03 Jul 2019

Batswana have been encouraged to use indigenous skills to improve their livelihoods.

North West District Council deputy chairman, Mr Lathang Molonda said in the past, Batswana used indigenous knowledge to turn locally available raw materials into different crafts for economic gain.

Officiating at a social community development mini show in Maun themed: Cultural Preservation, Innovation and Productivity: A Way to Sustain Our Livelihoods, Mr Molonda revealed that in the past, women concentrated on food preservation and specific methods to prolong the shelf lives of food.

Dry food, vegetables and meat, he said were cheap and nutritious common meals in households.

Mr Molonda revealed that women produced a variety of baskets and other products such as clothes, curtains, patchwork, while men produced wood crafts such as chairs, boats and doors among others.

He noted that there was a challenge of marketing, hence then mini-show activity, to enhance market and exposure.

The event brought together 60 small scale entrepreneurs from Okavango sub-district and Maun Administrative Authority to market their products, interact and share ideas on how they could grow their businesses.

“This is a commendable number as it shows that our communities are involved in upping their economic lives,” he added.

The entrepreneurs included poverty eradication beneficiaries together with others from different empowerment programmes. Mr Molonda also appreciated the event, noting that such shows would go a long way to encourage Batswana to be self-reliant.

He said mini-shows and market days were one of the strategies to realise 10-Point agenda number eight, which calls for providing different platforms for engaging customers. He noted that the platform would get feedback from beneficiaries and consumers as well as expose them to improved entrepreneurship, which is in line with Vision 2036 pillars of achieving prosperity for all, sustainable economic development and human and social development.

Such events, Mr Molonda said had the potential to grow small businesses as it intended to drive small economic empowerment projects to sustainability, starting with individuals and households.

He said the district was uniquely rich in natural resources and called upon the community, government departments and private partners to explore more business opportunities through available natural resources.

He said it was government’s priority to eradicate absolute poverty, but that was unachievable if entrepreneurs do not set themselves targets.

Beneficiaries were encouraged to work together to form cooperatives and approach funding institutions to grow their businesses.

Mr Molonda also emphasised the need for entrepreneurs to do frequent business environment scans as the environment keeps  changing. He said the scans could assist in adoption of best practices and improvement of existing business statuses.

Advisors such as Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), he said should be involved in that regard.

Molonda also encouraged exhibitors to produce globally competitive goods, adding that though international products dominated the local market, there was room for local ones. ENDS