A whirlwind tour of LEA assisted businesses started in Mmopane, a small village bordering Gaborone where Ishmael Giye, the sole proprietor of Real Gumtree shared his entrepreneurial journey which started after he lost his job and was forced to start in his backyard given his minuscule resources.
“I started very small after losing my job in Lobatse. Some of my clients like Trail Quip wanted me to support their business because they liked my work ethic. I had no car or equipment sourcing my material from Durban and Cape Town,” said Giye.
He said, “Discipline is the main thing. I did my job in a unique way.”
The major challenge he faces is access to land and concern that he experiences in trying to be closer to his clients, which is not always easy given the high rental prices in Gaborone, for a small business that is still on the growth trajectory. Giye who begin work in November 2011 manufactures canvas bags, truck covers, single bedrolls, canvas canopies, tarps, blinds and washes canvas tents.
He counts amongst his clients both the present President Mokgweetsi Masisi and the Former President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama. The Botswana Police and Trail Quip are also clients.
A LEA client since 2015 his pride in his work is reflected in his giving clients a 3 month guarantee on his products and services he has with the support of LEA attended capacity building workshops on occupational health, entrepreneurial development training, Sales and marketing, business plan development as well as on-site mentoring and business coaching.
His journey is mirrored in some respects by another local entrepreneur not far from him in Matlapana ward, also in Mmopne. This is none other than Barudi Mosimaneotsile, the owner of Camel Inn, a convenient place for relaxation, enjoyment and unique traditional cuisine at an affordable price.
Like Giye, Mosimaneotsile has attended exhibitions with the support of LEA, to further promote her business. She started Camel Inn Lodge in 2005 as a family business and was graded 2 star by BTO.
“We did it in stages and started with restaurant and bar. When the business grew we added conference centre for 90 people and a smaller one that doubles up as a boardroom,” said Mosimaneotsile.
With the support of LEA she was able to successfully apply for CEDA funding and add 14 chalets for 42 people sharing. The lodge is in the process of adding gym facilities and already boasts a swimming pool open to the public P50 for people from outside, P40 for children and lodge residents free.
Camel Inn Lodge which is a convenient place for relaxation, enjoyment and the best traditional tswana cuisine at an affordable price with A le Carte Menu going for between P50 – P92, buffet meal for P126.95, fizzy drinks P10 and ciders at PP18 – P26.
Mosimaneotsile has attended various LEA sponsored courses to build her skill set on key business traits like customer care training, housekeeping, food and hygiene safety courses, tendering with PPADB enterprise monitoring and trade show readiness. Popular for Christmas parties, conference meetings, weddings and birthday parties she provides internship opportunities especially for Limkokwing students who she uses as a pool of her employee base of 8.
“We mentor students to train them for work readiness,” said Mosimaneotsile.
As we travelled into Molepeole we branched off the main road into Makokotswane, where journalists were taken to Yalots, a 10 room Guest House that registered for LEA in August 2017. Owned by Whelminah Pheto, it provides accommodation with an entry level rate of P520 a night.
It also provides outside catering, baby showers, bridal showers and serves as an ideal venue for business meetings because it is situated in a very quiet area and has a fridge, TV, air conditioner, shower in every room as well as WI FI for all its guests who typically comprise a assortment of individuals from both government and the private sector travelling to this semi urban villager for business.
“Our inspiration is the queen bee. It falls into the category of hard workers. When you come here we treat you like a queen bee. We do everything for you,” said Pheto.
Pheto however faces challenges like a shortage of water and poor sewage infrastructure. A graduate of LEA courses in human resources, tendering and record keeping she belies she has something ‘beautiful.’
Another LEA supported project is that of Monate wa Temo, owned by youthful Atamelang Kooagile, who specializes in Sorghum Milling. LEA helped her develop a business plan that secured youth funding in 2009. She produces BOBS certified Bopi in bags of 10kg(P64.95), 5kgP39.95) and 2.5kg(P22.95).
“I used to be sent to Metsimothlaba to get sorghum and wanted to do it here,” said Kooagile. Often incapacitated by power cuts because she does not have a back up generator, she stresses the importance of passion and hard work as the key drivers of success.
“Do not just look at money,” she warns budding entrepreneurs.
Kooagile is one of a number of women in the rural areas who are bucking age old trends and curving out careers as business leaders in their own right despite entrenched patriarchal cultural stereotypes. Her story mirrors that of 5 women wearing white aprons who run White Angels trading as The Dream Flavours, in bokaa ward along the Thamaga road.
They started in October 2009 and manufacturer beverages, juices, madila and yoghurt. The flourishing business is affected by the shortage of milk locally as well as perennial power shortages.
Their business is bolstered by the cheaper rentals in Molepolole vis-à-vis cosmopolitan areas like the capital city Gaborone. Their yoghurt boasts with a wide range of flavours such as strawberry, melon, fruit cocktail, plain and peach also serves indigenous flavours like Lerotse and motoroka and can be found in retail outlets like Choppies and Square Mart.
“Our yoghurt has freshness you will not find in foreign products,” said Cheza Nkhwa, Managing Director of The Dream Flavours.
LEA interventions for the ladies in white have included coaching on benchmarking, technology audits, food safety and hygiene courses, business advisory services, operational health and safety courses and sponsoring participation in LEA flea and market days to promote public awareness on products.
