12 Jan 2021

Mokodi Association based in Nxaraga in the North West District is planning to operate a hardware store in an effort to bring services closer to the people.  

The association, which is made up of 13 women and five men, was formed in 2018 and registered last year with the intention to eradicate poverty by venturing into income generating projects.

The association was formed after members attended a mobilisation workshop by PCI Botswana in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural development.

PCI Botswana is an independent organisation with a mission to empower communities on how to enhance health, end hunger and overcome hardships.

It was reported that the ministry partnered with the organisation after realising that the initiative could help eradicate poverty.

In an interview, Mokodi Association vice chairperson, Kgosi Gaolatlhe Kgosigaenyatswe, explained that since the mobilisation workshop, they never looked back.

They paid P20 joining fees as well as contributing P8 on monthly basis and lending people the money with an interest of 10 per cent.

Initially, he said they started with 30 members, but some dropped along the way.

To date, he said they had accumulated over P6 000, which they wanted to invest in operating a building material hardware.

Their efforts to open a hardware, he said, were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and hoped the situation would stabilise so that they continue with their project.

Kgosi Kgosigaenyatswe said they wanted to run the project like a cooperative, adding that efforts were underway to register.

He also stated that they were motivated by the Komana based group, Makuaneno that had embarked on a bricklaying project through the same concept of motshelo.

Kgosi highlighted that the distance between Komana and Nxaraga was less than 20km and since Makuaneno provided bricks, they could as well complement their efforts by providing other building materials such as cement, roofing material and fences among others.

Kgosi Kgosigaenyatswe was optimistic that the concept would transform their lives going forward adding that they had increased joining fee to P200 since they saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

He appealed to group members to exercise patience, commitment so that they achieve their goal and live dignified lives.  BOPA