hospitality and tourism areas, we also pride ourselves with good customer service we provide as assessed by our clients,” she said.

During its infant stages, the lodge was supported by various organisations such as Tswelelo in collaboration with the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), Barclays Bank and Local Enterprise Agency, which offered training and mentoring services. 

The family has recently expanded its business with a convention centre, which has the capacity to host up to 500 delegates. 

They also have a travel and tours business that was established in 2017. 

Ms Motlhabane advised aspiring entrepreneurs to separate their personal lives from business. 

“You can’t be heading to the till and take money out of the business; you learn to be broke just like other people.

So, if the business has money, it’s not your money, but it belongs to the business,” she advised. ends