22 Aug 2024

In the bustling city of Francistown, where dreams often compete with the realities of everyday life, a young woman, Ms Dimpho Madema is a blazing trail of inspiration. 

With a determined spirit and a mind filled with possibility, she has turned her ambitions with tangible success, thanks to a helping hand from the Youth Development Fund (YDF).

She turned her manufacturing dream into reality, transforming a small manufacturing workshop at Area G into a hub of innovation that is now known as Miracle Steel Products. 

Her products, both aluminum and steel window and door frames, are a testament to her skill, her ingenuity, and unwavering commitment to quality. 

Her story, a tapestry of grit and resilience, began with a vision of carving out a place for herself into the competitive landscape of entrepreneurship. 

“Success is no accident. It is hardworking, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing,” she said. 

Ms Madema’s Miracle Steel Products enjoys  a healthy play field in the steel industry, with a clientele that spans across various sectors. 

From individuals seeking bespoke steel creations, to construction companies looking for reliable and high-quality materials, to government agencies in search of durable and cost-effective, Miracle Steel Products has managed to carve out a unique niche for itself. 

“We are a young business, but still we have grown rapidly by focusing on our core values of innovation, quality, and customer service. Our clients appreciate our dedication to excellence, and we are honoured to have earned their trust and loyalty,” she said. 

An industry insider praised the company’s approach to business, stating “Miracle Steel Products PTY Ltd has disrupted the steel industry in Botswana. 

Pragmatism alone guides Ms Madema’s decision as she steers her business to sustainable growth. 

She candidly shares the rationale behind reducing her workforce from 24 to 13 stating “We have to match our production with the market demand, and that means being nimble and agile in our staffing.” 

“It was a tough decision, but it was necessary to ensure we could maintain our high standards and remain competitive in the market,” she added. 

Ms Madema’s story is one that illuminates balance between opportunity and adversity, the unpredictable twists and turns of the entrepreneurial journey. 

With a proposal to secure an open space at the Somerset industrial site for a growing steel business, Ms Madema was poised for further expansion. 

But fate had other plans, as a devastating car accidents in July 2022 turned her world upside down, delaying her plans and threatening to derail her business. She was wheelchair-bound for some time. 

However, Ms Madema rose like a phoenix from the ashes undaunted by the setbacks she faced. 

“I am determined to pick up where I left off. I believe that the ministry of youth is still expecting me, and I will not let this accident stand in the way of my dreams,” her words carrying the weight of a warrior. 

In a bid to diversify her income streams and supplement her steel business, Ms Madema had opened a hardware shop at her home village of Makobo, but the venture fell apart due to poor management. 

Despite the challenges she faced on the hardware venture, she forged on undeterred. 

“Every day, I receive more and more tenders, a testament to the quality of our products and the hard work of my team,” she added.

Ms Madema is also a compassionate soul whose empathy for street children led her to establish the Wiseminds Glimmers Foundation, a beacon of hope and support for these vulnerable children. 

“Seeing these kids on the streets breaks my heart. That is why I decided to do something about it, to make a difference in their lives, even if it is just by providing them with food hampers and a listening ear,” she confided. 

She said after everything had  been put in order, she would launch the foundation in the near future.

“Our goal is to provide a space where these children can receive counselling and guidance, a place where they can heal and begin to build a brighter future for themselves. But this is going to be a process, a journey that will take time and require the expertise, dedication and qualified personnel,” she added. 

She said last month, they distributed food hampers to these children as a way of giving back to the community. 

As a mother of one and soon to be two, she finds inspiration in the children around her, igniting a flame of love and care that extends far beyond her own skin. 

“I try to build relationships with everyone I encounter and my love for children started there,” she reflected.

 As Ms Madema and her husband, Patrick, gaze into the future, they see not only the glint of profit but also the potential for a brighter future for their employees and Botswana. 

“It is imperative that youth seize the opportunities presented by our government policies and programmes,” she added.

Ms Madema indicated that the programmes were the key to unlocking the potential of the economy and society. Ends