28 Oct 2013

Women have been urged to boldly take on bigger challenges and invest in property.

Speaking during the women in business seminar in Gaborone on Saturday, October 26, Katlego Consulting Services representative, Ms Tshimologo Dingake called on women to realise a paradigm shift from the conventional unindustrious woman and position themselves in the lucrative property market.

Ms Dingake said it was essential to change the traditional beliefs about the role of a woman, stating that traditionally men had control over property while women had little or no control because their participation in property was minimal due to issues of culture.

In an interview, she stated that “Basadi ba tlwaetswe ka di-cosmetics but it is high time women know it is possible they can confidently venture into property and change the old perceptions that it is a man’s world.”

The guest speaker, Dr Mamike Molapo  highlighted that land had historically been in the hands of men, saying it had been paternal and with modernity boys and girls had equal opportunities which gave women chance to do what they could not do in the past.

Dr Molapo further encouraged women to support each other and do away with petty issues which were common amongst women, saying it was vital for women to work together in order to progress in life. “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together,” she said. 

She highlighted continuous education as key to personal development, and opens doors to a lot of opportunities including investment in property, “half the time we do not have these property investments because we do not  know how to educate ourselves on these matters, let us get educated because learning keeps you sharp, learn something different each time,” she said.

Dr Molapo urged women to carefully weigh their options when investing in property, noting that they must be organised, realistic and smart if they want to acquire property as well as being smart about property finances, “Ask yourself why you are investing, location of the property must be taken into consideration, determine your strategy and do not borrow more money than you can repay,” she advised.

She emphasised the need for women to openly enquire about venturing into property and engage personnel with requisite expertise on property, “Do not think you can handle everything on your own, delegate, get someone who is more knowledgeable on the area,” she said.

For her part, Ms Kelebogile Mading from First National Bank (FNB) advised women to invest in housing as houses are appreciating assets adding that their doors are open to finance women’s projects. ENDS