19 Oct 2026

The envisaged success of Gammangwato Multipurpose Cooperative Society would propel efforts towards establishment of an indigenous bank that would have a branch in each of the seven district under Ngwato territory.

The cooperative, dubbed strong and lucrative, could give birth to a huge indigenous bank which would offer loans, facilitate farmers in the area in drilling and equipping boreholes, building of hospitals and even fostering partnerships with experts from abroad to make products, chairperson of Gammangwato Industrial Development Committee, Mr Bonang Morapedi has said.   

Speaking during a kgotla meeting presided over by Kgosi Khama IV of Gammangwato, Mr Morapedi said that they had engaged with Bank of Botswana on the idea of establishing the indigenous bank in question, and the central bank capped such a requirement at a minimum of P5 million.

The P5 million, he said, could be raised through the already in motion singular Gammangwato Multipurpose Cooperative Society, where contributions would be collected per each of the seven districts. 

Statistically, Mr Morapedi demonstrated that each district was capable of raising over P4,120, 800 through joining fees if each of the 20 604 members contributed P200. These were the numbers from Serowe District where there are 204 dikgotla. If each kgotla registered 100 members plus their kgosi, the 204 dikgotla would yield the abovementioned 20 604 members.

After joining, the members would then be expected to pay a monthly subscription fee of P50 which would boost the coffers and lay clear claimant to establishment of the indigenous bank. 

“Your single P200, when pooled together and invested with others’ may make such a huge difference than when it stands alone,” he said and added that time was ripe for the people of Gammangwato to embrace the idea that Kgosi Khama IV was steering them in the paths of prosperity. 

He said that with a bank in their name, the Gammangwato area could, amongst other things, build malls and shops. 

However, Mr Morapedi said that for their bank dream to succeed, such a story would begin with a singular, prosperous multipurpose cooperative society which yields dividends to its members. He said this alive to the fact that Babirwa already had multipurpose cooperatives in their villages.

The success of the Gammangwato multipurpose cooperative society would be a torch that would light the way for bigger dreams. That as it may, the cooperative society will ensure production of goods in the territory, tapping on the various unique features, endowments and advantages per district.  

When produced in large quantities, products may be exported outside Botswana borders. 

The cooperative society is part of a broader mandate of Gammangwato Industrial Development Committee for sustainable development of all the seven districts under the territory following Kgosi Khama IV’s return to his traditional duties. 

There are also some committees charged with various mandates. These are but not limited to culture and heritage, tourism, agriculture, finance, infrastructure, dignity restoration, youth and sport.

In clarifying the seemingly lingering confusion regarding the committees, Kgosi Khama said that his efforts were towards complementing those of government. 

“We’re not in any way trying to be independent of government, but we want to assist our people,” said Kgosi Khama IV said.    

In embracing the dream, scores of residents of Bobonong warned against misappropriation of funds, an ill they found to have brought many cooperative societies to their knees. ENDS