11 Sep 2022

Government continues to commit to its promises to take services closer to people in its efforts to diversify the economy.

It is on such backdrop that Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare officially opened the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) branch in Shakawe, the 11th in the country, on Friday.

Officially opening the branch Minister Gare said it was through organisations like CEDA that government would  achieve its agenda of economic inclusion.

As such, the minister encouraged Batswana to take advantage of CEDA services and come up with business projects that would curb unemployment rate in the country and attain economic growth.

“Young people, especially graduates, are affected by unemployment therefore it is important for entities such as CEDA to be widespread across the country to nurture entrepreneurship,” he said.

He said CEDA had received about 21 141 applications in Ngamiland out of which only about 3 386 were successful. “This is not satisfying,” he said.

The new CEDA branch, he said had been granted P11 million for the Okavango sub district therefore appealed to the people in the area to approach CEDA with viable project proposals.

He added that CEDA also provided mentorship and training to successful applicants.

He further said the ministry was also committed to ease way of doing business in the country.

For his part, CEDA chief executive officer, Mr Thabo Thamane urged stakeholders in Okavango to motivate people to make use of CEDA in order to improve their sub district.

Mr Thamane said CEDA was only waiting for people to approach it with feasible projects for funding.

“CEDA, came up with a strategy to expand its services in 2015 which led to establishment of offices in Chobe, Hukuntsi, Letlhakane and now Shakawe with the next office to be opened in Tsabong,” Mr Thamane said.

On one hand, Member of Parliament for Okavango, Mr Kenny Kapinga thanked the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and CEDA for bringing services to the people of Okavango through the Shakawe branch.

Mr Kapinga indicated that CEDA was for every Motswana and was not discriminating on any basis, adding “all that is required is viable business proposals for funding.”

He therefore urged those who would be successful to use the money wisely and pay back their loans for continuation. ENDS