27 Jul 2020

Director of Denkesmo investment Mr Nchidzi Moeti has implored government to prioritise vocational training for youth as it has the potential to create profitable form of self-employment.

In an interview with BOPA Mr Moeti said the country needed skilled labour which could go a long way in alleviating youth unemployment.

‘Manual work can be lucrative’ said a 30-year-old Nshakashogwe native, who is the founder of an advertising and marketing business, Denkesmo Investment

He said the business was funded with about P 74 500 by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) under the Youth Development Fund grant in 2018, while he also invested his own personal assets to supplement the grant/loan.

He said Denkesmo Investment is an advertising and marketing business that provides printing branding services, and producing sign boards. He said the business began as a self-sponsored project in 2015 and received funding three years later through an encouragement from ministry of youth empowerment officials.

Mr Moeti stated that operating the business before funding was challenging as he had to outsource equipment. “Receiving YDF funding enabled Denkesmo Investment to be able to have working capital for projects and needed assets,” he said.

He said applying for funding was not a challenge due to the fact that he had an operating business and due to his working relationship with MYSC. He said the ministry was  already aware of what Denkesmo Investment could achieve.

He went on to say that the most difficult experience he had since funding was to reintroduce business to clients, informing them of their relocation to bigger and better premises.

“We sometimes experience cash flow problems in keeping up with demands of orders; an order might come in whilst cash is tied up in meeting another order forcing us to source loans and pay back with interest,” said Moeti.

He said he developed passion for the business during his tertiary days as member of an association called the businesses hive at Botswana Accountancy College (BAC) and through the inspiration of his parents.

He said the biggest achievements for Denkesmo Investment was branding Francistown academic hospital and its association with Naledi Motors where it brands their vehicles such as trucks, and buses with mining safety specifications for Debswana mine. ENDS