17 Mar 2014

Residents of Toteng have appealed to government to establish a sustainable market where they could sell their farm produce and livestock.

They made the appeal during a kgotla meeting addressed by the Minister of Trade and Industry that efforts to be economically independent are frustrated by lack of market.

They said local businesses such as bakeries and sewing establishments have collapsed because of lack of support from government as tenders were awarded to people in main villages such as Maun.

They said their expectation was that locals should be given priority in order for them to sustain and grow their businesses with a view that they would create jobs for others.

Residents said the council has set some requirements and emphasise hygiene and many small entrepreneurs are failing to meet the requirements and yet the government is encouraging them to thwart the dependency syndrome and start income generating projects. They said many have good business ideas which could be converted into viable projects, but they are discouraged because of lack of support.

They said some businesses that have collapsed were started through government assistance. Some women who grouped themselves into a joint venture moulding clay pots and weaving baskets said they had hoped to make ends meet through their business, but they are not making any profit.

They requested the minister to intervene so that they could achieve their goal.

Residents also indicated to the minister that they depended on rearing livestock and still there was no market.

They requested government to establish a livestock abattoir as they wanted to make the business commercial.

They said currently, they are were reaped off by local butcheries as they bought their livestock cheaply. Addressing the residents, the minister, Ms Dorcas Makgato-Malesu told residents that “metlhala ya khumo e mentsi e tlhoka balatedi”.  She encouraged residents to form a cooperatives which she said encouraged team spirit among the communities. She said through the cooperative, they would be able to establish a market where they could sell their farm produce and locally made products.

Ms Makgato-Malesu has a keen interest in reviving cooperatives as they are aimed at bettering people’s lives and build more successful enterprises and organisations. She said government can facilitate and the community has to take the lead and ensure commitment, adding that most of the cooperatives around the country collapsed because of poor management.

She appreciated the fact that there was no market because of a low population of the village and competition posed by those in major villages like Maun.

Residents were also advised to diversify their products in order to make better profits.

The minister said the government could not reserve some businesses for locals, but indicated that instead, they had instructed that citizens be allowed to start small businesses in their homes. “We have introduced some guidelines which direct individuals on how to operate,”she said.

She urged the community to explore opportunities, convert ideas into viable business propositions and provide new products and services to the society by bringing together and combining various factors of production.

Ms Makgato-Malesu stated that competitive entrepreneurs were those who took advantage of programmes in place and grew their businesses with a view to improving their livelihoods and those of others.

She said as business owners, they should look for markets, adding that government assisted with policies such as the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD). ENDS