18 Nov 2020

Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi has commended Ditswammung Savings and Credit Co-operative Society (SACCOS) for taking Kacgae Multipurpose onboard to change their business approach by embracing the use of information technology through the co-operative management Information system (CooPMIS).

He said this when Ditswammung donated to Kacgae Multi –Purpose Co-operative Society on November 16. 

The donation comprised of a solar plant, computers and two Point of Sale (POS) cash registers.

Mr Molebatsi said Ditswammung SACCOS demonstrated co-operative spirit and emphasised that they had demonstrated that they were living the co–operative   principles of co-operating among co-operatives and being concerned about the community. 

The assistant minister explained that the solar system would ensure sustainable development while computers and POS cash register was a step towards fourth industrial revolution as well as digital economy.

Mr Molebatsi viewed that co-operatives still remained relevant and indispensable to this date, saying they were one of the vehicle through which citizen economic empowerment could be realised. 

“Co-operation is one of the oldest concepts in this country. Tshwarano has been practiced informally through metshelo, melaletsi and mafisa,” he noted.

He expressed government commitment to resuscitate, revamp and redirect the development of co-operatives into globally competitive businesses. 

He thereby challenged cooperatives to interrogate Co-operative Transformation Strategy of 2012, whose implementation, he said was a bit sluggish.

“Establish if the transformation strategy was in consistence with the current president transformation agenda,” he said.

He exemplified countries such as Kenya, India, France and Tanzania co-operatives for being the largest contributors to the GDP and remained the mainstay of their economy. 

The assistant minister added that cooperatives could establish and run their own bank, as well as establishing chain stores.

He regretted that although co-operative movements in Botswana had abundant resources owned by individual cooperative businesses, most of them were not put to efficient use.

These, he said  included  idle land and buildings, which were strategically located throughout the country and excess funds lying in low yielding accounts in financial intuitions.

He said such resources, if well harnessed through this principle of cooperation, could effectively resuscitate the co-operative movement with minimal external support. 

Mr Molebatsi underscored that membership commitment and participation remained key towards the success of co-operatives.

Representative of Solar Botswana International, the company  engaged with  installation of the solar system, Ms Same Ntseme implored Batswana to embrace solar because of its economic benefits and environmental friendly dividends. 

Kacgae co-op chairperson, Mr Dipolasi Molosiwa said their co-operative had been operating  as a communal shop from 1980  till 1996 when it was registered as a co-operative.

He said over the years their co-operative had survived through the support of the council via its destitute feeding tenders and destitute housing tenders.

He also mentioned that his co-operative had extended a helping hand to Tsootsha co-operative by buying them stock. 

For his part, area MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai implored Kacgae members to take care of the gift and avoid misappropriation of proceeds for the sustainable growth of their enterprise. 

Kacgae SACCOS also received a deep freezer from Motswedi SACCOS,  two printers and tonners from Jwaneng co-op P20 000 from Orapa SACCOS and P 1 000 from Maitlamo SACCOS while Kacgae Primary School received stationery and toiletry from Botswana Railways SACCOS and 20 packets  of goodies from Orapa SACCOS. ends