22 Aug 2013

About 100 poverty eradication beneficiaries in the North East District attended a three-day business management workshop aimed at equipping them with knowledge before venturing into business.

Speaking at the start of the workshop on August 21, the North East District Council's senior community development officer, Mr Thomas Mpenya, said the beneficiaries attended a sensitisation workshop earlier this year because if they ventured into business without proper knowledge, it would fail.

He cautioned the beneficiaries against the tendency of changing from one project to the other when procurement of material was at an advanced stage, something which he said hinderd implementation of the planned projects.

Mr Mpenya further explained that they had stopped funding kiosks because a lot of people flocked into such business and as a result, a market for them to sell products was becoming a challenge. He noted that they had added fishery and phane harvesting to some of the businesses they were funding.

He also said saloons as well as fashion and fabrics beneficiaries had been sent to attend technical training at Madirelo Training Institute and Francistown College of Technical Education (FCTVE). Mr Mpenya said there was shortage of goats because there had been foot and mouth disease in the area.

“Receiving business equipment depends on the business which the beneficiary is doing, some business materials are readily available while some have to be ordered,” he said.

Mr Mpenya said beneficiary’s business progress will be monitored by extension officers residing in their respective areas. In future, he said, some of the beneficiaries would be sent to refresher courses to further equip their business knowledge.

He said they had so far funded 53 backyard gardens and 62 other projects ranging from hair salons, food catering, bakery and laundry. The principal cooperative auditor from the Department of Cooperatives, Mr Gosetsemang Makola, encouraged the beneficiaries to study their business market and identify niches, which could benefit their businesses.

Mr Makola said pricing was a crucial aspect of business and it was therefore important to study competitors and determine a reasonable and affordable pricing. He cautioned them on cleanliness and good customer service, which was key to having a good customer base. He warned that bad news travel faster, hence a customer who is not treated well will spread the news to others. Ends