02 Feb 2022

Mr Tlhoriso Motshabi of Ghanzi is the inaugural winner of a moraka competition. He won a bull and five heifers.

Speaking during the at a prize giving ceremony in Gaborone on Tuesday, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Ms Tiny Diswai said

the competition was a representation of what government was trying to achieve by encouraging farmers to feed the nation and to close the food security gap.
Second prize winner, Ms Neo Doctor, also from Ghanzi, won three heifers and Ms Setshegetseng Letsogile from Palapye got five goats as the third prize winner.

Ms Diswai noted that Motherwell Investments sponsored the prizes through their Real Tea competition named Win a Moraka.

Ms Diswai said government recognised the critical role played by small and medium sized enterprises in the socio-economic development and the country’s economic diversification.

She said the partnership of the manufacturing and agricultural sector was appreciated and that statistics in 2020 showed that agriculture contributed 2.14 per cent to the GDP of the country. She noted that manufacturing contributed 25.03 per cent while the services sector had the lions share of 63.04 per cent.

Ms Diswai said the competition was a bonus to the winners as well as the economy.

She commended Motherwell Investments for their initiative and giving back to their customers. She urged the winners to take care of the animals and to use the opportunity to improve their farming.

For his part, Motherwell Investments managing director, Mr Gibson Ntibi said his company was formed in 2018 with the aim to manufacture hot and cold beverages.

He said they produced 50 000 kg of tea per month and that it contributed to the reduction of the import bill.

He said the main objective competition, which  started in August 2021 was to create brand loyalty and to give back to society.

He urged consumers to support local products, saying it was through collaboration that unemployment and the import bill could be minimised. ENDS