07 Jul 2026

In a rapidly changing global world due to technological disruptions and economic instability, cooperative model has been identified as an effective tool in fostering economic resilience and stability.

Officiating at the 104^th edition of the International Cooperative Day in Ghanzi on Saturday, Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe said as the country was striving to reposition its economy, cooperatives were the most suited community-based enterprises.

He said they also contributed to peace by reducing poverty, promoting inclusion and ensuring grassroots development in a transparent, innovative and sustainable way.

Mr Mathoothe said the cooperative movement in Botswana traced its origins to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Act in 1964 followed by the registration of Swaneng Consumers Cooperative on July 31, 1964 being the first registered cooperative in the country.

Since then, Mr Mathoothe said the movement had flourished to form a formidable force of over 40 registered cooperatives spanning diverse sectors.

He said the registered cooperatives included 106 savings and credit cooperatives and more than 300 in agriculture, retail, basketry, manufacturing and arts.

Furthermore, he said financial cooperatives served a membership of nearly 70 000 citizens, mobilising savings of approximately P1.8 billion extending to member loans worth P2.6 billion and building member equity through shares valued at P42.2 million.

“These figures are not statistics, they represent trust, solidarity and collective power of ordinary Motswana pooling resources for shared prosperity” he said.

Beyond financial strength, he said cooperatives had brought economic activities and essential services to both rural and urban communities, even extending to areas where foreign investment was scarce. He added that cooperatives still stood as a living proof of inclusivity and grassroots empowerment.

Mr Mathoothe said the cooperative movement had created more than 800 jobs and sustained livelihoods across the country.

Moreover, Mr Mathoothe implored communities to embrace the cooperative spirit as it was deeply rooted in Setswana practices in the likes of letsema, mafisa and melaletsa.

He however, said government recognised cooperatives as economic enablers therefore, calling for collective efforts to significantly assist government resuscitate and diversify the economy.

As the country was accelerating its economic transformation drive, he implored cooperatives to seize the opportunity by investing in value addition, manufacturing, tourism, creative industries, digital innovation and service provision to contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the programme.

Above all, he implored cooperative governing bodies, to ensure that cooperative movements uphold their principles to maintain their relevance in the changing world.

Chairperson of Botswana Cooperative Association (BOCA), Mr Pako Ntone said cooperatives were not solely focused on profit maximisation but fostered economic resilience, reduce inequality and drive localised innovation to uplift livelihoods.

Giving a history of cooperatives, one of Ghanzi Cooperatives’ pioneers, Kgosi Mbao Kahiko III of Charleshill, said the cooperative was built from humble beginnings.  

He said the area was economically challenged with no modern infrastructures, as communities relied on cattle production as it was the region’s economic mainstay.

In 1989, the region witnessed the first two registered cooperatives namely: Ghanzi and Kole-Ncojane cooperatives and with time, more cooperatives were registered at New Xade, West Hanahai, Bere, Grootlaage, Kacgae and New Xanagas.

Kgosi Kahiko said all these settlements operated their community stores from mud houses and in 2005 the cooperatives joined to form Ghanzi multipurpose cooperative.

He said they achieved most of the community projects through collaborative efforts, which earned them funds to procure a truck primarily for goods transportation across the vast region.He therefore, encouraged coopeatives to uphold their principles, be transparent and accountable bearing in mind the need to change livelihoods for the better.

For her part, Director of Cooperatives, Ms Moipedi Nkoane emphasised on cooperatives to focus on youth empowerment and other vulnerable groups in the society as they were faced with high unemployment.

Ms Nkoane implored the youth to embrace cooperative entrepreneurship by joining existing cooperatives or forming new cooperatives to explore opportunities in untapped sectors to transform into job creators and not job seekers.

Member of Parliament for Ghanzi Constituency, Mr Noah Salakae, applauded the cooperative movement for their dexterity to unite, empower and transformation to become engines of economic change. ends