11 Jul 2023

Tokafala programme graduates have been urged to commit to the programme and differentiate themselves from the rest as they enter the business world. Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines General Manager,  Mr Mogakolodi Maoketsa said this during Tokafala stakeholder engagement and graduation ceremony at Itekeng Hall in Orapa on Monday.

The objective, he said, was to launch the new cohorts of Tokafala supplier development programme, youth development programme as well as graduation of the outgoing cohorts. Mr Maoketsa urged the graduates to recreate, regenerate and bring the best to the table, noting that commitment to the programme would assure them of high success rate.

He stated that Tokafala was all about assisting small medium micro enterprises across Botswana through training as well accelerator programmes.

Boteti, he said, was an area which its economy was anchored on SMME’s, noting that the district had a lot of business opportunities.

He stated that there were 112 companies in Boteti amongst the graduates, with 76 youth companies and 36 supplier development programme companies.  Government, he said, was focusing on accelerating the country in the economic journey, to grow it from a middle income economy to a high income economy through value chain integration. “You are the business pioneers, you are the people that are to start businesses, people that are growing in that journey of value chain integration,” he emphasised.

Mr Maoketsa said government had made strides in ensuring support of local businesses by restricting some of the imports that were sourced from other countries.

“This is an opportunity that we should take on, it gives us an opportunity to grow,” he said, “If we are to deal with high import bill, high unemployment rate, supporting, promoting and up- scaling the local SMME’s, it is going to be the lever in this journey.”

He noted that there was lack of progress because of poor businesses and poor financial business management skills.

Mr Maoketsa informed the graduates that they were all going to compete for jobs in the mine.

“We do not have to pay school fees of somebody who starts with trial and error,” he said.

He said Debswana was committed to making lasting contribution to Botswana.

The Chairperson of Boteti Business Community Mr Tshekatsheko Setlhomo urged the graduates to work in collaboration.

Mr Setlhomo implored them to be driven by value addition to the business and the region.

He called on government leadership to ensure there was provision of land and power for business to thrive, and implored them to devise alternatives where there were challenges.

One of Tokafala programme beneficiaries of K&M mining Mr Kitso Robert informed the graduates that as business enterpreneurs they should offer quality products, have perseverance and observe timelines. Mr Robert noted that entrepreneurs needed to have good business relations and alliances that could offer support when the business was down.

“Manage your business, it is very important to run your business and make sure you are available against all odds,” he said.

One the graduates Tshepiso Jacob said they had gone through a transformative journey under Tokafala Training programme. Ends