By Boemo Keoepile

The market day held on the 19th of October 2018 was to empower poverty eradication beneficiaries to have sustainable businesses. The poverty eradication officers usually encourage buyers to buy from beneficiaries. There are departments responsible for projects. For instance, the Wildlife Department is responsible for wildlife projects like Guinea Fowls, Forestry, Bee keeping and leather works from wild animals with the ambition to do a yearly show to present different beneficiaries from around Letlhakeng. Beneficiaries at this market day show case were Guinea Fowl farmers, Beekeeping farmers, Poultry farmers, detergent sellers, producers of leather works and tile service providers. The District Commissioners Officer for Social and Community Development Ms Nancy Njamela said this was the first time to hold the market day and the number of beneficiaries was moderate. However, she said the show gave organisers experience and she hoped that the next time there would be a larger show with more beneficiaries present.

For information contact: Social worker for poverty eradication Nancy Njamela 71723993 at ODC office, e-mail: nnjamela@gov.bw, Facebook: Nnuza Motsumi

Guinea Fowl beneficiaries

The beneficiaries said you need to have a licence from the Department of Wildlife to keep Guinea Fowls. The Wildlife Department helps Guinea Fowls beneficiaries with incubators to incubate eggs for free. One Guinea fowl can lay up to thirty eggs. One beneficiary said she was given 20 fowls to start with that were already laying eggs. She was grateful that the Department help with incubating the eggs for her and said her business was doing well. However, she said the department should help with medication of the fowls since the business was not stable enough to be able to buy medicines.

For more information contact: Dithaetson Motshebe, 73109378, Malwelwe

Leatherworks

To be a leatherworker you need to have a licence from the Wildlife Department. To make traditional maths (pathe) you can use wild animal skin or those that you have at disposal. The products ranged from Pula 40-500. Products on offer were:

• Dipodi (traditional skirt) Pula 400,

• Phate Pula 500

• Beads long Pula 200, short Pula 40

• Mathows Pula 100

• Jacket Pula 500

• Bow and arrow hunting set, Pula 200

• Dinaka, Pula 80

For more information contact:

Ms Kaorontshwa Thuntshwane 73364163

Mr Phuthego Banweng 73481005

 Poultry and egg production

A producer of poultry and eggs who was present at the marked day said she was given 50 chicken (of which one died). She had also been given medication once when the chicken were delivered to her, but she was now responsible for buying medication for her chicken herself. She wished the Department would assist her with medication since her business still was unstable. Her chicken laid one egg pr day and she sold one egg for2 Pula.

Contact: Babotseng Satsose 73271175 Malwelwe

Cleaning detergents

Sellers of cleaning detergents said they had many different kinds and for multi-purposes. Such as: detergents for cleaning, washing, bathing, carwash, dish wash, laundry and foam bath. The business is going well. They sell bottles of 2 litre detergent for Pula 20.

Contact: Basia Gaboronekwe, 74913777, Sirenane

 Fashion Design

A local fashion designer present at the market day had made clothes of different kinds for sale. Children’s dresses start at Pula 60 but vary according to sizes. Uniforms are sold at Pula 120. Shirts are sold at Pula 80. She said she most popular product was church uniforms.

Contact: Bojelwang Motlhobogwa, 75103842