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SPECIAL REPORT

Tuesday November 17, 2015

INSIDE

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Morupule B: Light at end of tunnel

When in full operation, the multibillion Pula Morupule B Power Station near Palapye is expected to produce 600 Mega Watts electricity. Photo: Phenyo Moalosi

Poverty eradication:

past, present,

future

Go abilwe ntlo ya bo

534

Disability is not

inability

DAILYNEWS..... Special report Special report ...DailyNewsTuesday November 17 ,2015 Tuesday November 17 ,2015 Page 3

By Baleseng Batlotleng

After several months of despair following frequent power cuts across the country, Batswana may now be on the edge of real

hope that change from the dark times is about to happen.

Allegorically speaking, the once ailing power plant, as the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Kitso Mokaila would put it, is off the “life support system” although remaining “critical”.

“Morupule B is an issue of hope, which can only give us encouragement that we are heading in the right direction as stability is currently maintained,” said Mokaila in his latest routine visits to the power plant in Morupule, on the outskirts of the semi-urban village of Palapye recently.

Since early 2013, the country experienced frequent power cuts, which involved prolonged periods without electricity supply.

When the multibillion Pula Morupule B Power Station project started in 2008, it was supposed to be fully operational by 2012 producing 600Mega Watts (MW) electricity into the national power grid.

This was seen as a positive response to neighbouring South Africa’s reduction of power to Botswana and the rest of the South African Power Pool owing to increased domestic demand there.

Mokaila said there were certain interventions that were made and currently all units were up and running.

“Unit 1 has been deliberately taken down for some maintenance. As you might be aware, we did some analysis that informed us what we should do to address the tube leaks in the Fluidized Bed Heat Exchangers (FBHE).

We have been doing modifications trying to address that and the machine has not run long enough to say we are happy, but there is progress and a bit of reliability as experienced by the current hours of running without cuts. There is need to do major replacement of the FBHE,” he said.

Morupule B Power Station boilers employ a Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) technology with external FBHE.

The boilers comprises of the furnace, cyclones, seal ports, FBHE’s induct burners and the convective section, which all constitute deferent refractory layers for heat insulation and protection of boiler pressure parts against abrasion.

Since commissioning after a diminutive period of time, the boilers have been experiencing refractory failures in more pronounced areas of the cyclones, seal ports and the induct burners leading to abrupt shut down and resulting in frequent power cuts.

Mokaila said they were now looking at taking out one unit at a time to do the repairs and redesigns of the boilers to give out the envisaged 30 to 40 years lifeline.

Quizzed on the power purchase agreement between Botswana and South African power utility Eskom, Mokaila said Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) was in talks with their long term power supplier to extend the current agreement for another three years under the same arrangements.

Morupule B: Light at end of tunnelBy Baleseng Batlotleng

Government has supported the expansion of the Matshelagabedi 70Mega Watts

Emergency Power Plant, through an additional 35MW on rental basis from a private power producing company APR Energy. The plant is now in commercial operation thus providing 105MW emergency power capacity to the national grid.

Following steeped reduction in power imports regionally, the local power utility Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) with the support of government, purchased the Matshelagabedi 70MW diesel power plant just on the outskirts of Francistown in the north.

The plant was initially owned by APR Energy of the United States.

According to marketing and communications manager at BPC, Spencer Moreri, at project conception, it was envisaged that the operational phase of the 70 MW emergency power plant would be two years from the date of its commissioning in 2010 to December 2011 as the Morupule B coal fired power station was expected to commence operation in 2012.

Due to challenges experienced with the Morupule B project, coupled with the stoppage of Morupule A for refurbishment, the tenure of the Matshelagabedi was extended and subsequently at the end of last year, BPC bought the plant, which was

Matshelagabedi Emergency Power Plant: Another effort to keep lights on

emergency supply to the country, which significantly reduces the peaking power constraints and provides standby capacity to cover power system contingencies which could arise from the prevailing generation constraints. BOPA

initially rented.The expansion of the plant

would allow for ample time for the remediation of defects at Morupule B, which is expected to take up to the end of 2018 and also cover for the increasing demand during the time new generation capacity is being developed, that is the

He also said BPC was talking to Mozambique’s publicly owned electricity company Electricidade de Mocambique (EDM) and Zimbabwe Power Corporation (ZPC) on buying their electricity.

“ For as long as we can buy power cheaper than our diesel we will settle for buying but the most important thing is to produce our own power 100 percent,” he explained.

The minister said they were at the final stages of identifying a preferred bidder for the extension of Morupule B Unit 5 and 6.

Quick facts on Morupule B Power Station Project:

•Morupule B is a 600MW coal fired power plant with 4 units of 150MW each. The last unit was taken over from the contractor in May 2014 and currently the plant is under defects liability period.•The Plant was constructed by a consortium led by state owned China National Electric Equipment Corporation (CNEEC).•Financing of the power plant was through a loan from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to BPC as well as equity injection from government. Financing of associated projects was through loans from World Bank and African Development Bank as well as equity from government funds.•Coal for the plant is sourced from the adjacent Morupule Coal Mine through conveyor belts.•There are other projects associated to the Morupule B namely transmission and water supply projects, which were completed within budget and are fully operational.•Operation and Maintenance of the plant, Steag Energy Services of Germany has been contracted. BOPA

Morupule Unit 5 and 6.Government has invited

Independent Power Producers (IPP’s) to develop the two units.

Moreri explained that the emergency plant was dispatched mostly during peak load times to supplement system peaking capacity and is also dispatched at any other time to provide emergency power supply during system contingencies.

He said the performance of the plant was good with approximately 100 percent availability since its commissioning.

The expanded Matshelagabedi plant and the 90MW Orapa Turbine Power plant, which also operates on diesel, would provide a total of 195MW

Moreri

Part of the power plant. Photo: Phenyo Moalosi

Reporters during one of their tours.Photo: Phenyo MoalosiMatshelagabedi 70 Mega Watts Emergency Power Plant is one of the initiatives by government to provide power to its citizens. Photos: Phenyo Moalosi

DAILYNEWS..... Special report Special report ...DailyNews

By Lefoko Tsheko

There is an English expression that says, ‘any man who wants honey should be prepared to

take the stings’.In addition, the late American

heavy weight rapper, Tupac Shakur in his famous lyrics once said, ‘even when the road is high, never gives up, just keep your head up’.

These words resonate well with Kabelo Kediseng’s road to business. He had to toil before realising his business ambitious.

His financial assistance from the Youth Development Fund (YDF) programme came at a very huge price.

He remained patient and hopeful after his business went down four times.

This is the price that most of today’s youths are not willing to pay every time they are in pursuit of their ambitions in life, making it hard for them to succeed in whatever they are doing.

Kediseng’s patience was stretched to the limits many times but he never gave up.

He remained very hopeful and courageous that one day he will succeed.

YDF turned him down in four occasions leaving him desperate and miserable at some stage, but his burning desire and the passion he had for business, kept him going.

Today, he smiles pleasantly as he sees his name in YDF books. “It really feels good and greatful that at last my patience and hard work brought me this far. I am extremely overwhelmed,” he said.

Twenty-eight year old, Kediseng who benefited from the programme in April, this year runs an advertising agency called Crown Star Publishing and

Kediseng’s patience pays off

Advertising.It offers graphic design

services like magazines layouts, flyers, invitation cards and many others. The business also does video productions such as wedding videos, funeral videos, events coverage and many others.

In the advertising side of business, they do TV adverts, vehicle branding, animation, radio jingles and many others.

According to him, the business is still on its infancy stage but relationship has been

established with clients. “We are only a few months

old and honestly speaking, nothing much can be said in this short period of time. But what impresses me the most is that there are good signs of growth opportunities”.

The clients, he says are frequenting the business in large numbers to have a look on what kind of business they do.

He praises YDF for giving him the golden opportunity to venture into a business of his dreams and likened it to a Good

Kediseng explaining his slogan that says, ‘We love progress’. He says the slogan means a lot to him. Photo: Lefoko Tsheko

Journalists on a guided tour of the plant. Photo: Phenyo Moalosi

Engineers monitoring power output of the four units in the Morupule B control room. Photo: Phenyo Moalosi

Samaritan, who came at the right time and helped when he was needed the most.

He is much grateful to government and all who are given the responsibility to drive government policies.

The youth, he says should be given platforms such as YDF to showcase their potential.

“YDF is a very good initiative and I wish to appeal to all the youth interested in entrepreneurship to utilise the YDF programme because it will lift them”.

He challenges the youth

to remain focused and determined at all times in order for them to achieve their respective goals.

“They must not forget that Rome was not built in a day. It is very true that if you do not work very hard in life; chances are very slim that you can be successful.

This is a reality, not a myth. The youth must also understand that patience mothers everything. “If you are not patient, you are a like soldier who goes to war without a gun,” he says. BOPA

YDF is a very good initiative and I wish to appeal to all the youth interested in entrepreneurship to utilise the YDF

programme because it will lift them

Kediseng sharing with his clients his views on the nature of his work. Photo:Lefoko Tsheko

By Baleseng Batlotleng

The Southern African region has experienced power shortages as the generation surplus

capacity has diminished, while demand grows at an alarming rate.

In that regard, Botswana like many other countries in the region resorted to various coping mechanisms that included load shedding as well as other demand-side management measures, while longer term solutions were being sort to alleviate the situation.

According to available information, the power capacity shortfall of the region stands at over 8000Mega Watts, while the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) members plans to commission only 2 763MW of power this year.

The SAPP is a cooperation of the national electricity companies in Southern Africa under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The members of SAPP had created a common power grid between their countries and a common market for electricity in the SADC region.

Speaking to BOPA on the sidelines of the just ended 45th SAPP meetings in Gaborone, SAPP coordination centre manager, Dr Lawrence Musaba explained that a lot of resources needed to be pulled together to cut down the deficit.

Dr Musaba also stressed the need to engage Independent Power Producers (IPP’s) as governments alone could not handle power generation.

However, Dr Musaba admitted

Power supply: A regional challenge

to the fact that funding remained a challenge for most member states as they were running on tight budgets.

In Botswana, government has issued tenders for the supplies of power from IPP’s and in a recent interview the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Kitso Mokaila announced the expression of interest for the 50MW for the Jwaneng area and 50MW for the Northwest solar energy projects.

Botswana is endowed with ample solar energy potential. The country has abundant solar energy resources, receiving over 3 200 hours of sunshine per year with an impressive average insulation on a horizontal surface, one of the highest rates of insulation

in the world. Also, in a recent renewable

energy workshop, Minister Mokaila told delegates that the Energy Policy was being drafted and was expected to be finalised and be ready for approval by 2015.

The Energy Policy would provide a policy framework to guide effectiveness and sustainability in energy planning, development and provision.

One of the benefits of regional cooperation has been the establishment of power trading platform where one member state with surplus power could channel it to others who were in short supply.

Statistics indicate that power trading has increased significantly over the years,

soaring to more than 450 000 megawatt hour (mwh) in February, this year.

All power utilities in mainland SADC except Angola, Malawi and Tanzania were interconnected to the regional grid through SAPP allowing them to sell electricity to one another.

However the SAPP plans to fast track the implementation of the priority regional transmission projects in order to connect the three non-operating members of the Pool through projects such as the Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya interconnector, M o z a m b i q u e - M a l a w i interconnector and Namibia-Angola Interconnector.

Mokaila says Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) was talking to Mozambique’s

publicly owned electricity company Electricidade de Mocambique (EDM) and Zimbabwe Power Corporation (ZPC) on buying their electricity.

The local power utility has also revealed plans to extend their long standing supply agreement with South Africa’s Eskom.

In an effort to generate its own power and in future export electricity to the rest of the SAPP, Botswana has embarked on a number of projects amongst them, the transmission grid extension and network reinforcement’s projects such as the North West Transmission Grid Connection, which extends the grid to the North West, Chobe and Ghanzi Districts.

Also, Mokaila said the second south bound Morupule-Isang 400kv line, would be constructed as part of the transmission infrastructure requirements for integrating the planned generation expansion at Morupule B (Unit 5 and 6).

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to provide sufficient, reliable and least cost effective energy services in the SADC region ministers responsible for energy in the region had recently approved the Revised Regional Indicative Strategy Development Plan and Implementation Framework of 2015-2020 and also the SADC Industrialisation Strategy Road map and Action Plan; the two strategic documents that identify energy as one of the main drivers of economic growth in the region. BOPA

Dr MusabaMinister Mokaila

Tuesday November 17 ,2015 Page 5Tuesday November 17 ,2015 Page 4


From the infant days of Botswana as an autonomous republic, poverty eradication has always been a theme transcending national development plans, echoing in every budget proposal and rehashed in

one way or another through policy. BOPA reporter, Rebaone Tswiio, highlights how this determination has bettered the semantics that label the policy documents.

In just four years into independence, the new government got the shock of a lifetime, a sad reality that some sections of the nation were not at par with the majority in as far as development was concerned. For a race to be fair, all athletes must have legs and differ only on how fast those legs can carry everything north of the waistline.

Unfortunately this was not the case upon independence, some athletes, it would appear,

Poverty eradication: past, present, futureneeded prosthetics to be able to start and finish the race for survival in the new Botswana.

Research had been done, evidence was abundant, scales were heavily tilted against Basarwa hence an immediate jump start was inevitable.

The attempt was a document titled Basarwa Development Initiative aimed at helping them adapt to the rapidly evolving economy of a post-independence republic.

That was actually to be a defining moment of political will during the 1970-1975 National Development Plan (NDP) where implementation of the first robust policies was to be rolled out.

Several unforeseen realit ies had necessitated a Basarwa specific policy in an effort to be more inclusive as a government on a learning curve of economic growth.

Having rolled out the Accelerated Rural Development Programme (ARDP), government had become alive to the fact that under-development was nonetheless rife among Basarwa.

Primarily that was because ARDP, research showed, excluded a sizeable proportion of the rural population.

The tea had also been chilli-peppered by the introduction of the Tribal Grazing Land Policy (TGLP) which had seriously displaced marginal sections of the rural areas, most of whom were Basarwa.

TGLP was fundamentally a livestock expansion exercise where a farmer with a sizeable herd was allowed to fence a vast ranch for better breeding and management.

Owing to historical reasons, TGLP ended up intruding into Basarwa communities more than any other government initiative hence the need for a special programme aimed at accelerating their living standards.

In strict terms, TGLP had literally robbed Peter to pay Paul, which left the debt outstanding, either way.

Crunch time came in 1978 where a slight shift in policy was effected which culminated in the dumping of Basarwa Development Programme in favour of a more broadened Remote Area Development Programme (RADP).

Government had reckoned in 1977 that there were many other ethnic groups who also needed economic support equal to that enjoyed by Basarwa, and therefore RADP expanded its scope to all remote area communities.

Semantics changed, yes! And so the scope was also broadened to impact a larger footprint.

RADP seemed to have sharper teeth than its predecessors as it also introduced the Economic Promotion Fund aimed at facilitating employment creation in identified areas.

So far the position of government in defining remote area communities has always been limited to settlements with between 250-499 people, having inadequate water and no or few land rights.

The RADP has been a pivotal component of government’s drive to provide basic social services such as schools and health facilities for remote area communities, who in government circles were until recently referred to in the vernacular as “batho ba teng nyana teng.”

The Setswana label has now been altered to “batho ba ba kgakala le ditlamelo,” in the words of Assistant

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.The Assistant Minister, Botlogile Tshireletso, whose portfolio is

wholesale poverty eradication, reasons that the previous Setswana tag had negative connotations that even burdened inhabitants of remote areas from trying to defeat challenges.

A closer look at the 2009 RADP blueprint indicates that government had in 1985 reviewed the programme and renamed it Accelerated Remote Area Development Programme (ARADP) in 1987.

Out of that document then emanated a special rural development programme in 1989.

The special programme limited itself only to seven districts being North West, Kweneng, Central, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Southern and Kgatleng.

The main objective then was to create permanent settlements, foster economic activity and provide public services with a view to improving living conditions of remote area dwellers.

It was during the implementation of National Development Plan 7 (NDP 7) that a reorientation of the RADP was proposed to incorporate political, social and economic empowerment.

T h e 19 9 0 r e v i e w h a d identified the main challenge as predominance of poverty, insecurity, inadequate education and negative public attitudes towards the programme and its beneficiaries.

A conclus ion w as a ls o reached that the RADP was a very long term development programme, cumbersome and very complicated.

A lot still had to be done, according to the review, in spite of all that had been done under ARADP.

Policy surgery occurred in 2003 when RADP was reviewed with the aim of producing a comprehensive blueprint that will be implemented in line with the national Vision 2016 plus other national policies such as the settlement policy.

The review was also meant to suggest feasible ways of graduating both remote area dwellers and target population from assistance once they had reached a certain stage.

O w i n g t o s t r a t e g i c implementation demands, government then decided that remote area issues shall be mainstreamed into the Revised Rural Development Policy, National Poverty Reduction Strategy of 2003 and the National Settlement Policy.

Hark back to 2013, government took things a step higher and introduced Affirmative Action

Policy which was to be the blood, soul and teeth of all empowerment policies.

Through the policy, a student from Kaudwane for instance, was given special treatment over one from Molepolole for admission to university.

I f the cut- of f point for enrolment into a degree course at university stands at 36 points, a New Xade student can be admitted at 34 points while a Kanye student will not be afforded the same opportunity.

T h e a i m , g o v e r n m e n t announced, was to equate learning and living opportunities between settlement dwellers and mainstream society.

It is almost akin to the popular Black Economic Empowerment Policy of South Africa in that it spreads across several sectors within all state organs and covers such areas as tax windows, waivers for access to education, access to land and financial assistance.

The Affirmative Action policy is expected to breathe new life into remote areas over a 10-year period where a review will be undertaken upon expiry.

And so the exp edit ion continues as government searches the length and breadth of the country to identify pockets of destitution, through a broader and non compromising approach titled Poverty Eradication. BOPA

…How the narrative unfolds

One of the Presidential Housing Appeal beneficiaries with Col Duke Masilo, Coordinator of the Programme, which was started to ensure that underprivileged Batswana live dignified lives. File Picture

Bakery is one of the businesses under the poverty eradication programme. File PictureGovernment has come up with a number of programmes to eradicate abject poverty. File Picture

Poverty eradication beneficiaries being taken through paces on their project components and life skills so that they could develop into more competitive entrepreneurs . File Picture

President Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama with former Malawi President, Dr Joyce Banda served with bread by one of the poverty eradication beneficiary in Chanoga. Photo: Thompson Keobaletswe



Ka Cathrine Simane

Mmuso wa Botswana ke mongwe ya mebuso e e ititeileng sehuba e itlama go ntsha

mananeo a puso a a farologanyeng a a ka tlhabololang le go tlhokomela Batswana, bogolo jang ba ba ’kobo dikhutshwane ka go ba inola mo lehumeng.

Kenameditswe Tumaeletse, yo o dingwaga di masome mane wa Tsabong ke mongwe wa Batswana ba ba pakang puso ka maiteko ao.

O akotse lenaneo la Nyeletso Lehuma ka go itshimololela kgwebo ya kapei.

Tumaeletse a re e ne ya re ngogola a utlwa mokgosi o kuiwa ka lenaneo la nyeletso lehuma ke khansele ya Kgalagadi mo ofising ya boipelego. A re o ne a seka a ipona tsapa a nanoga a ya go iteka lesego.

O ne a feta a tlhalosediwa mo go tseneletseng ka lenaneo leo le gore ditsela di dintsi tse di isang kwa botshelong a itlhophela e a bonang a ka e tsaya.

A re morago o ne a ikwadisa ka a ne a kgatlhegetse thata lenaneo leo la nyeletso lehuma mo a neng a lora gore e ka re ka moso le tlhaba a bo a setse a thusitswe ka kgwebo ya go rekisa dijo mo semausung.

Tumaeletse o tlhalosa fa mo nakong e e sa fediseng pelo ba ofisi ya S&CD ba ne ba ya go dira ditshekatsheko kwa lwapeng lwa gagwe gore a o tshwanelwa ke go thusiwa kana jang.

O kaile fa bopelotelele bo busetsa.“E rile fa ke sa ntse ke letile ka

bolelelwa fa ke atlegile, ka itumela thata ka lemoga sentle gore puso ya rona e kgathala ka rona, bogolo jang ba re tlhokileng lesego mo botshelong.

“Ke ne ka thusiwa ka dilwana tsa kapei di akaretsa dijana, setofo se setona, gase ya 48kg, dijo le tse dingwe, tsotlhe e le tsa P15 000,” ga tlhalosa jalo Tumaeletse.

“Fa ke sena go amogela dilwana tseo ga ke a ka ka leba kwa morago.

Ke ne ka berekela mo nakong mo go tlhomamiseng gore ke aga semmausu seo letsatsi le le lengwe ke adimile disenke le tse dingwe tse di tlhokafalang mo go ba ke bapileng le bone.

O kaile fa a butse kgwebo ya gagwe ka Phatwe e a kaileng fa e mo tsisetsa dipoelo tse di nametsang le gore ga a ise a kopane le dikgwetlho dipe fa e se fela go tlhoka sepalamo go ya tirong. Legale a re ene gantsi o

Atlarelang mananeo a nyeletso lehuma

Tumaeletse yo o akotseng lenaneo la Nyeletso Lehuma kwa Tsabong o remeletse thata mo kapeing morago ga gore a thusiwe ka dilwana tse di tlhokegang. Senepe: Poloko Lekhutlile

ikanya lwa ga Moshe fa a sena madi.A re mo nakong ya gompieno o setse

a butse letlole kwa polokelong, a kaya fa semausu se tlaa tswelela se mo tlodisa dinokana ka toro ya gagwe ke gore nako nngwe a bo a ikagetse madirelo a e leng a gagwe a dijo.

O kaile fa bosheng lekoko go tswa kwa ofising ya ga Tautona le ne la etela dikgwebo tsa bone ka go farologana go bona gore a ba amogetse dilwana tsotlhe tse ba thusiwang ka tsone ga mmogo le go

ba fa dikgakololo tse di ka ba tiisang moko gore ba tle ba kgone ditoro tsa bone.

Tumaeletse a re o ne a isiwa dithutong ke khansele ya Kgalagadi makgetho a le mabedi mabapi le kgwebo ya gagwe.

O supile fa a amule go le gontsi mo dithutong tseo e bile go tlaa mo thusa mo go tlhabololeng kgwebo ya gagwe.

“Puso e butse dikgoro ka mananeo a a farologanyeng a Nyeletso Lehuma. Le fa e le ngwana wa ga mmago ga a kake a go thusa jaana.

Batswana a re atlareleng mananeo gore re kgone go tlhabologa le bana ba rona, bogolo jang ba ba dikobo dikhutshwane, ga bua jalo Tumaeletse.

O ne a tlatsa ka go galaletsa puso ka lenaneo la Nyeletso Lehuma ka jaana mo nakong ya gompieno a kgona go tlhokomela bana ba gagwe ba bararo.

A re o ipotsa gore o ne a tlaa leba kae, bogolo jang ka e bile a feletse fela mo lokwalong lwa bosupa kwa sekoleng. BOPA

Puso e butse dikgoro ka mananeo a a farologanyeng a Nyeletso

Lehuma. Le fa e le ngwana wa ga mmago ga a kake a go thusa

jaana

Ka Kitso Simon

Go setse go agilwe matlo a le 534, fa a e le 97 a santse a tsweletse ka go agwa ka thulaganyo

ya go agela batlhoki matlo ka boikuelo jwa ga Tautona. Morulaganyi wa thulaganyo eo kwa ofising ya ga Tautona, Col Duke Masilo o boletse jalo mo tirong ya go aba ntlo kwa kgotleng ya Boikago k wa Mahalapye bosheng.A re lenaneo leo, le le thusiwang thata ke dikhamphani, madirelo, le batho ka bongwe ka bongwe, le ne la anama ka bofefo jo bo hakgamatsang lefatshe leno lotlhe morago ga gore le simolodisiwe ka 2010, mme ntlo ya lone ya ntlha ya agwa ka 2011.

A re go gola ga lenaneo leo go dirilwe segolo bogolo ke bobegadikgang jo bo neng bo bega dikgang tseo ka bokgabane go tsibosa ba ba kgakala le go ba lemotsha se se diragalang ntlheng e nngwe ya lefatshe, mme seo sa tiisa Batswana moko le go feta ka ba ne ba tsibogela lenaneo ka maatlametlo.

Col Masilo a re go abela motho ga go supe gore motho o tladitse e bile ga a itse kwa a ka isang dikhumo teng, fela go supa lorato le mowa wa go abelana. A re go le gantsi batho ba ba abang ba a segofala, mme peo ya bone e ungwa gantsi ka ba dira go rata ga Modimo.

Col Masilo o ne a kgothatsa banni ba Palapye go thusana le bommaboipelego le bogogi jwa motse go sukunyolola batho ba ba tlhokang thuso gore ba thusiwe, ka e le maikaelelo a puso go thusa mongwe le mongwe. A re

a setshaba se nne matlho a puso mo kgannyeng eo

O ne a bo a gakologelwa mafoko a ga Tautona wa ntlha wa lefatshe leno a gore, ‘The world is my church,doing good is my religion. (Lefatshe ke kereke ya me, mme go dira molemo ke yone tumelo ya me).

Col Masilo a re go abela Mme Mary Scarf wa dingwaga tse di masome a ferang bongwe le boraro ntlo, ke kereke ya Words of Faith Dynamic Ministries International, go tlaa mo tokafaletsa botshelo ka e bile go agilwe le ntlwana e e dirisang metsi.

Fa a tswa la gagwe, Mme Scarf o ne a re go tlhabololwa ga ntlo ya gagwe ke ditshegofatso.

“Ga se botlhe ba ba lesego,” a rialo a ipona a na le lesego le le gaisang la ga Nthonyana a reka podi ka rootane ka a kgonne go lemogwa ke ba kereke ya gagwe. O ne gape a re se ke sesupo sa mowa wa bopelotlhomogi le lorato.

Fa a tswa la gagwe, Moporofiti Kago Maja o ne a re maikaelelo ke go senya mewa e e maswe, le go tlhoma se se siameng mo go botlhe ba ba dirang molemo. A re ao ke mafoko a ga Tautona fa a ne a dira boikuelo mo tshabeng gore yo o nnileng lesego a na le sengwe a se kgaogane le yo o sa le bonang.

A re mo dikerekeng tsa bone go na le di-tsa bolesome le moneelo mme madi ao ba a kgaoganyetsa ba ba sa kgoneng mme mo go setseng go neelwe kereke.

A re ke maikaelelo a bone e le ba kereke eo go thusa batlhoki, batlholagadi le mongwe le mongwe yo o tlhokang thuso, a supa fa ba tswa kgakala ba ntse ba thusa bagodi ka dijo kgwedi le

Go abilwe ntlo ya bo 534

kgwedi. Moporofiti Maja a re ga ba a aga ntlo eo ka gore go ne go se na fa Mme Scarf a robalang teng, fela ba ne ba e tsenya tse di tlhokegang ba lebile bogodi jwa gagwe.

Mo mafakong a kamogelo, kgosana wa Boikago, Rre Molatedi Lebang o ne a re tumelo e e se nang ditiro ke monka e suleng. A re lorato le tumelo di bonwa ka ditiro mme a akgola that kereke ya Words of Faith.

A re mongwe le mongwe o

tshwanetse a ititaya ka thupana go tsenya letsogo mo tirong e ya go thusa batho.

Mopalamente wa Palapye, Rre Moiseraela Goya o ne a re ke nako ya gore mongwe le mongwe a itshekatsheke gore ene o diretseng mongwe ka ene go ama kana go tlhabolola botshelo jwa gagwe. A re Batswana ba tshwanetse ba itsaya motlhala go bone gore ba thusa jang bangwe ka bone.

A re lefatshe leno le ka fitlhelela

toro ya lone ya 2016 fela fa mongwe le mongwe a na le seabe, jaaka kereke e supile fa e sale e tlhongwa gore e le ruri e batla go direla motho le go mo tlhabolola.

A re dikgwetlho di teng tse di ka paledisang lefatshe leno go tswelela pele jaaka tlhaelo ya metsi, motlakase le letlhoko la ditiro, tse a rileng puso e eme ka dinao go di lwantsha, segolo jang mo go fediseng lehuma le go neela Batswana seriti sa bonno. BOPA

Dikhamphane le Batswana ka bophara ba inaakantse le go thusa bangwe ka bone gore ba kgone go bona bonno jo bo rileng . File Picture



By Otsile Lebowe

Women, today have made it their responsibility to venture into business territories that were once

reserved for their male counterparts.As if that is not enough, they have also

maneouvered and collaborated with their peers to become enterpreneurs so as to play a role in the diversification of the economy, create employment and consequently seek wealth.

The birth of African Storm, a company that manufactures and sells toilet paper in 2010 was a result of a thorough research, which resulted in finding out that the market, was not saturated.

The director of African Storm, Princess Mbulawa says her mother, Tiny Mbulawa who is also one of the shareholders, approached National Development Bank (NDB) to seek funding to buy machinery.

The funds, were however not enough, since they did not cover the purchasing of raw materials, resulting in Mbulawa (senior) to source money from friends and family members for raw materials.

Besides all Mbulawa (senior) efforts, the company did not perform well due to lack appropriate skills, but that did

By Moses Moleboge

While some people are migrating from rural to urban areas with the hope of

finding good paying jobs, others have decided to stay put in the rural areas to exploit opportunities available in their villages.

Marea Lekwete is one of the people who did not get carried away by the urge to move to an urban area; rather her decision to stay in the village is paying dividends as she is steadily making her name through her peanut butter making business in Bobonong.

Realising Batswana’s reliability on imported goods, the director of Intro-Verted Investments was propelled to start a business that produces peanut butter in 2012.

Her aim is to produce peanut butter, package and supply schools, supermarkets and individuals in the region.

Given that she was not skilled in peanut butter production, she then sought attachment at a Zimbabwean peanut butter making company, Ferdmaco Investments (ZAMCO) where she acquired the required skill and orientation.

“Peanut butter processing requires much more skill especially

in the operation of machinery as well as packaging,” she sustained. Ultimately, she sought funding from Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture through the Youth Development Fund (YDF) programme. Since the funding, 31-year-old Bobonong born entrepreneur never looked back and is determined to drive her business to greater heights.

“I am encouraged that my product has been tested by National Food Technology Research Centre (NFTRC) and it has been declared good for human consumption,” she says with so much confidence.

Of late, people are very cautious

Groundnuts butters bread for Lekwete

Lekwete (right) selling peanut butter at the Bobonong Mall. She says reliability of imported goods among Batswana propelled her to start a business that processes or produce peanut butter locally. Photo: Moses Moleboge

of what they consume and her product having been given the green light by NFTRC has boosted her confidence.

Such a breakthrough, she believes will catapult her to another level and will enable her product to compete against other imported goods. At the moment, she produces 600 litres of peanut butter per month, with a staff compliment of three employees.

Lack of local quality groundnuts cultivators in Botswana is a setback and she currently buys her nuts from neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Zambia.

Cultivators, she says should see this as an opportunity as there is a big market still be tapped into.

The youthful entrepreneur also says lack of support and promotion for locally produced products among Batswana is another challenge faced by many enterpreneurs in the country.

She says it is disturbing that some people are still reluctant to buy products made in Botswana and prefer foreign ones.

“For us to grow, we should be afforded support to ensure that we produce more and penetrate foreign markets. Those companies also started somewhere.”

While other companies complain of market, Lekwete is of the view that the strategic position of her business enables her to supply schools in the Bobirwa area as well as other schools as far as Francistown. She cited benchmarking as a strategy that could help boost her business.

Even though some people are still reluctant to venture into businesses, she enthuses that Batswana should take advantage of government programmes availed so as to relieve themselves from abject poverty and also reduce alarming unemployment rate. BOPA

By Malebogo Lekula

For many years, people living with disabilities were relegated to the background with fewer

opportunities availed for them. Today, government has availed a number of opportunities to exploit and already some have started successful businesses of any kind.

One such a person is Phatsi Banda, who is running a screen print business and is doing a diligent job despite his disability.

Banda, who runs Sphassion Sweggah screen printing business in Lobatse, is a Youth Development Fund (YDF) beneficiary, having been previously funded by Lobatse Social and Community Development (S&CD) with P25 000, which was not sufficient to start up a business.

However, he did not despair, and he got supplementary funding of P99 000 from Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture through YDF, and he used the money to purchase machinery

Banda demonstrating how to put a print on a mug. Photo: Malebogo Lekula

The two youth displaying one of their printing work done in their workshop. Photo: Malebogo Lekula

Mathokgwane demonstrating how to do screen print on a t-shirt. Photo by: Malebogo Lekula

Disability is not inabilityand other necessary accessories needed in his daily operation.

Born 23 years ago in Mahalapye, he grew up armed with artistic skills, which he used to become productive and successful in his own right.

Banda, who did his primary and secondary education at Maitlamo Primary School and Letsopa Junior Secondary School respectively, was troubled by eyesight problems, which ultimately led to his disability.

However, he did not allow his condition to demoralise him. In fact, he became determined

and creative. With a solid marketing business plan, his company Sphassion Sweggah screen printing business was born.

His company specialises in services such as vinyl printing, heat pressing printing and cup press printing.

He says it was not easy to start up a business, but with the vast knowledge on business management learnt at Sand Sledge College, he managed to overcome challenges encountered.

Banda intends growing his business by increasing his clientele base and increasing staff to create more job opportunities for other young Batswana for them to live dignified lives.

Already, he has government departments, parastatals and individuals as some of his clients.

While, he sources his printing materials from Art Tswana, he is at times forced to buy from South Africa, but with costs.

For marketing their products, he says they depend

on pamphlets, door to door marketing and at times, attend mine shows.

Despite the growth of business, he decries lack of office accommodation in Lobatse and high rentals.

The challenges, he says dampen the young Batswana, who were determined to venture into entrepreneurship.

Also, he says some suppliers provide them with poor materials that make it difficult for them to produce quality products. That, he says affects their business.

He urges people living with disability not to get discouraged by their conditions. Rather, he says they should develop a strong sense of understanding their strengths and weaknesses in order to be successful. “Disability is not inability,” he says.

He applauds government for a number of programmes put in place to uplift the lives of youth

to live dignified lives and in the process promote economic growth of the country.

Banda is also a man of many talents, as he has already written a Setswana novel called ‘Masedi a botshelo’, which is still under review at Macmillan Publishing Company.

He has one employee, Dikabelo Mathokgwane, a graduate from GIPS armed with Diploma in Business Information Technology.

For his part, Mathokgwane says they are faced with internet problems as they would have engaged in internet marketing strategies such as creating a Facebook page to promote their products to reach other potential markets.

With access to internet, he believes they would be able to create a website and magazine as a way of promoting their products and services online. BOPA

Women look into manufacturing for living

Some of the parent rolls used by Mbulawa to manufacture toilet papers. Photo: Otsile Lebowe

not demoralise them.In fact, they decided to

regroup and approached other three ladies to form a

company of five, and attended Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) incubation programme for three years to learn how to run

a successful business.Although, they did not

graduate at LEA, they continued with their quest for success

and it was in 2013 that they approached the Department of Gender Affairs, which funded them with P250 000 to keep their business running.

Mbulawa who also works as a sales representative for the company says it was against all odds that the company survived as they faced numerous challenges such as importing raw materials from China.

The raw materials which were sourced from China took a bit of time at Durban before being delivered in Botswana resulting in incurring exorbitant charges.

As a result, they were forced to seek more funding from Gender Affairs department, and they were given more P192 000, resulting in the smooth running of the company nearly two months ago.

Even though, two members of the company have since suspended their services due to social matters, the three members (two Mbulawa) and Sisimogang Mothibi have remained resolute to ensure that the company does well.

Though market for selling of toilet paper seems to be saturated today, their company has established other means of penetrating international market and the future looks bright.

Their products, Mbulawa says are of high quality; a two ply roll and a bundle of 48 rolls.

However, she says the tender localisation policy aimed at assisting youth, women and people living with disabilities is a good initiative, but the implementers are not doing much to ensure that it become a success.

Besides all the challenges encountered in the business world, Mbulawa encourages women to take advantage of government initiatives and start their own businesses.

She says passion and perseverance are needed for one to become successful.

She applauds the Department of Gender Affairs for organising Women’s Expo to give them the opportunity to showcase their business capabilities. BOPA


DAILYNEWS..... Special report

By Lucretia Chima

The saying that to be born poor does not mean one will live and die poor, defines

Nkgowa Utlwang’s life story.The Rakops, single mother of

three, knows well what sleeping on an empty stomach means, as she was never employed, save for the on and off Ipelegeng jobs she used to secure.

Despite her humble background, Utlwang’s children were doing well at school, and that challenged her to look for something sustainable to support them.

Her turning point came in 2013, when her son lost books at primary school and was denied to get his certificate unless he paid P900 for the lost books.

“I ran to the social workers to assist me, but when they looked at me, they disqualified me from destitute programme, but advised me to consider venturing into one of the poverty eradication projects instead,” she says.

Although disappointed, little did she know that her life was about to change in a big way.

She considered their offer and opted for a tailor and leather works project.

She attended a course, passed and later government bought her the machinery and other necessities for the business. Her NU Tailor shop was born.

Indeed, being delayed is not being denied, because a short while after acquiring her machines, she won a tender to design decorating accessories for some of poverty eradication beneficiaries; that she says exposed her business to the masses.

As she did not have a habitable accommodation, she used part of the proceeds from the tender to lay a foundation for a two and half house.

“Since I saw that the business

Utlwang defies oddswas viable, I invested part of the money on the business and since then I never experienced hunger in my homestead”.

Some months later, she participated at Letlhakane Agricultural Show, where she scooped first position on one of her outstanding bags.

The show also scored her new clientele who were not aware of her business.

The proud owner says she has acquired more skills in her business as she also designs patchwork apparatus using leather, belts among other things.

“People should not shun poverty eradication projects, as it has turned my life around. I have a home and can provide for my children such as any other parents.

It has removed me from a

pathetic lifestyle of sleeping without food,” she says.

Through this project, Utlwang says she has learnt that life takes one’s determination, and that success will not be given on a silver platter.

Despite her positive story, the budding entrepreneur reveals that business has its trials such as market, among others.

“However, that one does not have to give up on their dream; I see an opportunity in every event. I usually attend market days and I will not want to see other people abandoning projects due to lack of market. Clothes like food and house are basic needs that people cannot do without,” she says.

Already, she has diversified her business by adding designing and tailoring of school uniforms, as they provide more lucrative

business opportunities, as there are new students every year.

“It might seem small, but you cannot go without a day without a thebe, that is why I have an account and card. I now know that a person can bank money,” Utlwang says confidently.

Also, she has started designing modern bags, influenced by what is currently trending in the market, and she is already enjoying patronage because of them.

The entrepreneur who won third position at this year’s Consumer Fair, says her intention is to build a place where she will teach others.

Also, she plans to buy a car to enable her to ferry her goods. “I am a new leaf and intend to live my dream”.

The tailor, who has realised that some businesses fail due

to laxity from the owners, says she operates from morning until later in the evening to cater for those who knock off late.

“Our business is more domestic, and normally, people realise that they need to fix something late, and I should be available to render my service”.

She applauds government for what is doing for the disadvantaged people like her, saying some her trips to attend business activities such as trade fairs are made possible by the council. These sojourns are worthwhile, as she has been able to sell more creations.

One of her clients, Kehilwe Singh from Mawana in Shorobe says she buys her wares as tourists love locally-made goods.

Singh who runs a curio shop says the business is good and capable of changing lives. BOPA

Our business is more domestic, and normally,

people realise that they need to fix

something late, and I should be available to render my service

Utlwang’s Nu Tailor shop has changed her life for the better. Photos: Felicity Male

Utlwang’s products displayed during one of the shows

Tuesday November 17 ,2015 Page 12

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