07 Jul 2024

Cooperatives have the potential to significantly impact different economic sectors through collective action, shared benefits and inclusive solutions if properly managed, says Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare.

Speaking at the Botswana Cooperatives Association (BOCA) Pitso in Gaborone on Friday, Mr Gare said issues of corporate governance should be well taken care of as they impacted community development.

Furthermore, he said corporate governance was integral to transforming cooperatives into businesses that could contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said issues of procurement needed to be discussed and fused into cooperatives’ strategies, adding that it was only through inclusion that livelihoods could be changed for the better.

The minister noted that cooperatives were inclusive and gave all the opportunity to participate in the economy.

He said his ministry wanted to strengthen cooperatives’ corporative governance by facilitating and offering support to ensure growth.The minister said they intended to help cooperatives to be in the forefront of the entrepreneurial mindset change, to participate in value chains and fostering economic inclusion.

He urged them to align themselves to existing opportunities in the business landscape such as financial inclusion, access to services, tenders as well as to meet all eligibility requirements.

Furthermore, he said cooperatives also needed access to technology, adding that they needed to build strong and unified structures by ensuring effective leadership.

Mr Gare said their challenges and opportunities should be their roadmap towards reigniting their entrepreneurial fire.

In his remarks, BOCA chairperson, Mr Thatayotlhe Mpule said the Pitso was intended to build and ensure that they marched forward united.

He said the Pitso would identify challenges limiting the ability of cooperatives from participating in the mainstream economy.

He said they continued to be an important economic sector, and urged the attendants to come up with a model that would enable cooperatives to establish sustainable enterprises. 

Mr Mpule said the Pitso was also an opportunity for cooperatives to share information and experiences and to learn best practices on how to manage efficiently and effectively.

He noted the presence of experts from various disciplines who were invited to  help find  solutions to the challenges faced by cooperatives.

Furthermore, he said a position paper would be produced for identified challenges and to celebrate the excellence of those doing well since not all was lost.

The chairperson explained that BOCA was the apex body of registered cooperatives and that their role was to coordinate. Ends