15 Dec 2025

In one of his many hit songs, No Suffer, featuring King David, Odirile Sento, popularly known as Vee Mampeezy, cuts through the rhythm with a defiant vow in Nigerian Pidgin English: ‘I no go suffer, I no go beg for bread-o!’, meaning, ‘I will not suffer, I will not beg for bread!’
It is a line that sounds almost prophetic, as though the artiste was speaking prosperity over his own life.
The lyric is derived from the popular Nigerian gospel-inspired prosperity song, Me I No Go Suffer by Lara George, a track that has, over the years, been reinterpreted by various artistes.
It has since become a prayer-like mantra within Christian communities, symbolising faith in God’s promises and a resolute pursuit of success.
Perhaps for Vee Mampeezy, the words rang true. More than a decade after the song’s release, he has steadily risen to the top of his craft, delivering chart-topping hits such as Dumalana, securing collaborations with leading African artistes including Makhadzi, and winning numerous awards along the way.  Beyond music, the singer-songwriter has expanded his portfolio, earning a Law certificate and launching several business ventures, from Africa’s Soft Bread to beverages such as Vee Power energy drink, Maveeta water and aloe vera drink. There is little doubt that the artiste has been on a winning streak.
However, the release of his latest single, Shut Up And Dance, which was slammed by critics as a musical downgrade, briefly threatened to derail that momentum.
It appeared, for a moment, that the decorated star might be heading toward a disappointing end to the year. The tide quickly turned, though, when he announced the launch of his own Gaborone-based fast-food restaurant franchise, Veetro’s. The announcement sparked widespread excitement on social media, effectively shifting attention away from the criticism of his single and onto his latest business venture.
The franchise adds to his growing list of successful enterprises and stands as a living testament to the words he sang over a decade ago, that he would not suffer, nor beg for bread.
The launch was graced by dignitaries including the Member of Parliament for Gamalete, Boniface Mabeo, Gaborone mayor, Oarabile Motlaleng, and Kgosi Mosadi Seboko. Fans also turned up in numbers, crowding Game City Mall in celebration.
“It took a long time to get here. I had to save money to invest in this project and secure partnerships with people who believed in my dream,” said Vee, in an interview.
He added that the dominance of foreign-owned franchises in Botswana further motivated him to pursue his vision.
He revealed that he had secured four outlets around Gaborone, including the flagship store at Game City, as well as branches near the Bus Rank, Bonnington and at Pula Spar in Mogoditshane.
With sufficient investment, he said, his long-term goal was to expand across Botswana and beyond.
Through the restaurant, Vee also plans to give back to the community, reiterating his commitment to charitable causes.
Vee Mampeezy’s continued evolution from musician to entrepreneur places him among global artistes who have leveraged their musical success as a springboard into business.
Figures such as Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z, whose empire spans luxury beverages, fashion, sports management, and technology through Roc Nation and Rihanna, whose Fenty Beauty has grown into a billion dollar brand, reflect a path that Vee now appears poised to follow.
For the star, Veetro’s is just one of many projects sustaining his momentum. Without revealing too much, he hinted at plans to launch another product next year, separate from the food business but tailored to his market and fan base. ENDS