28 Feb 2023

Small businesses operating in Kazungula and the peripheries have stated that the Kazungula Bridge Marathon business model does not embrace their trades.

Street vendors, food caterers, taxis and cabs allege that the monumental event only benefits well established and formal businesses especially those in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Ms Bingelelani Khupe, a food caterer/street vendor, told BOPA during the weekend event that she was disappointed to witness participants being served food prepared by hotels at the event venue instead of organisers engaging small businesses in Kazungula to provide the service.

She stated that catering services could have been split, to allow SMMEs to provide beverages and water to participants instead of giving the whole pie to well established companies.

Ms Khupe said street vendors were reduced to spectators in their own turf as no customers bought their food, drinks or airtime because they were offered freely by exhibitors.

Another street vendor, Ms Nomsa Kubebe highlighted that the marathon was in a way made to benefit only big businesses, excluding small ones because everything was offered free to participants.

Even regular customers, she said, were distracted by the marathon hence could not buy from them because water, drinks and food were availed at no charge.

She suggested that in future, big companies from Gaborone should liaise with SMMEs in Kazungula who sell similar products to see how they could bring them on board and empower them.

“I don’t know if it’s possible but I believe big companies like mobile network providers could link up with those who sell airtime so that we are part of the businesses,” stated Ms Kubebe.

A taxi driver, Mr Simisani Zhibi said they felt sidelined mostly by big hotels who transported their clients to the marathon venue and shops hence leaving no room for small transport businesses.

He highlighted that normally when travelers arrived at the bus rank, taxis picked and dropped them at the hotels while hotel shuttles mostly transported them from the airport.

He said this time was different as shuttles were everywhere.

Mr Zhibi said as long as Batswana did not extend business to SMMEs communities would remain impoverished as many households depended on breadwinners who operated small businesses.

Minister of Justice and also MP for Chobe, Mr Machana Shamukuni said a gap existed, to allow for Chobe businesses to benefit from the Kazungula Bridge marathon.

He said by now, things should be different with locals being at the forefront and benefitting from the event.

Mr Shamukuni said going forward, the marathon should be able to incorporate the essence of Chobe District and its people, by bringing in the cultural aspect as a curtain raiser where small businesses would have a chance to showcase and sell their products from food, clothes, arts and crafts. BOPA