18 Aug 2021

After closing for a year due to COVID-19 pandemic, Botswana Quality Baskets company has bounced back and reportedly enjoying better profits.

The company, situated at Matlapana ward in Maun, is a home for high-quality, locally-made grass-woven baskets. 

The owner and managing director, Ms Thitaku Kushonya specialises in weaving all sizes of baskets.

In an interview, Ms Kushonya said being one of the largest producers of baskets in Botswana gives Botswana Quality Baskets, a competitive edge. 

She said her business was not spared from the devastating effects of COVID-19 as she was forced to close for the whole of last year.

She said just like the tourism industry, her business enjoyed support from international tourists, who used Maun as a gate way to the famous Okavango Delta. 

She said before traversing into the delta, tourists made a stopover to appreciate and buy her products, while some had time to learn about the Botswana culture and how to make baskets.

Ms Kushonya said she was hopeful that things would improve, revealing that since re-opening  in March, her business was gradually recovering after receiving orders from both local and international customers.

She said recently, one of her friends in America, requested her to design a basket decorated with hair from a horse’s tail. 

Although, she said the order caught her off guard as she had never designed a basket with horse hair, she jumped at the opportunity.  

She revealed that all her patterns come in visions, which she always followed hence she was able to design a nice basket for her friend, which she has since shipped. 

Ms Kushonya also highlighted that the recovery of the tourism sector would work wonders for her, as some safari companies always brought clients to her place to buy products, upon completion of their stay in the delta.

She appreciated Safari Destination for always doing its best to ensure her business remained afloat. 

“Since I opened this year, some safari companies have been supportive and my company is making better profits and I am optimistic that the situation will keep on improving, as most safari companies continue to receive more bookings,” she added.

Ms Kushonya said she had also participated at major exhibitions locally and abroad, winning prizes for her work, but COVID-19 had suspended such events.

Such events, she said, gave her an opportunity to sell Botswana culture abroad as well as market her products.

However, she appealed to fellow entrepreneurs to remain optimistic, saying COVID-19 would pass. 

The pandemic, she said had taught them not to focus only on one business idea, noting that when the basketry business was hard hit, she ventured into a poultry project to make ends meet.

Ms Kushonya urged other entrepreneurs to think outside the box, and always explore other opportunities. 

“We should not do business for the love of money, but rather be driven by passion,” she added. ends