Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA)’s chief financial officer, Ms Tiny Ralefela says Batswana need to be business-minded in order to tap into the available economic empowerment opportunities.
Ms Ralefela said recently during CEDA’s fifth Open Day held at Tloaneng village, near Gabane that people should not think about being absorbed into the job market rather they should have entrepreneurial desire if they were to develop the country and create employment.
The CEDA official noted that it was their desire to have every Motswana understand the economic development opportunities availed by CEDA, adding that her organisation’s aim was to assist locals to turn into entrepreneurs so they could be able to employ themselves and other Batswana in turn.
She said it was through entrepreneurship that community members could bring developments to their areas.
Further, she said CEDA had financed businesses to the tune of P9.2 million in the Gabane-Mmankgodi constituency creating employment to 64 people.
The area Member of Parliament Major General Pius Mokgware said Tloaneng was the future development centre as it was positioned a few kilometers from Gaborone.
“It has the potential to be the business centre more so that it is closer to Gaborone,” said Maj Gen Mokgware.
As such, he appealed to his constituents to take aantage of the day and inquire how they could take aantage of their proximity to the capital city.
Further, he said the area had opportunities in tourism, agriculture and mining, among other economic activities.
However, he regretted that, despite the heavy sand mining activities taking place in the area, local residents especially the youth were not benefitting anything.
Maj Gen Mokgware further said it was an open secret that the CEDA had helped many people to start businesses and he encouraged his constituents to take aantage of the organ.
CEDA-financed client, Mr Edward Motsewabeng said it was through the agency that he started Lady Bird Poultry in 2008 which is still running thanks to the he gets support from CEDA.
The one-day event was also attended by other institutions such as Botswana Unified Revenue Services, Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority, Companies and Intellectual and Property Authority, Botswana Police, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Competition Authority.
Source : BOPA
Source : Botswana Daily News