22 Sep 2020

The deputy chairperson of the committee that runs a Takatokwane based poverty eradication project, Boswa Brick Moulding Ms Kabaichesa Kudumedi, says low sales and lack of transport is a challenge to their business.

Initially, Boswa Project had applied for poverty eradication funding, but were blessed when Botswana Institute of Technology, Research and Innovation (BITRI) came to their aid with brick moulding initiative. 

Despite that monitoring and evaluation is done by poverty eradication office. 

Like any other business, Boswa Brick project experienced challenges as their survival depends on  sales to make profits and earn a living.

The brick project is operated by an 18-member  team comprising 14 women and four men who began the project with the idea to change their lives for the better.

According to Ms Kudumedi the main objective of the project was to eliminate poverty among the members. 

She said business had its own challenges and required members to stick together through thick and thin.

The deputy chair said it had not been a smooth journey since the project started but trusted what they were doing and looking forward to brighter days ahead.

She acknowledged the immense assistance they enjoyed from BITRI as the organisation helped them to stand on their feet.

She said BITRI trained them on brick moulding and operation of the hydraulic machine.

BITRI is also supplying them with materials which include cement, pit sand and also takes care of their electricity and water bills.

She further said when the project was in its infancy the organization helped them with monthly stipends.

The deputy chairperson said this was to help them stand on their feet.

She said even though they received support from the community, it was not enough to make ends meet.

Ms Kudumedi added that they needed to market their products more.  

She described their brick as stronger than the usual bricks and therefore urged Batswana to support them.

The deputy chairperson said sales started in 2019 and their production level was 600 bricks per day, adding that delivery of orders remained a thorny issue due to lack of transport.

Ms Kudumedi said they needed a truck that could help them make timely deliveries and profits to earn monthly allowances.

She added that sometimes when the business is low, they were unable to wage themselves and would at times go for months without anything at all.

The Secretary, Ms Amogelang Segaise said government had been supporting them through purchase of bricks for the construction of Moshupa Hospital.

She said BITRI was still assisting them having assigned some artisans to help them until a point where they could do things on their own.

Ms Segaise said they had already supplied 23 000 bricks and they were still making more until the contract comes to end.

She said they were in the process of registering their business as a company so that they could request for assistance as a company.

Mr Morero Rabakokwe, a trainer from BITRI expressed delight over the project’s progress and how members grasped the concepts and processes of the project.

He said the bricks had been tested and met BOBS standard, adding that the strength was double of the required of standard.

Mr Rabakokwe added the project was part of the Kgalagadi Sands Brick Project undertaken by BITRI across the Kgalagadi area.

He said BITRI helped build them a storage warehouse to secure their materials and offices for the administration of the business.

The trainer added that the six inch brick weighed 10 kg and its strength was from the compression by the hydraulic machine. Ends