13 May 2019

Entrepreneurs in the Serowe/Palapye region have commended government for introducing Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) as they have acquired business management skills and knowledge through it.

Speaking during the media tour of their businesses initiated by LEA, they said currently their businesses were progressing well and they had created employment for other Batswana especially the youth.

Ms Cecilia Opelokgale-Moshoshoe, who owns Coppel Rancho poultry farm and an abattoir at Masama fields outside Serowe said, she started to collaborate with LEA in 2015.

She said she utilised the knowledge through entrepreneurship training availed by LEA, to develop and grow her business. She said LEA also assisted her to gain funding from National Development Bank (NDB) to expand her project and purchase machinery for her abattoir.

Currently, the facility slaughters up to 500 birds a day with potential to go up to 1 000 birds. she said her project has created eight jobs for locals.

Another project that benefitted from LEA included, Jago Beef based in Palapye which provides abattoir services to the central and the north east region.

The company’s director, Mr Phampa Baraedi said they registered with LEA in 2017 and they were empowered with entrepreneurial skills including record keeping, marketing skills, customer care and occupational health and safety in work place among others.

The abattoir slaughters roughly 200 or more cattle on a daily basis depending on the number of cattle supplied, he added noting that their intention was to export beef and also diversify their operations to also produce canned beef.

He said more than eight jobs had been created at the abattoir, adding that they also have butchery outlets in Palapye.

One entrepreneur, Mr Omphemetse Kgotlaetsile also benefitted from LEA’s mentorship programme to grow and develop Serowe Canvas and Tents.

The company manufactures tents, camping equipment, bags and repairs seat covers and mattresses. They also hire out equipment and have employed eight people.

He indicated that LEA assisted him with entrepreneurship skills to handle his project in a professional manner and business was progressing well.

Meanwhile, the Serowe branch manager, Ms Kgomotso Masunga said LEA’s objective was to help Batswana to setup businesses, develop and grow the projects.

She explained that they provide entrepreneurship training, sales and marketing, record keeping and other management skills.

She said they also do routine checks on businesses to find out how they were progressing and assist where possible.

She said the media tour of projects in the region was initiated to appreciate the hard work entrepreneurs had put and to encourage other Batswana to start sustainable businesses to diversify the economy of country.   
The media tour also included visits to Jama Bakery and Zaka Zaka Milling in Palapye. ENDS