16 Feb 2021

Some people give up when things seem bleak, but others carry on, believing that every day is an opportunity.

Maun-born, Mr Gosego Keruamang, is one of those who  believe that even if one ends up not achieving  what they planned for, one could still make some changes and make oneself proud.

When he failed his junior certificate examinations, he did not give up on life, but applied for a course at the then Maun Vocational Training Centre (MVTC) to study fishing and boat building, because his dream was to own a boat manufacturing company.

The 51-year-old revealed in an interview that boat manufacturing was a God given talent, more so that he grew up in Ngamiland area, where many people enjoyed water based activities like, traversing the waterway on a traditional canoe.

He said he found a niche in making modern fiberglass boats, which unlike the traditional ones made of tree trunks, are more environmentally friendly. 

He explained that after completing his three-year course at MVTC, he secured a job in one of the engineering companies in Maun, where he worked for seven years, manufacturing boats.

After acquiring more experience, Mr Keruamang said he decided to become independent and started his business with assistance from the Financial Assistance Programme (FAP), which granted him P46 000. 

Through the funding, he said he managed to procure all the necessary materials and started manufacturing boats.

The boat industry, he said recommended manufacturing of six-metre boats, which could carry 6-8 people. 

He said he started small, advertising his products through flyers and word of mouth and attracted a lot of attention, as many people moved away from traditional canoes to fiberglass ones.

Mr Keruamang said his businesses flourished as he received many orders from across the country, especially from the northern side of the country, where people survived through water related activities such as fishing and transporting tourists.

Besides boat manufacturing, he also specialises in construction of swimming pools for lodges, hotels and private schools among others.

The boat business, he said had transformed his life as he managed to build a house, procure livestock, send his children to school as well as paying lobola.

He revealed that business was currently down because of low water levels in many water sources, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic had exacerbated the situation as most polers were currently idling due to movement restrictions.

Other challenges he mentioned include lack of capital to expand his project, as well as customers who fail to honour payment  agreements.

He said he intended to approach financial institutions such as Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) to grow his business.

Lastly, Mr Keruamang urged young people utilise their talents and take advantage of available government initiatives to improve their livelihoods. Ends