19 Aug 2025

Small businesses, participating in this year’s Dithubaruba Cultural Festival, have been urged to strengthen their financial management skills and position themselves for long term growth.

This follows a business workshop held in Molepolole recently, organised by Dithubaruba Cultural Festival organisers in partnership with Absa Bank Botswana, the main sponsors of one of the country’s biggest cultural event.

Speaking during the workshop, Dithubaruba coordinator, Mr Power Kawina said the session sought to assist businesses to improve their operations, learn from past mistakes and build networks ahead of the annual festival.

In addition to organising the festival, he said organisers found it critical to capacitate small businesses many of whom were long-term partners of the event.

“Absa as a partner has played a key role in providing support to our service providers.

This workshop is part of our commitment to help them capitalise fully on their services and sharpen their businesses going forward,” he said.

Participants received training on financial literacy, with Absa Molepolole Branch Manager Ms Kelebonye Pelonomi sharing practical tips on how to grow their enterprises through responsible financial management.

Absa Business Banking official, Mr Bakang Letshelea also encouraged entrepreneurs to open business accounts, highlighting that proper banking habits contributed to one’s financial history and creditworthiness.

“If you are in business, it is important to open a business account. We have different accounts tailored for various needs.

Depositing your earnings in a bank account before spending improves your cash flow and builds a financial track record that makes it easier to access credit,” he said.

The initiative was warmly welcomed by attendees, among them, Mr Mooketsi Maruping, who said the workshop was timely and demonstrated the organisers’ desire to see entrepreneurs thriving.

He said Dithubaruba organisers were not just after profit instead they try to include everyone in the community.

“I hope other districts will learn from this example,” he said.

For her part, Ms Patricia Mokoka, who runs a food business, described the workshop as an eye opener.

She noted that many small business owners often shied away from approaching banks due to negative perceptions, opting instead for micro-lenders who charged higher interest.

“Through this session, we realised that banks are not something to be feared. Absa has also introduced mobile point-of-sale machines, which will help us transact safely during the event, especially now that many people no longer carry cash,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr Kawina said preparations for the cultural extravaganza were well underway, with small business stall tickets already sold out leaving only corporate stalls available.

He added that a Dithubaruba Symposium would be held on August 28 as a prelude to the festival followed by a Heritage Walk on August 30. ENDS