09 Nov 2021

Some projects funded under Poverty Eradication Programme folded due to COVID-19.

Some, suprisingly, soared during the pandemic such as Pinbely Wet Wipes.

Realising that the pandemic was upon them, the company,  which was financed to make wet wipes in 2018, did not allow it to deter them but thought of plan B.

Instead of going home, they looked utilised the opportunity and ventured into production of sanitizers, which were in high demand.

Before the project kick-started, government through the District Commissioner’s office in Selebi Phikwe mobilised eight beneficiaries and provided them with necessary skills and business training to run the automated wet wipe machinery project under the name Pinbely Wet Wipes.

In support of this project, the office of the district commissioner also allocated a warehouse owned by the office to the beneficiaries at no cost.

Ms Boikhutso Kereeditse, the chairperson of Pinbelly Wipes project explained that although they were financed for wet-wipes production,they encountered teething problems among them machine breakdowns.

At some point the machine was maintained but it ran for a short while and broke down, leaving the eight beneficiaries with nothing to fall back on.

Three of the beneficiaries left the group to try their luck elsewhere leaving only five beneficiaries to run the ailing wet wipes business.

The chairperson explained that three beneficiaries lost interest in the project as the profits were not good enough.

She further explained that their product did not do well in the market due to stiff competition from imported products.

After two years of unprofitable operation, the company made a turning point in 2020 to seize an opportunity presented by  the COVID-19 pandemic to diversify into production of liquid sanitisers.

With the support of government, the beneficiaries secured one year tender with Selebi Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) to supply primary schools with liquid sanitisers.

The project also secured a few tenders from Selebi Phikwe District Health Management Team and some Junior Secondary schools in and around Selebi Phikwe.

On realising that the project might collapse after COVID-19 since demand for sanitisers will be low, the beneficiaries have decided to venture into the production detergents such as dish washing liquid, pine gel and hand wash.

Senior District Officer Development Mr Abednico Mmereki said plans were in place to help Pinbely Wet wipes to graduate from a mere poverty eradication project to a sustainable business capable of boosting the economy and creating employment for Batswana.

One of the steps taken was to ensure that all the products were safe to use hence all Pinbely Wet-Wipes products have passed Botswana Bureau of Standards tests except for the pine gel, which is yet to be re-submitted for testing.

He said initially the project was given the exemption letter by SPTC to operate without a licence but the process of applying for a manufacturing licence was ongoing as the required documents had been submitted to Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Furthermore the company has branded itself and designed a company profile, business cards, merchandise and logo.

Mr Mmereki also explained that the project had a bank balance that enabled the members to get P1000 salary each.

Government introduced Poverty Eradication Programme to improve the livelihoods of Batswana living under extreme poverty through establishment of sustainable income generating projects for both individuals and groups.

Closure of the BCL mine has not only affected those who lost employment in the mine but has also exacerbated the level of poverty amongst residents.

The programme consists of 45 business models which beneficiaries may choose from as well as any other project type deemed viable in respective areas.

Additionally there are key projects for grouped beneficiaries such as Chicken layers, Small to Medium Scale Machinery, Fish Farming and cluster gardens.

Despite this good initiative by government, some beneficiaries continue abandoning projects for formal employment while some have taken advantage of this opportunity to grow and diversify their products. Ends