INNOVATE™ BOTSWANA

BOTSWANA

The Botswana Innovation Hub Science and Technology Park is located strategically on a 57 hectares site, Plot 69184 near the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA) and adjacent to the Diamond Training Centre (DTC) in Gaborone. The Park provides an attractive location for technology driven and knowledge intensive businesses to establish themselves and develop and compete in the regional and global market.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WITNESSING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND GROWTH OF INNOVATIVE START-UPS IN BOTSWANA

MR THULAGANO MERAFE SEGOKGO, MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY

When I was requested to present a foreword for this inaugural edition of Innovate Botswana, I pondered upon the remarkable work that Best of Publishing, have so expertly embarked upon. The genuine portrayal of the true character, soul and sights of Botswana as viewed through the lens and ink of their publica tion, Innovate Botswana, will certainly attract a wide readership and appreciation, for this birthplace of humankind, a Botswana that is a rare and transformative state at its peak era, and con tinues to defy the odds with the potential for many more future success stories.

Our country is an incredible place and destination of choice in which not only to live or visit, but also to trade, invest and run progressive, profitable businesses that rank fairly against global standards. With a publication like Innovate Botswana more light and more success will shine on the innovators of Botswana . Innovation is an integral component of the fourth industrial revolution which is a pivotal part of Botswana’s agenda to truly transform into a high-income economy. I trust publications such as this will encourage an increase in innovative market players.

As we continue to transform Botswana into a land living its full potential, I envision it as the start-up capital of Southern Africa offering home to thinkers, dreamers and co-creators of the fu ture. As the start-up ecosystem of the region – I foresee increased investment in future-forward businesses, full digitization of public and private services and technological advancements that serve for the betterment of Botswana and her neighbours. The focus on innovation and development of value chains in the product space occupied by extractive industries, pharmaceuticals and agriculture to name but a few key sectors will create much needed job opportunities and streams of income that increase efficiencies and reduce poverty. I sincerely believe that innova tion is key and is necessary to grow and transition Botswana to the country we all dream of for our tomorrow.

I am grateful to see the increase in innovative business that embed technology at their core as we see a rise in e-hailing businesses, businesses that delve into data mining for insight driven strategies and other tech-driven companies covered in this publication. It is businesses like the aforementioned that reassure us that the vision of becoming the start-up capital of the region is indeed possible and Botswana shall contribute towards the knowledge economy and become renowned for products and services other than our diamonds, our beef and our tourism.

The Botswana Government passionately supports start-ups for incremental and disruptive innovation. This is seen in our longstanding patronage of youth owned businesses through

programmes such as the Youth Development Fund (YDF), which is a socio-economic programme for start-ups and expanding businesses.The YDF assist aspiring youth with capital to venture into various economic enterprises funded at 50% loan and 50% grant. The Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), established in accordance with the Small Business Act and the Citizen Entrepreneural Develop ment Agency (CEDA) have had a great impact on business development, identification of business opportunities and the promotion of domestic and international linkages..

More recently, yet further proof of Government’s support for innovation and startups is seen in the etsablishment of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship to develop and promote an entrepreneural culture and accelerate transformative investments in Bo

tswana. The establishment two funds, the research fund and the innovation fund under the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, advances Government intentions of increasing the country’s spend on research to five percent of GDP and avail funds for innovation. The Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub (BDIH), to be mergered with the Botswana Institute of Technology Re search and Innovation (BITRI) is an ideal location for technology-driven and knowledge-intensive businesses to establish themselves, develop and compete in the regional and global markets. The merger shall support the national innovation eco system to enhance Botswana’s global competitive ness and we will continue to see innovation grow in leaps and bounds. As the country continues to prioritise future-forward business growth, we will see the conversion of the iconic Orapa House

to a digital solutions hub for the youth as a part of the Smart Botswana strategy which is Botswana’s new proposition to drive transformation across the economy, Government and society through a number of key strategic initiatives and projects.

I look forward to witnessing the establishment and growth of innovative start-ups in Botswana and pledge my unwavering support through policies and through patronage to make running business es in Botswana even easier than before.

Congratulations to Best of Publishing on the inau gural edition of Innovate Botswana, building on from other exciting and patriotic publications such as Best of Botswana, Business Journal, Leadership Magazine and others. It is indeed a proud moment to see our Botswana innovators being showcased and celebrated.

THAPELO LETSHOLO INNOVATE BOTSWANA PUBLISHING PARTNER

Botswana is emphatically transforming into a hub of innovation, digitisation, fin-techs and start-up incubation.

It is therefore my utmost privilege, honour and pleasure to introduce you to the inaugural edition of Innovate Botswana, an in-depth study and AR video series that showcases the people, companies, products, and services that are leading the race within Botswana’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. A book with augmented reality videos, an online platform and a network with a common goal of ensuring that Botswana’s best innovations, and innovation enablers connect and succeed.

I thank Mr. Thulagano Merafe Segokgo, Minister Of  Communications, Knowledge and Technology, for honouring us with a Foreword for Innovate Botswana. I thank the various companies, organisations and individuals featured in the book for their participation and support.

I present special mention to Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), Botswana International University of Science (BIUST), Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), Botswana Oil Limited (BOL), Botswana Accountancy College (BAC), Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH), Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) and Letshego Holdings Limited (Letshego), whose financial and other support enabled us to feature all the start-ups and innovators at no cost to them.

The result is a showcase of the people and companies that are set to place the country on an economic pedestal for the future, an inspired Botswana where growth and opportunity awaits. Thank you for facilitating the narration of the individual stories of these amazing innovators, who are collectively the catalysts for Botswana’s development and progress.

What is most notable is that the President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, has literally staked his presidency on innovation and digitisation. In his inauguration speech, the President talked about Botswana Government’s priority of transforming the country into a knowledge-based economy to be better able to confront challenges of unemployment, especially among the youth. He said:

“In this regard, my Government has identified digitisation of the economy as a means to achieve employment creation, particularly through the extensive utilisation of modern technologies,” Digitisation has been identified as one of the pillars in his RESET AGENDA, the President highlighted that: “The global village runs on the wheels of digitisation which is quintessential to the delivery of services to the people”. The intention is to ultimately diversify the economy and foster export growth through the use of IT to achieve product development and also enhanced manufacturing capacity.

To further underscore the seriousness with which His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi regards technology and innovation, he said his Government would consider the establishment of an Information Age Council whose key responsibility would be to advise government on the national direction of ICT (Information and Communications Technology).

Under President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s RESET AGENDA, all it takes for one is to be innovative enough to have an idea that meets a certain level for it to receive incubation and acceleration, the two objectives that BIH plays a vital role in. Collaboration is at the heart of the BIH, which was among other things, started by the Botswana Government, to create new scientific, technological knowledgebased business opportunities.

Various Botswana Government supported programmes are coming up together to nurture, host and invest in a diverse range of Botswana-based fin-techs and start-ups, many of them started, owned and run by fresh from university graduates. From a friendly tax regime to a suite of Government assistance programmes through entities like CEDA and LEA. These initiatives have a cumulative effect of accelerating start-ups. Now these Government owned programmes are being joined by a cast of big private sector corporations like Debswana, Letshego, First National Bank of Botswana and ABSA

Botswana who are dedicated and moving into playing a bigger role in hand-holding young businesses.

A lot of value can be seen in connecting startups with the big multi-national corporations. In the end, the beneficiary is not just the start-up, but the bigger corporation as well.

Letshego has already become an accelerator of note for fin-techs through its LetsGo Digital Mastery Programme which is a high impact and full time 18-month programme that empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to scale digital leadership in Africa. The group for example offers an in-house training and mentoring programme for selected start-ups and ideas by young graduates still fresh from college.

It is not yet easy to measure the impact of each of these incubators, but there is no question that it is a good start for Botswana as the country shifts towards creating critical mass necessary for take-off of economic diversification and export growth.

I thank you.

Meet the people that are building a better Botswana for tomorrow

The “INNOVATE™ Botswana” Team would like to give a special thanks to all the participants and the following companies for their support and assistance in making this project a reality.

INNOVATE™ BOTSWANA: A MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCE AND MORE.

SVEN BOERMEESTER, FOUNDER/CEO, INTERNATIONAL GROUP PUBLISHER

INNOVATE™ Botswana has been a long time coming. It is with great pride that we publish this inaugural edition in a country that is very close to all of our hearts. INNOVATE™ Botswana showcases the best of Botswana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, shining a light on the stories of success and determination that make Botswana’s landscape so unique.

INNOVATE™ Botswana is far more than a techenabled publication; it is a multimedia experience centered around the deluxe hardcover coffeetable book you are now holding, including AR videos, an online web platform, and multilevel social media networking. The complete e-book will be viewed in the millions through the Innovationsoftheworld.com online library. Embedded in its pages, you will find augmented reality videos that accompany certain features, and when you use the free GLOBAL VILLAGE AR app, the world of the future will open up before your very eyes.

This publication aims to celebrate those involved in the Botswanan ecosystem and anyone contributing to enhancing the daily lives of Botswanans through innovation. So many

stories of positivity and success emanate from this region; we hope this publication inspires and multiplies the success and positivity shared between these covers.

This book is for all dreamers, creators, leaders, disruptive thinkers, movers, and shakers. It is for the open-minded folk who believe in and want to know more about the exciting changes and developments across the nation and want to play an active role in its growth and development.

This inaugural edition of INNOVATE™ Botswana is just part of a growing global series. Now, on six continents and continuously expanding into new countries, industries, and cities, it has become a global movement – connecting minds, building communities, and innovating for good!

By experiencing INNOVATE™ Botswana, you are part of the Global Village network, and we are happy to have you. I trust you will join us as we continue the journey of the INNOVATE® series.

Founder & CEO

Global Village Publishing Inc.

Sven Boermeester

Sven Boermeester, Founder/CEO, International Group Publisher with Callie Van Graan, Global Village President

GLOBAL VILLAGE

Why Botswana is great for Startups

Botswana has over the years cemented itself as a hive of business and technological innovation, new ideas and startups. This is mainly due to its youthful population, stable environment, buying power and governmental support for entrepreneurs and development. Not only that, government, the private sector and stakeholder participation has enabled Botswana to grow and be a conducive environment for startups.

EXCELLENT BUSINESS CLIMATE

Not only is Botswana strategically located at the heart of Southern Africa for easy movement of goods and services in the region, the country offers excellent opportunities for startups. The economy is stable and has been growing since independence in 1966.

According to the United Nations, Botswana’s greatest assets are peace, law and order, disciplined fiscal and monetary policies as well as capable public institutions. Botswana is great for startups because it has over the years consistently ranked highly on economic and development indicators compiled by international recognized rating agencies such as Business Report, Transparency International, Ease of Doing Business Report (World Bank), Moody’s, Global Rating Agencies and Heritage Foundation amongst others.

Botswana also offers a low tax regime in the region, 15% for manufacturing, financial services startups and startups registered in the innovation hub, as well as a low personal income tax of up to 25%. It has free repatriation of profits and free importation of raw materials and great market access opportunities.

Botswana also has duty-free quota and free market access to more than 50 million consumers from Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and eSwatini, as well as preferential market access to more than 345 million consumers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

The Government of Botswana has a number of initiatives aimed at promoting startups and turning them into sustainable, competitive enterprises. In 2009, government introduced the Youth Development Fund (YDF) which is a socio-economic programme for startups and expanding businesses. It was introduced in the financial year 2009/10 as an economic empowerment programme meant to assist aspiring youth to venture into various economic enterprises funded at 50% loan and 50% grant.

The Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture works in collaboration with other stakeholders such as Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) to build the spirit of entrepreneurship and other government Ministries and parastatals who offer technical support.

YDF aims to promote active participation of the youth in the socioeconomic development of the country, encourage the importance of school, and marginalize unemployed and underemployed youth to venture into sustainable and viable income generating projects, as well as promoting the development of competitive, sustainable and growthoriented citizen owned youth enterprises.

PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION

The Private sector plays a critical role in creating a conducive environment for startups in Botswana. Some of these key stakeholders empower young entrepreneurs and startups in accessing funds for their businesses.

Private Banks want to be facilitators of increased youth employability and support government’s ambitions of creating a knowledge-based

economy. Some of the initiatives seek to workshop prospective business angels on the decision making process required for investing into startups and also help entrepreneurs better appreciate the requirements for seeking angel investment into their businesses.

An example of a private bank making a true impact on the country’s entrepreneurship and employability agenda is Stanbic Bank Botswana through the Stanbic AcceleR8 program. The Stanbic AcceleR8 is a shared learning and growth space, enabling efficiency, dialogue and practical guidance with a clear purpose towards progress.

PARASTATAL BUSINESS INCUBATION

Government has established parastatals to help in advancing startups in Botswana. Some offer funding opportunities, mentoring and marketing of products and services.

The Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) took a deliberate decision to embark on the development of small businesses through the incubation program. In July 2007 LEA appointed consultants to develop an operational model for the prospective LEA business incubators. The concept of business incubation as a general rule refers to the practice of providing low-cost, property based facilities and shared services to nurture the development of new firms.

LEA business incubators provide on a temporary basis, shared premises, capital equipment, business and technical services, as well as access to finance, including venture capital and a business herald network. The modelling of the incubator program is tailored on the premise of agreed priority sectors in Botswana and forms part of entrepreneurial centers focused on development of skills necessary and the creation

of an enabling environment for accelerated growth of businesses. This focus targets sectors with high growth potential.

LEA has five incubators, namely: Pilane Multi sector Incubator, Leather Industries Incubator, Francistown Industrial Business Incubator, Glen Valley Horticulture Incubator and Kutla Incubation Centre.

ACCESSING CREDIT AND FUNDING

Small businesses looking for funding to grow their businesses in Botswana have some spite to solve the money problem. Botswana’s financial and capital markets are said to be among the most sophisticated in Africa, boasting numerous domestic companies and regional offices of multi nationals.

A recent Rand Merchant Bank survey placed Botswana among the top five African countries in accessibility to bank loans, while the World Enterprises Survey showed that Botswana boasts the highest percentage in Africa of firms with lines of credit.

Government has put together institutions that provide funding solutions to startups at any stage of their evolution, on condition that they meet qualifying criteria. Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) was established as a parastatal organization to provide financial and technical support for business development with a view to the promotion of viable and sustainable citizen owned business enterprises as one of their programmes.

CEDA offers startups expansions, stock or working capital in new and existing business ventures. The Agency also offers business advisory skills identified through the needs assessment that is conducted during the monitoring of funded businesses.

Other major institutions offering funding include the Young Farmers Fund (YFF), Kgalagadi Brewery Limited - KICKSTART, and NCONGO - Youth in Business, Embassies, Debswana - Peo programme and the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH)

INNOVATION

Technology is the way to solve challenges in the entrepreneurial spectrum especially now that the world is moving towards the digital space. Startups have to adopt digital ways of survival in order to grow and become competitive industry players. Botswana just like any other country has young entrepreneurs in the digital ecosystem who are making a difference in the communities they live in with their innovations. Some of them include the late Patel Barwabatsile who set up Power TV; a subscription service for television content.

They also include Tumelo Mapila, who runs a company called Focus Survey, a data collection platform which offers innovative and intuitive research tools to industry who want to make evidencebased decisions. Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) also has introduced the start-up BOOST-UP Programme competition, which is aimed at supporting early stage start-ups that use technology to solve societal challenges in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

CHAPTER

ONE

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

BOTSWANA IS AWESOME

THE BOTSWANA GOVERNMENT HAS PLENTY OF DIFFERENT INITIATIVES AND RESOURCES TO HELP FOSTER INNOVATION AND ASSIST ENTREPRENEURS. ALL INNOVATORS AND STARTUPS MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE PROGRAMS.

There are government incentives and grants available across the entire ecosystem. E.g YDF, CEDA, women economic empowerment program, NDB, BDC etc. These complement the commercial lending space by derisking the start ups for potential graduation. These funds are not only affordable but also patient which encourages survival rates of start ups .

We have a number of SME support institutions (BOBS, CEDA, LEA, BITRI, NAFTEC etc). All the support institutions form an ecosystem to offer SMEs Support.

Training is offered where mostly possible before one is given money or during implementation. The training covers amongst others, financial management, customer service, HR, machinery and other specialized fields.

Affordable busisness advisory services which are almost free are offered by LEA. The monitoring and mentoring support is very effective, having all skills in human personnel from agriculture broadly, engineering, production, etc.

Support with both basic and advanced intervention (e.g. technology audits and other wide range of support). Government covers up to 85% of the cost for interventions.

Our incubation model helps to nurture SMEs, in testing and perfecting their products to ensure a better reception by market.

The taxation regime is one of the friendliest in the region to aid investment across the ecosystem.

Political support for start ups is great. Almost every department is expected to support local bussinesss through EDD.

Market for potential businesses is good in Botswana. One just needs to look at our import bill and current CEE initiatives, opens a huge opportunity for start ups to succeed.

The reservation policies that are in place makes it good to start a businesss e.g. the decision to stop vegetable imports and others have boosted economic activity.

Resources that exist in Botswana to help innovators succeed

While intentions and opportunity perceptions are important to any aspiring entrepreneur, turning those intentions into a new business requires confidence in one’s own abilities, as well as the courage to overcome the possibility of failure intrinsic to any new business venture – in Botswana, resources and the platform are readily available to help innovators and entrepreneurs succeed. The question will always be whether one has the skills, knowledge and experience to start a new business. Here is what is at your disposal to ensure that your business succeeds in Botswana:

GRAND CHALLENGES BOTSWANA

This programme was launched by the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) in 2021 to provide funding to local innovators to develop and implement bold scientific solutions, starting with concept notes for space applications for the Agriculture and Tourism sectors with Botswana’s national digital transformation initiatives and aims to identify locally developed solutions that demonstrate the use of relevant emerging and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) related technologies, e.g. Artificial Intelligence and Big Data analytics in geospatial data benefitting the tourism and agriculture sectors.

LEA INCUBATION PROGRAM

The Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) took a deliberate decision to embark on the development of small businesses through the incubation program. In July 2007, the Authority appointed consultants to develop an operational model for the prospective LEA business incubators. This model took into account the existing opportunities to convert existing Estate Centers from the former IFS into small business centers that SMMEs can use to grow their enterprises through the assistance of LEA advanced business development services.

The concept of business incubation as a general rule refers to the practice of providing low-cost property based facilities and shared services to nurture the development of new firms. LEA business incubators provide - on a temporary basis - shared premises, capital equipment, business and technical services, as well as access to finance, including venture capital and business herald network.

LEA also provides the necessary support and capacity development to innovators. It further collaborates with academic institutions to expand its incubation program, e.g., INCU-HIVE with a focus on agribusiness development in partnership with Botswana University and Natural Resources (BUAN).

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

SUPPORT

Botswana enjoys research and development support from various institutions such as the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI), Botswana

International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) as well as Botswana Institute for Technology Research (BITRI). These institutions support with product development as well as codifying prototypes. NARDI is a Stateowned Enterprise incorporated as a company limited in 2015. It is well positioned to provide facilities for both piloting and demonstration with 10 ranches and arable farms spread across Botswana, which are used as research stations and experimental sites.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SUPPORT

The local Intellectual Property authority in Botswana is the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA). This is an organization that works with the US government and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Botswana Intellectual Property Policy (BIPP) was approved, granting patents registrations and are generally based on a first-to-file. Similarly, registering trademarks is based on a first-to-file, so innovators should

consider how to obtain patent and trademark protection before introducing products and services to the Botswana market.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Government supports and prioritizes innovation through appropriate legislation and policy - through a variety of institutions such as the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH). BIH has programmes aimed at supporting innovators that use technology to solve societal challenges. Some include the BOOST-UP programme that is supported by the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS). Participants undergo an intensive training on the Art of Pitching and finalists secure a spot in the regional competition to compete against other participating SADC countries.

INNOVATION PORTAL

Botswana is a member of Innovation Bridge Portal which promotes collaboration among public and private ecosystem stakeholders

to become the ‘one-stop-shop’ repository for information, opportunity and networks. The Portal is expected to be a catalyst in enabling entrepreneurs and innovators to thrive, promoting economic growth and job creation in South Africa and neighboring countries. As part of the programme, about 14 start-up entrepreneurs pitched their innovative ideas for possible funding, mentorship, coaching and networking opportunities.

PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT

Various private sector institutions are playing a major role in advancing innovators in Botswana. Stanbic Bank Botswana has come up with the Stanbic Accelerator Programme as well as providing innovation support through hackathons for digital solutions. The bank also as an AcceleR8 Incubator that offers mentorship for innovators. Botswana Telecommunications and Kgalagadi Breweries Limited, BDIH Incubation and Acceleration, BITRI Incubation, Vetri Consulting mentorship, Angel Network as well as Jupiter Consulting Start-up Accelerator are some of the initiatives available for innovators in Botswana.

FIRST STEPS VENTURE CENTRE (FSVC)

This is a technology entrepreneurship development and innovation commercialization programme within the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH). The Centre was established to support entrepreneurship and

innovation through technology transfer. FSVC identifies, develops and nurtures viable technology-oriented start-up businesses with potential to grow locally and into international markets.

PRIORITISATION OF STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is being prioritized in the school curriculum - culminating in a University of Science and Technology (BIUST). BIUST also hosts STEM week to take science and

technology to the people. The endeavor is motivated by the reality of the scarce numbers of students with interest in Mathematics and Science to be able to take-up the Science and Technology programmes that would transform Botswana into a knowledge economy which it aspires to be.

LITERATE YOUTH

Botswana has generally high literate and entrepreneurial youth population, which has placed the country above its peers in the Global Entrepreneurial Index. After all, in the aftermath of economic crises, entrepreneurial activity will drive economic recovery (as it did following the 2008 financial crisis). In any case, individuals that are currently making the decision to start and/or to grow a business are ultimately creating jobs and incomes, adding value to society and strengthening economies – in the case of Botswana, it is the youth population that is taking a shot at startups.

CITIZEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Current Citizen Economic Empowerment (CEE) initiatives opens a huge opportunity for start-up businesses to succeed. Over the years, government has embraced citizen empowerment in its development planning process because of the low citizen participation in economic development in the country.

Among the existing initiatives, include citizen reservation, where only 100 percent citizen owned companies are eligible to participate; where citizen owned companies, joint ventures and local companies are eligible for price preference.

CEE policy makes it mandatory for non-citizen contractors awarded government contracts to sub-contract a minimum of 40% of works to citizen-owned companies and transfer skills to sub-contracted citizen owned companies.

INCENTIVES, GRANTS AND LOANS

There are numerous resources available in Botswana to assist start-ups. Government has initiatives that come in the form of incentives, loans and grants available across the ecosystem. These are offered through the Youth Development Fund (YDF), Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), Women Economic Empowerment program, National Development Bank (NDB), Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), amongst others. Incentives and Grants complement the commercial lending space by derisking the startups for potential graduation. On the other hand, the loans are affordable but also patient which encourages survival rates of start-ups.

TAXATION

The taxation regime is one of the friendliest in the region to aid investment across the eco-

system. Botswana has a source-based taxation system. CIT is charged at a single flat rate of 22%. Manufacturing companies having the approval from the Minister of Finance for a special tax rate will be charged at the rate of 15%. IFSC companies are currently taxed at the rate of 15% on income arising from approved financial transactions with non-residents, IFSC companies, and Specified Collective Investment Undertakings. All other income is taxable at the rate of 22%. Companies must apply for a certificate to be classified as IFSC companies, which deal only in specified services with qualified persons.

SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

In tandem with the government objective of making Botswana a high income economy, the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) is

broadening its impact on stakeholders by proposing solutions that will ensure that those at the bottom of the economic ladder also benefit from the country’s envisaged progression.

SEZA is said to have been updating stakeholders on various projects that are likely to improve the economic standing of the country in the medium to long term projection.

A big role in changing the economic landscape of the country will be played by the special economic zones (SEZs) because they will boost economic growth and its diversification. According to SEZA, “SEZs present an investor-friendly business environment that supports timely company registration, the issuance of business and residence permits, and the opening of company and utilities accounts, among other benefits. We forecast an initial investment of $20m in SEZs, which is expected to drive economic growth, diversification, job creation and technology transfer.”

Whilst there has been the main challenge related to the development of SEZs is that many investors scaled down investment budgets following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, to attract

additional investment, SEZA has come up with an initiative to ensure that SEZs offer prospective investors the same incentives found at other SEZs around the world.

Speaking to Oxford Business Group for the Botswana Focus Report, SEZA CEO, Lonely Mongara noted that potential for boosting local value addition and import substitution exists in the agri-business, water management, energy, financial services, applied ICT, health and general manufacturing sectors. “The cereals, horticulture, meat, dairy and agro-processing subsectors, in particular, are key to increasing value added and fostering import substitution. An abundance of land – coupled with a growing population, both locally and abroad – are factors underpinning agriculture’s potential,” he said.

RESERVATION POLICIES

Government has reservation policies in place which have proved to be a major boost for startup businesses, especially citizen owned businesses. Botswana’s reservation policy has had significant impact on the retail sector as an example and has opened opportunities for citizens to participate in the retail sector such as bakery and fresh produce, which have been the domain of chain stores. The policy has made it possible to reserve certain trade activities for citizens or companies wholly owned by citizens. Reservation of such trades

is premised on the fact that they were easy to operate and do not need technical expertise, special technology and special skills. Some of these activities, include general dealer, general clothing, fresh produce, bakery and hair and beauty parlours. The argument is that the economic growth of the country is sustainable when driven by its own citizens. Arguably, this has resulted in the development of entrepreneurial skills and consequently improvement of people’s wellbeing.

LEGAL SYSTEM

The legal system in Botswana supports easy registration of companies; it also allows for easier registration of bonds, DOH and even recovery is reasonably faster. The Botswana legal system is easy to understand and apply for those willing to start new business ventures.

POLITICAL SUPPORT

The Botswana government has demonstrated commitment when it comes to supporting startup businesses. Through the Economic

Diversification Drive (EDD) and other inward looking policies, political office bearers across the political divide advocate for support of startups as a way to encourage job creation and economic growth. Almost every department is expected to support local businesses through EDD.

FREE ADVISORY SERVICES

Several Government parastatal organisations offer business advisory services at no cost. Some of these services are offered by the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), National Development Bank (NDB) and CEDA. While NDB and CEDA are mainly into funding the actual businesses, the proprietors have access to mentors designated by these entities to ensure that their businesses take off and continue.

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY

Rapid growth and investment on Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) signals better prospects for start-ups in the digital era. Botswana is fully connected and innovators are making use of digital platforms to promote themselves as well as their products and services.

STABLE LABOUR RELATIONS

Relations between employers and employees in Botswana have been well established and relative to the rest of Africa, are civil and stable. In both the public and private sectors, a number of legislative enactments and tripartite agreements guide dispute resolution, resulting in a low level of labour related disputes and open negotiations with unions. Over the years, Botswana has avoided disruptive labour strikes that could be detrimental to labour output and business margins.

CHAPTER

TWO

THOUGHT LEADERS

AN ONGOING OBJECTIVE THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART, IS ENSURING THAT AS MANY SCHOOLS AS IS POSSIBLE GO ONLINE FOR CHILDREN TO BE TRAINED IN USING ICTS

MARTIN MOKGWARE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, BOTSWANA

COMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY

What does innovation mean to you?

Innovation simply means new ways of doing things and bringing in new ideas or improving what already exists to solve challenges brought about by new ways of living. Overtime, the word Innovation is commonly associated with technology for the simple reason that modern life is technology driven.

Why do innovation and entrepreneurship matter?

One must know the modern tools required to drive business as ICTs have taken centre stage in driving businesses. It is therefore important to keep introducing something new as this allows you to turn great ideas into opportunities.

How do you breed a culture of innovation within your organization?

First, I encourage colleagues to always think outside the box and come up with new ideas and processes. These ideas should create value that in turn results in more benefits. In positioning our organization, we engage in strategic thinking which is translated into our Strategic Plans, which I believe is very invaluable.

Do you consider yourself a disruptive thinker?

Yes. I believe in transforming the normal ways of doing business into more progressive ones using technology that upsets conventional structures. Indeed, I have introduced a way of doing business in our organization with most services transacted online.

What is the biggest challenge facing Botswana and how do you believe it can be overcome?

The biggest challenge facing Botswana is the lack of relevant local content which can be monetized and marketed internationally. Local innovators are yet to penetrate the international market digital content platforms with competitive content.

Competition on global digital platforms is fierce and our small population also disadvantages us. Batswana should understand that the future lies in the internet and in this regard applications and content should be created to enable citizens to create value for the economy.

What leadership skills do you value most?

Innovative and results driven leadership that is more focused on achieving value addition.

What has been the toughest businessrelated challenge that you have overcome?

Ensuring that as many schools as is possible go online for children to be trained in using ICTs. It’s an ongoing objective that is very close to my heart and I can confidently say we are succeeding, albeit at a slower pace than I would like.

Tell us about an initiative or venture that you have participated in that has had a positive impact.

Universal connectivity of citizens using ICTs is one of the many initiatives that I have and continue to be involved with. Botswana by its nature is sparsely populated and geographically vast making it difficult to easily connect the population to ICTs. But we are making headway and more than 90% of the population in Botswana is now connected through different technologies.

Where does your passion lie and how have you pursued that professionally?

My passion lies in Youth and women empowerment as I believe they are the future leaders of this world. I have made sure that I provide job opportunities for Youth in ICTs throughout Botswana and have equalized gender parity in the work place.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

From my passion for national development, as well as from leaders who empower their citizens to be independent thinkers. I look forward to the day Botswana will have transited from developing to developed status.

Plot No. 50671, Independence Avenue

Private Bag 00495, Gaborone, Botswana

Tel: +267 3685501

Fax: +267 3957976 Mobile: +267 71312485

Email:  mokgware@bocra.org.bw

INNOVATION, TECHNOLOGY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP: ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE – BASED ECONOMY IN THE COVID-19 ERA

PROFESSOR OTLOGETSWE TOTOLO, PHD, FBAS – CURRENTLY, BIUST VICE CHANCELLOR

What is your vision for your specific industry?

The transitioning from a resourced-based to a knowledge-based economy is not a far-fetched reality. Ensuring learner’s research capabilities remain well-founded and maintaining a good educational experience for them is critical for universities to face the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic. Learners should be encouraged to improve their research efforts and ease the path for translating their research into business. Our dream as institutions of higher learning in Africa is to facilitate the growth and capacity of our national economies; anchored on locally designed infrastructure in many and different spheres. We continue to forge and undertake initiatives aimed at developing our human capital to position the entire African region at an equal footing in the international community of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs.

The development and implementation of BIUST Strategic Plan 2016 to 2023; which includes the Entrepreneurship Strategy and a Research Strategy is aimed at fostering an enterprising culture, developing and maintaining the supporting infrastructure needed to turn BIUST into a STEM and entrepreneurial university.

Tell us a bit about your background.

Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, PhD, FBAS – Currently, BIUST Vice Chancellor, has held several executive positions at the University of Botswana (UB). PhD University of London (UK). MSc University of Reading, UK, BSc Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) UB. He has also completed numerous short courses on science management, Executive Leadership course with University of Oxford, and is widely published in international publications of repute, such as Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, International Journal of Environmental Geology, etc.

He is an outstanding and seasoned university administrator, brilliant scholar and international renowned Soil Scientist and has an invaluable wealth

“Our dream as institutions of higher learning in Africa is to facilitate the growth and capacity of our national economies; anchored on locally designed infrastructure in many and different spheres...”

of experience in academia, having held senior management positions as Director of the Center for Scientific Research, Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, Head of Environmental Science, Dean of Faculty of Science, and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs at UB.

Directorship: Currently, serving as the Council member of the National University of Lesotho and Deputy Chairman of the Botswana UNESCO Chapter. He is the Founding Fellow Botswana Academy of Sciences.

Professor Totolo has served in various governing bodies as Chairman; Botswana Technology Center (BOTEC), Rural Industries Promotion Company (RIPCo), Environmental Heritage Foundation (EHF), Founding member of Somarelang Tikologo, and Founding Chairman of Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI).

What is the next innovation that’s going to change your industry?

Institutions in higher education such as BIUST, embarked on various research projects to deliver real life scientific solutions and innovations to this country especially in this challenging era of job creation and the 4th Industrial Revolution. The stimulation of innovation and the effective harnessing of emerging technologies is central to empowering learners in higher education to find solutions to problems affecting our communities, especially in the era of COVID-19.

BIUST has placed Botswana amongst the few African states that use drones to aid their respective health systems. The Palapye based university, in a tripartite partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) and the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) recently launched the ‘Drones for Health’ pilot project at an event held at the institution campus.

The Drones for Health pilot project which was recently launched in conjunction with Ministry of Health and Wellness, is amongst the many high profiled research activities undertaken at BIUST. It is funded by UNPFA at a tune of half a million Pula. The project is expected to alleviate the logistical challenges experienced in Botswana’s health care system.

Botswana will now join the revolution of assuming its place in the space domain, leading to what today is known as “New Space”

through the fields of Telecommunications, and Astronomical Scientific missions with the ultimate goal of using “CubeSat” to solve our challenges in data collection and to take the right steps towards transforming the economy from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy, this is due to the fact that Botswana could sooner than later, see a coal-to-Liquids refinery set up in Palapye, producing car fuels, tar, soap products, ammonia, and many more coal liquefying byproducts-based industries. This is attributed by the BIUST model of coal to liquid conversion project using a pyrolysis technology, a subject which has gained traction in Botswana after the national oil company, Botswana Oil.

Currently the following projects amongst others are being pursued through the Technology Park at BIUST: Mayonnaise Production, Production of Electricity from Botswana Coal through Gasification Process, Solar Network Project for Jamataka Village, amongst others.

BIUST’s patenting process currently ongoing include a farmyard monitoring system, which includes automatic livestock counting and access control to enhance the efficiency of livestock management. There is also a patent for an electrical switching system for a building or installation, which is designed to optimise power consumption.

Is there a particular moment or memory that stands out for you?

My appointment as the First Citizen Vice Chancellor for BIUST and subsequent reappointment for another term of five (5) years.

Is there an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of? Why?

Leading the country’s only specialized science,

research, technology, engineering, and innovation university to achieve Botswana’s national strategic initiative has been the highlight of my career. The university has embarked on various research projects to deliver real life scientific solutions and innovations to this country especially in this challenging era of job creation and the 4th Industrial Revolution, keeps me as passionate as ever. The projects highlighted above is a demonstration that we have the right technical skills and know-how to open investment avenues in Botswana.

What inspires you?

In the next 5-years, I will be driving the BIUST Strategic Plan to achieve the national agenda, in alignment with the current national policies and plans such as Vision 2036, the National Development Plans and the Millennium Development Goals.

What was the biggest challenge you have faced?

The funding for research initiatives, the funding for the University Master Plan and funding for postgraduate programmes.

What did you do to try solve this challenge?

We have developed the enterprise strategy which the aim of generating third stream income, and the commercialisation of the research prototypes.

What is your favorite quote that inspires you?

“The evil that Man does sometimes lives after him, the good is often interred with their bones …..” - Shakespeare

IT IS OFTEN SAID THAT LISTENING IS A SKILL; THAT IS VERY TRUE

MR. THABO THAMANE, CEO, CEDA

In our view, innovation is the practical implementation of ideas that in the end results in the introduction of new goods or services; or at the very least results in improvement in offering goods or services. In short innovation results in the creation of value.

On the other hand entrepreneurship is the willingness of an individual or group of people to take risks and organize and/or develop business opportunities from ideas in an ever-evolving market. Entrepreneurship involves turning a great idea into a business opportunity. It follows therefore that entrepreneurship begins with innovation.

Innovation helps one to stay ahead of their competition. Innovative thinkers are often able to predict the market, thus enabling themselves to keep up with ever-changing consumer and customer needs. If your business doesn’t innovate it is almost inevitable that you will watch innovative companies bring new ideas to the marketplace and you will have to scramble to keep up.

At Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) we have a clear goal-setting. We hold that goals must be clear enough to align team members, and also loose enough to allow team members the autonomy on how to reach those goals. It is that autonomy and the ability it allows for combining ideas and bringing in new perspectives that enables real creativity to happen.

Breeding a culture of innovation within CEDA also entails an open line of communication with employees. Enabling and entrenching innovation requires creating open communication systems that facilitate idea exchange, coordination and collaboration.

It is important for leadership to allow for direct, frequent, constructive and supportive feedback from staff members, including from the most junior member of staff. This means eliminating and bringing down walls that create opaque bureaucracy, red-tape and inaccessibility. Additionally, leadership should have in place an equitable, generous rewards and recognition system.

Most important in a leadership position is to develop listening skills. It is often said listening is a skill. That is not an exaggeration. An ability to listen means that the leader is also flexible and

open to change. There should also be a hunger to succeed and an ability to recognize potential and talent.

One of the toughest challenges that we have to deal with at leadership level has to do with recruitment of talent. It is not easy to get people who are talented that also have the right attitude and a good value system. Equally hard for us at CEDA is retaining such talent because as a quasi-public entity we simply cannot compete with the private sector, especially commercial banks that need exactly the same skills set like us.

Other than unemployment and its related evils, one of the biggest challenges facing Botswana has got to do with the entitlement culture among many of our people. There is a feeling among our people that one needs connections for them to access services or to succeed in life. This is wrong and it is the root cause of a culture of entitlement consuming our people.

That culture delays progress. And if we can get rid of it, we will achieve much as a people and country.

HYPER-GROWTH COMPANIES OFTEN CREDIT A CULTURE OF INNOVATION AS THEIR PRIMARY DRIVER OF SUCCESS

TSHEPO TSHEKO, ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BOTSWANA DIGITAL AND INNOVATION HUB (BDIH)

Unleashing Botswana’s Innovation Culture...

As Robert Tucker noted, “Innovation is everyone’s business.” If we are to unpack this a little bit more, it simply says that in order for an innovation system to be successful, all of its members must be enabled to participate in whichever way they would desire. Over the years, I have come to realise that whilst we value the need to innovate and understand the potential impact that could have on our business, our customers, and our broader stakeholders, as organisations there are a few things that we still need to get right. In writing this piece, I thought to leave you with at least some key pointers on what you need to consider as you start your innovation journey. Building a culture of innovation, like any other pursuit, is not an event; it is a journey that one must make with deliberate focus and intent.

Upon reflection over the years passed and lessons learned I do sincerely believe that as leaders, if we acknowledge the need to inspire, to organise, to synergise, to empower and to reward, we are well on our way to fostering the desired innovation culture.

Inspire – It takes but a second for a person to be struck by a moment of inspiration which starts something that changes the world. We all need inspiration and as business leaders we need to be sensitive to the very important role we hold in our businesses to provide an inspiring vision and lead in a manner that invites and celebrates innovation. The emphasis need be on providing opportunities and removing obstacles wherever they may be. Trust your people and give them the latitude to explore solutions to their most challenging needs.

Organize – In your organisations, it’s important to promote organized chaos. We tend to think of chaos in the negative, however, it is in these charged environments that some of the best ideas are born. As a business, the focus should therefore be on establishing guiding structures and create systems and processes that support innovation and idea management.

Synergise – Synergising is about pooling together resources, collaborating and fostering internal and external relationships to support the innovation process. It is in this collaborative environment that teams can fully leverage diversity by facilitating the cross-pollination of ideas and creating, as well as empowering cross functional teams.

Empower – I genuinely believe that the key to unlocking the potential of your teams is by creating an environment that encourages experimentation, where one is not afraid to fail as they know to take the lessons learnt to regroup and restart and ultimately succeed.

Reward – It is within our DNA to want to be recognised for our efforts and achievements. It is therefore important that we equip our businesses to be able to set value creating goals and targets and to measure progress/success rates. This is all done with a view to ensure that the organisation is able to recognise and reward both individual and collective contributions, celebrate success and ultimately make business fun!

Tshepo Tsheko is the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH),

formerly known as the Botswana Innovation Hub. Tshepo has been a very active member and contributor to Botswana’s innovation landscape. His substantive portfolio is Director of ICT, Marketing and Partnerships, a role he assumed after a three-year serving as the founding Programme Manager of the Botswana Innovation Hub’s hybrid tech incubator/accelerator, the First Steps Venture Centre (FSVC). In 2020 he co-authored the SmartBots Strategy, formerly known as Botswana’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Digital Transformation Strategy.

Tshepo’s experience spans three continents, with 15 years of professional working experience in the ICT sector gained from working for several global blue chip companies. Tshepo has been a Business Analyst at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in New Jersey, USA, Technical Consultant at Hewlett Packard in Chester, UK and Group IT Manager at Turnstar Holdings in Gaborone, Botswana. He has also worked as Systems Analyst and Senior Operations Associate – Technical Services at Bristol-Myers Squibb in the US and UK respectively.

LEA IS COMMITTED TO HARNESSING INNOVATION TO GROW THE INFORMAL SECTOR

DR. RACIOUS MOATSHE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, LEA

Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) was created by Botswana Government with the specific mandate of entrepreneurship and enterprise development.

LEA mandate extends to growing of exports and also assisting with establishing linkages between SMEs and big businesses that are crucial not only in growing SME market share but also in the development of a vibrant SME and the informal sectors.

When I arrived at LEA my first task together with my team was to make an overall assessment of the systems – our people, our reputation and our brand.

We reached a conclusion that we needed to go beyond just the business plans that we receive and also look at the overall impact that a business could have on the local economy, on employment creation and on its contribution to the country’s GDP.

To run a successful and modern economy, one needs data for planning and decision making hence we are moving towards getting all SMEs registered and building a data and knowledge bank.

As a country it is absolutely important that we develop our local communities and local economies through commerce. Local economies, if properly developed ultimately become feeders to national economies.

It is thus of paramount importance that we get the local economies right. SMEs and the informal sectors are best placed instruments to achieve just that.

The two biggest challenges facing Botswana have got to be unemployment and economic diversification.

As a country we still need to get the value chain correct, especially in the agriculture and mining sectors. Mining and agriculture hold the biggest potential to diversify the economy and get many of the people, especially the youth employed.

To develop these two sectors technology, innovation and funding will be key.

In the mining sector for example, Batswana have licenses and requisite skills for certain services, but lack of capital to set up. And without doubt, Batswana have the technical expertise needed to deliver services in the mining sector.

We live in an era where technology and innovations move at lightning speed, hence it is important that our universities are focused on producing real industry technology.

That is why at LEA we are driven by innovation.

Currently our informal sector ecosystem is somewhat less coherent *but with great potential. And technology and innovation can harness coherence, market access, efficiency, and networking among other benefits.

SMEs stand to benefit immensely from more innovation. Innovation and entrepreneurship are synonymous. The two are critical for any business. Both of them bring about something new. It’s all about efficiencies and improvement. Without innovation, businesses become stagnant. We need leaders in our organizations to have a vision of where they want to take their organisations, and how to do that innovatively.

SME development is not an event. It is a long process that requires commitment and focus.

As LEA we have had a big impact on the SMEs and the informal sector, because of our highly tailored interventions.

We have worked on growing capacity and on enhancing quality across the SME and informal sectors.

If you take the retail sector, for example. we have worked on ensuring that products from citizen companies are able to enter the shelves of chain shops *and supply big corporates.

Clearly we are focused in making LEA a model parastatal. And the trajectory is already beginning to show.

We are of the view that citizen economic empowerment requires relentless lobbying, changing mindsets, expanding networks, creating value through our SMEs and constantly evaluating development programs for impact.

And it is going to be tough and rough *in some instances.”

INNOVATION REQUIRES INITIATIVE, IDEAS, AND COMMITMENT

MRS. TSHOGANETSO CARL-PONOESELE, ACTING CEO, BOTSWANA TOURISM

What does innovation mean to you?

Tourism is an extremely vast field for innovation as a complex cross-cutting socio-economic system. Creating a tourist product, tourist services, booking of air - and train tickets - all these processes have reached a new level with the introduction of the latest developments in information technology.

Innovation in tourism as elsewhere is in collaborative actions between Government, academia, corporations, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups, investors, supporting business partners (accelerators, incubators, etc.) and other stakeholders. Innovation requires initiative, ideas, and commitment.

In the tourism sector, different companies such as hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, car rental companies and entertainment companies provide different services. Therefore, companies in the sector are in competition with each other to satisfy the tourists and ensure the continuity of the tourists. For this reason, innovation is needed to gain a competitive advantage.

Why do innovation and entrepreneurship matter?

Innovation and Entrepreneurship have a symbiotic relationship: we need to keep on looking for new ways of doing things and improving experiences and service delivery. The two interchangeably prompt and advance development of skills, infrastructure, new concepts, and new solutions.

It is not a coincidence that the most developed nations are also the ones with the highest levels of entrepreneurial activity and innovation. While starting from a minimal level of development helps the two, for example, through basic access to capital and institutional stability, the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship on the economy and society more broadly cannot be overstated. In fact, the impact goes over and beyond such as increased productivity, competitiveness, and job creation, and spills over into areas as diverse as regulation, infrastructure, the environment, and social inclusion.

How do you breed a culture of innovation within your organization?

Training and allowing every team member to share their ideas and new thinking; and not only to share but follow the execution of such ideas for the benefit of the tourism sector. Everybody matters; sharing challenges with teams to initiate solutions is critical.

The biggest challenge is to rethink tourism and transform the sector with the support of new ideas and talent. There is a need to revisit the demands of the hospitality industry in the post pandemic world, and an innovatively talented workforce is needed to maintain the needed sustainable and universally accessible tourism, which is expanding.

Our strength is the experience of having tried out many different perspectives and doing plenty of agile explorations. Nowadays both competitive environments and preferences of the consumers are constantly changing in the sector. Under these conditions, we must keep taking the pulse of the market and carrying on with various innovations. Innovation provides renewals and changes in the goods and services in the tourism sector as it is in every area, it facilitates the work of tourism employees, helps to promote and marketing the unknown and incorporates the customer into the production process.

Do you consider yourself a disruptive thinker?

Yes, I innovate, I am passionate, and seek positive change in the organization. I strive to draw good ideas from others for the betterment of organizational culture, top notch customer service and efficient service delivery. For me, it’s all about leaving my comfort zone and trying and doing new things consistently.

What is the biggest challenge facing Botswana and how do you believe it can be overcome?

The decline in tourism activity because of COVID-19 has so far been the greatest challenge. We need innovative ways to bounce back and collaborate with the information communications technology talent to bring the tourism product offering closer to the traveler through customercentric inventions.

In lieu of the climate change challenges, we must also always bear in mind that sustainability is not just an environmental issue, but involves working to achieve a balance between environment, governance and economy, and society and culture. We need to reflect on tourism value chains and develop practices to address changing consumer needs and develop local policies and projects for more resilient, digital, and greener solutions. The aim is to strike a balance between economic, social, cultural, and environmental needs, including the protection of cultural heritage, to ensure the mid and long-term sustainability of tourism.

What leadership skills do you value most?

I identify with

• Visionary - in this transition and recovery period of the tourism sector, keeping everybody focused and steering clear of deterrents with single messaging of the collective is crucial

• Innovative – to me an innovative leader isn’t a creative genius but gives others the freedom to develop their own ideas.

• Learning agility – tourism is a dynamic sector and calls for continuous research and adaptability to emerging market trends for one’s destination to remain relevant in the global competitive space

What has been the toughest businessrelated challenge that you have overcome?

Covid-19 brought everything to a standstill; and at the height of the pandemic I led a team to develop standard operating procedures for the tourism industry to ensure travelers confidence in the destination as well as to facilitate a bounce back of the tourism sector. All can attest to that given the waivers that the tourism sector were given by the COVID-19 Task Force to facilitate domestic travel and the opening for direct charter flights in to Botswana; all because the tourism sector landed itself well when it comes to adherence to protocols.

Tell us about an initiative or venture that you have participated in that has had a positive impact.

The development of Tourism categories specific COVID-19 protocols known as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These procedures focus mainly on Health and Safety as an assurance that the destination is ready and safe to host visitors. We collaborated with other stakeholders like the Ministry of Health and Wellness and Tourism industry champions to extensively engage on an exercise to monitor and gauge the level of adherence and commitment to the set SOPs across the country and ensure that tourists are assured of their health and safety when traversing through Botswana and the tourism facilities.

Where does your passion lie and how have you pursued that professionally?

Seeing exciting and new things happen/move; work with people; tagging the team along so that we are at the same pace

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Inspired by seeing positive and impactful change in the lives of people. All this is drawn from my daily Bible devotions.

INNOVATION... NO LONGER A DIFFERENTIATOR, BUT AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS TOOL

AOBAKWE “AUPA” MONYATSI, GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LETSHEGO HOLDINGS

Why innovate? According to research by Stanford University*, it may be possible to achieve economic growth simply by increasing the inputs and resources to spur growth, such as natural resources and labour, for example. Increasing inputs is only responsible for 15% of aggregated economic growth.

Innovation, on the other hand, is estimated to be responsible for 85% of aggregated economic growth, supporting my sentiment that innovation is no longer a nice-to-have or useful “differentiator”, but rather an essential and sustainable business tool.

We live on a continent that has one of the largest growing youth populations, and yet our region’s diverse natural resources are not infinite. Without innovation, our future as a growing nation, a continent and global potential is challenged.

Change is inevitable, especially in emerging markets - but it is also unpredictable. We as Africans have the opportunity to take a more proactive role in not only supporting or managing through change, but also taking whatever initiatives we can to ensure that change drives a positive outcome. An outcome that benefits broader society, economic development and seizes our collective potential. Innovation is a lever that achieves positive change.

Letshego first opened its doors in a small office in Gaborone, 24 years ago. Today, we have over 3,000 employees, including direct sales agents, located across 11 subSaharan African markets. Expansive and innovative thinking was behind the recognition that our brand’s value and potential was not limited by borders or restricted to certain populations – but rather a brand that can improve the lives of millions of individuals across Africa.

Innovation does not only bring about growth and income, it changes the way we think, the way we live and the way we work. It can deliver a reality that our society may previously have never imagined possible. Innovative thinking can create more jobs, new specialist skills and more sustainable ways of

living. It necessitates a mindset shift in order to translate thinking into sustainable action and impact.

Letshego’s recently launched Strategic Transformation is centred on the merits of digital innovation, with the objective of unlocking limitless, tangible value for customers while creating an organisation that is future-fit and adaptable to an everchanging emerging market environment.

Through the launch of our LetsGo Digital Mall – an integrated digital platform that serves as a catalyst in connecting customer interfaces with back-office processing technology – Letshego is creating an eco system of opportunity for our customers, our communities and our brand.

Innovation in Letshego is not restricted to tech platforms, but also plays a critical role in the design of our products and services, as well as our people-first culture. Examples of product design include our recently launched a visionary ‘crowd saving’ offering, where customers invite friends and family to help them achieve a financial goal, leveraging today’s increasingly social and digitallyconnected culture.

Letshego’s passion to improve lives drives us to ensure everything we do is not only commercially sustainable, but also achieves a measurable social impact in the lives of our customers. Our Affordable Housing offering is another way we are innovating for social change. By using cost effective but quality, durable materials from accredited, local suppliers, Letshego is bringing dignity and financial security to new home owners, as well as empowering the local ecosystem of entrepreneurs or small businesses. Affordable Housing for Letshego is not only about new homes, but also includes options in accessing productive funds that support sustainable home improvements such water supply, drainage, solar power, securing foundations or adding rooms for rental income.

Within our people-first commitment, we are empowering our own people as well as visionary, digital talent outside our organisation with new-age skill sets such as digitisation and entrepreneurship. Our Digital Mastery education programme is a source of joy for us because it involves mentoring young people who have ideas with great potential, but need a little ‘incubation’ before the concept is ready to be monetised. Seeing young people grow in this programme is reassurance that Africa has a strong future.

Innovation is enabling us to simplify our approach, execution and delivery of value, focus our efforts in extending the reach and access of productive financial solutions, and remain disciplined in achieving measurable efficiencies, savings and long term returns for all our stakeholders.

There is a predictably close link between innovation and entrepreneurship. Letshego’s strategy incorporates both concepts, not because they are fashionable buzzwords, but because they solve real life problems.

Letshego remains focused on its purpose to improve lives and looks forward to the untapped potential that innovation will bring to our customers and our communities. Innovation is our catalyst for unlocking progress, and it lays at the heart of our strategy and our business. It is an area we believe in, invest in and never neglect. In transforming innovative thinking into innovative action, we can truly make a meaningful impact in our regional footprint, our continent and indeed the world.

Soon, the world will reference research and proven impact in Africa. It’s up to us to share our experiences and success as global case studies to inspire others worldwide, as we progress with solving for real problems and bring real benefits.

LESOTHO

ESWATINI

NAMIBIA BOTSWANA

TANZANIA MOZAMBIQUE

KENYA

NIGERIA GHANA

UGANDA Rwanda

BOTSWANA OIL INNOVATES TOWARDS LOWERING CARBON EMISSIONS

MESHACK TSHEKEDI, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BOTSWANA OIL

Botswana Oil, the state-owned oil utility responsible for the country’s fuel security, is leveraging on research, innovation and partnerships to contribute more towards Botswana’s drive to reduce its carbon emissions.

Botswana is a minimal contributor to carbon emissions at global scale, with the last update showing that Africa as a whole contributes less than five percent of the world total. Within that, Botswana contributes about four percent to the African total.

The fuel sector is among the major contributors to the country’s carbon emissions, including sub-sectors such as transport, mining, electricity generation and household use.

Botswana Oil Chief Executive Officer, Meshack Tshekedi explains the role the organisation is taking in the carbon emissions effort.

“We have to take centre in leading the research and transformation of the energy sector,” he says.

“In this financial year, we are developing an extensive strategy on renewable energy which will inform government on some of the opportunities that exist in our transition to cleaner fuels. We have to take the lead and put something on the table in terms of strategy. That strategy will be used to engage government and other stakeholders, so that we have a plan when it comes to the transition from fossil fuels.”

The transition from existing fuels in the market will not be an easy task. Botswana is entirely dependent on external sources for its fuel supply and the challenge is for Botswana Oil to innovate from within the country to produce cleaner alternatives.

In addition Botswana Oil will have to facilitate the use of transition fuels such as gas and bio-fuels as a bridge to cleaner fuels.

“We have to lead and be the transformation agent for government in the carbon transition. We use these fuels and as a government-owned entity, we have to lead the transformation of the sector both for the economic benefit and the security of supply.”

DISRUPTING THE GLOBAL BOOK BUSINESS

FOUNDER/CEO,

INTERNATIONAL GROUP PUBLISHER - GLOBALVILLAGEPUBLISHINGINC.COM

How is the commercial book publishing world being disrupted?

Some clients joke with us that we are bringing back a dying art form, printing hard cover books for business which are cool again. The business model however has changed completely, gone are the days of pay to play by selling advertorials or advertising. A great book on an ecosystem or industry needs to be authentic and all encompassing of all the major players sharing their story, not just whoever paid to be in there. To finance that we moved to a crowd funded book buying model where the market and the participants buy the books in bulk to use as gifts to clients, visitors, investors and employees. You also need to add technology to the printed book by embedding augmented reality videos into its pages, we do that by hiding QR codes behind the images that a mobile phone can read to activate a video. The books also need to be available online as ebooks, a blog and ultimately a forum where all the participants can communicate with each other.

How do you set up your business in new cities and countries?

We look for skilled marketing professionals in each city that know their community well and form 50/50 partnerships with them where they collect the stories and we design and print the book. We are a fast growing tribe of fun and energetic publishing entrepreneurs, partners and friends. We all share a passion for innovation, beautiful places and cultures that we want to embrace, share and showcase with the rest of the world. We are always looking for marketing entrepreneurs to join our team, please reach out to me on LinkedIn or info@globalvillage.world.

How has COVID-19 changed your business?

We have been very fortunate and seen significant growth over the pandemic as events and exhibitions have had to reinvent themselves. We see ourselves as an exhibition of innovation in book form. Everyone is now innovating some part of their business and with face-to-face contact moving to zoom calls our books have been a great connector and touch point for companies and their clients.

Sven Boermeester is a global publishing entrepreneur with a career that spans over 20 years with stops in more than 100 countries. He was born in Antwerp, Belgium and grew up in South Africa. After completing his business studies in Cape Town, he opened his first media company and started publishing the trade and industry directories for South Africa followed by the launch of the Best of the World publishing series in Dubai. Fast forward 20 years and 183 ‘Best of’ editions across 60 countries, Sven now lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife and young son. He is working on disrupting the publishing business by mapping out the Innovation ecosystems of every major city in the U.S. and around the world, through his latest Innovation books and augmented reality video series.

Email: info@globalvillage.world sven-boermeester-8605823 Globalvillagepublishinginc.com

GLOBAL VILLAGE

CHAPTER

THREE

DRIVERS OF INNOVATION

LEA

THE LOCAL ENTERPRISE AUTHORITY (LEA) WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS ACT (SBA) NO. 16 OF 2008 OF THE LAWS OF BOTSWANA TO CARRY OUT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF BOTSWANA, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY THE MINISTRY OF INVESTMENT, TRADE AND INDUSTRY (MITI), THE MANDATE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT IN BOTSWANA.

Our Mandate

a. Assisting SMMEs with developing business plans, feasibility studies and market surveys.

b. Improving the business skills and competences of SMME entrepreneurs through the provision of training and advisory services in entrepreneurship development, technology, marketing and through appropriate mentoring services.

c. Creating growth opportunities for SMMEs through securing greater access to Government procurement contract for goods and services, in consultation with Government Ministries, local authorities and Parastatal organizations.

d. Identifying SMME firms with export potential and assist them to enhance their productivity and competitiveness for export markets.

e. Promoting business linkages between SMMEs and big industries, including the purchasing of locally produced goods and services by larger firms.

f. Facilitating access to information on support services and sourcing of raw materials by SMMEs through publicity, outreach and information technology;

g. Working with relevant institutions to develop and implement appropriate product and service standards, and to enhance both quality awareness and improvement of SMME products and services through training and advisory services that lead to certification of these products and services.

h. Monitoring and evaluating the impact of functions set out under paragraphs (a) to (h) and provide mentoring services to achieve long term sustainability of SMMEs,

i. Working with SMME entrepreneurs and technology institutions to facilitate innovation, acquisition, adaptation, and diffusion of appropriate technology for effective use by SMMEs,

j. Facilitating access to funding for enterprise development as well as expanding existing enterprises through regular consultation with financial institutions,

k. Making recommendations to the Minister on ways to simplify regulations which impose a burden on SMMEs in terms of compliance, time, effort, and money,

Empowering the entrepreneur to start and grow their business

l. Ensuring that SMMEs trainers, training institutions, training programmes and materials are accredited in accordance with the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) standards or the standards of such other authority as the Minister may approve; and

m. Facilitating and coordinating the provision of infrastructure and facilities such as factory shells and working space, including serviced land and utility services for SMMEs, in conjunction with Local Authorities, Parastatal organizations, the Private sector and the Government.

The Authority’s key deliverables as per the SBA are

Promotion of citizen entrepreneurship; Further diversification of the economy;

Development of a competitive SMME community; Creation of sustainable employment opportunities; Promotion of development of vertical integration and the horizontal linkages; between SMMEs and primary industries in agriculture, services, manufacturing and tourism;

Improved efficiency in the delivery of services to business;

Promotion of business linkages between small and large

LEA has an extensive countrywide footprint of 13 branch offices countrywide, located in Gaborone, Francistown, Ghanzi, Kanye, Kasane, Masunga, Maun, Pilane, Molepolole, Ramotswa, Selibe-Phikwe, Serowe and Tsabong. In addition, the Authority has two satellite offices in Hukuntsi and Letlhakane, to offer business development and support services to the citizens of Kgalagadi North and Boteti region respectively. Furthermore, LEA operates five incubation centres that provide shared facilities, subsidized business operational space, business and technical skills acquisitions and technology support to accelerate growth of the incubated enterprises.

The LEA Incubators:

• Francistown Industrial Business Incubator

• Leather Industries Incubator in Gaborone

• Glen Valley Horticulture Incubator in Gaborone

• Pilane Multi-Purpose Business Incubator

• Kutla Incubation Centre in Gaborone

Missio

State

OUR VISION

n

m ent s

To be the centre of excellence for entrepreneurship and sustainable smme development in Botswana.

OUR MISSION

To promote and facilitate entrepreneurship and smme Development through targeted interventions in pursuit of Economic growth and job creation.

OUR VALUE PROPOSITION

Empowering the entrepreneur to star t and grow their business.

L E A VA LU E S

Self-Driven

We are passionate, eager to learn, persistent and determined to achieve personal goals so that the entire team achieves its desired results.

Transformational Leadership

We are inspired and self-led, motivated, innovative and accountable to achieve maximum potential in a favourable work environment.

Par tnership

Through our internal teamwork and effective partnership with stakeholders, our efforts are synergized resulting in the success of our clientele.

Entrepreneurial

We build an entrepreneurial culture and unearth business opportunities for the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises.

Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH)

The Hub works closely with innovation ecosystem players to commercialise innovative and tech driven solutions. The Hub does this by:

• Fostering a culture of innovation in Botswana and providing innovation capacity building opportunities

• Providing technology entrepreneurship services to build innovative and tech-driven businesses

• Providing seed funding to develop and pilot prototypes and facilitating access to venture/ commercial funding to scale the innovations

• Offering technology transfer office services to identify, protect and monetise Intellectual Property (IP)

• Serving as the co-creation arm of the Government of Botswana to deliver citizencentric and digitised public services

The BDIH owns two subsidiary companies, the first being the Botswana Innovation Hub Property (Pty) Ltd (BIHP). BIHP leverages the strategic infrastructure that includes the Science and Technology Park and the fit-for-purpose flagship Icon Building to facilitate innovation. This is achieved by attracting like-minded, innovative and technology driven companies and institutions to establish their operations in the Park and creating opportunities for collaboration and exchange of ideas.

Botswana Innovation Hub Investments (BIHI) is the BDIH’s second subsidiary. BIHI is a special purpose vehicle established to serve as the Hub’s investment arm. Its role is to attract, invest in and manage commercially viable and technology related investments.

Top Innovations Campaign

Thuso Othusitse

CLASSMATE ONLINE

Classmate Online, is an inclusive, Social E-Learning platform for students and educators to access educational content and promote collaborative learning.

Q. What problem are you solving?

A. Poor academic results because of education that is limited to the classroom teaching environment.

Q. What is your solution?

A. An inclusive, social E-Learning platform for students and educators to access educational content and promote collaborative learning. We have eliminated the geographical divide that exist between students in rural and urban areas, and those in public and private schools.

Q. What is innovative about your project/business?

A. The availability of educational content to any learner, anywhere. The content is inclusive because it can be consumed by the visually impaired through the text-to-speech functionality. We also use gamification of educational content to make it more interesting for the learners.

Q. What inspired it?

A. The fact that social media is transforming the way we communicate. I thought, why not make education consumption social and interactive too? We want to disrupt the education system by giving learners access to educational material and allowing teachers to complement their classroom setup teaching with virtual classrooma, all thanks to technology.

Q. Who is your target market?

A. Learners from primary school level to senior secondary schools and the education fraternity stakeholders.

Q. What social and economic impact is your project/business envisaged to make?

A. Currently, we are at a pilot stage with Gaborone Senior Secondary School and we have experienced 9,000 hits from 793 registered active users out of a total of 1,400 learners. By mid 2020, we would have enrolled all the 34 Senior Schools, 257 Junior Schools and 754 Primary Schools into the platform. We expect significant improvements in terms or academic results attributable to usage of Classmate Online as per the users’ feedback.

Q. What type of skills does your team have to be unearthing this type of innovation?

A. A team of three is fully dedicated on this project. A Business Developer with IT and a business background, an Architecture by profession who is running the operations of the business and a qualified Programmer.

Q. What challenges are you facing in your business?

A. Unavailability of content from teachers which we would like to mitigate by offering incentives. Learners are not allowed to use gadgets at school. We are also seeking financial support to commercialise this solution.

Q. What is the long-term vision of your solution?

A. To conquer Africa by year 2023 and make Classmate Online available throughout the African continent.

Q. What assistance are you receiving from BIH and other stakeholders?

A. We are currently in the pre-commercialisation stage and are receiving mentorship from Botswana Innovation Hub. We recently entered into an agreement with Botswana Telecommunications Corporation who will provide internet connectivity at different schools. We are also working closely with the Department of Information & Technology, as well as the Ministry of Basic Education to source and prepare content.

Q. Where are you based for those interested in the service/product?

A. We operate from the BIH offices, they offer hot desking facilities where entrepreneurs are able to utilise workstations, Wi-Fi internet and printing services.

Q. Do you have any presence on social media?

A. Of course, we use social media to promote Classmate Online activities. Our Facebook page is Classmate Online.

Q. Inspire fellow citizens to innovate; what would you say?

A. Anyone can innovate. It’s not about your profession or educational background, it is about finding solutions that are addressing challenges that we face as a people. In the same breath, always consider possibilities of scaling up the innovation to the world.

Top Innovations Campaign

Tuduetso Tebape

NUBIAN SEED

Nubian Seed is a green beauty manufacturer of authentic natural & organic personal care products made from indigenous raw materials, sustainably sourced from around Africa; to make high quality, toxin free products.

Q. What opportunity are you seizing?

A. We realised that there was a lack of shea butter products in the Botswana market, if there are any, they were hard to find or very expensive.

Q. What is your solution?

A. We are making available a locally manufactured green and organic beauty products that understand the African skin because they are made from African natural ingredients.

Q. What is innovative about your project/business?

A. Nubian seed is not just a cosmetic brand, it is a celebration of a fusion of biotechnology using indigenous plants and shining a spotlight on Africa’s rich indigenous raw materials. We source our raw material from all over Africa, for example, the hibiscus flower from Ghana that we combine with morula kernels right from home - Botswana.

Q. What inspired your project?

A. We were inspired by our own love for the shea butter product when we were living abroad. When we came back home, we realised that it was hard to find, then we thought why not use our own African ingredients to make our own shea butter. We tested the market’s appetite with a few that we made by selling to friends and family. They loved the products.

Q. Who is your target market?

A. Primarily women between the age of 25 and 50 years in urban areas in Botswana, Africa, the UK and the USA. This is a niche market that is health and beauty conscious. Men and kids who are catered for by our ‘for family” range of products from dandruff shampoo to lip balm.

Q. What social and/or economic impact is your project/business making?

A. We are sourcing our ingredients from local community women in Botswana and some in Ghana whom we are empowering as suppliers in the cosmetic manufacturing value chain.

Q. How many people are employed in your business? What type of skills are there in your business?

A. Nubian Seed is currently operated by three people; a legal practitioner by profession who serves as a Co-Director, a Communications Specialist, who is also a co-Director who has skills in packaging and marketing the products and a third employee who also works on Marketing and Sales with a qualification in Media Studies.

Q. What challenges are you facing in your business?

A. Lack of operating space as a result of lack of financing. If we could get an operating space, we would ramp up production and sell bigger quantities and increase our workforce. We are able to inject some money into our cash flow from the Tony Elumelu funding of USD5,000.00 that we won in 2019. Another challenge in our business is the customs and logistics as we source some raw material from other African countries, however, one of the co-founders now has a seat on the Technical Cosmetics Committee that is developing standards of organic cosmetics under BOBS. It is our hope that the challenge of transportation and customs duties will be addressed.

Q. What is the long-term vision of your solution?

A. Our plan is to venture into raw material processing so as to reduce our costs of production. We want to be Africa’s green and organic cosmetics. We want to be a household name.

Q. What assistance are you receiving from BIH? A. BIH has been instrumental in Nubian’s development and growth. We are in the BIH Acceleration programme where we are receiving coaching, mentorship, access to partner programme such as the Females in Biosciences Businesses. Through BIH, we have been to international pitching competitions that exposed us to potential markets. The skills we have acquired in the BIH Acceleration programme are attributable to the sales we have achieved so far.

Q. Where are you based for those interested in the service/product?

A. Nubian Seed products are available at one of our partner stores called Mmamontle located at Molapo Crossing and also at Five Opulent Spa at Extension 9, Gaborone. We also do delivery orders through a WhatsApp number: (+267) 770 98440.

Q. Do you have any presence on social media?

A. Our Facebook page is Nubian Seed and we are also on Instagram @Nubian Seed.

Q. Inspire fellow citizens to innovate; what would you say?

A. Just start. If you have an idea that you believe in; just start. Don’t wake up at 90 years old and say, “I never tried”. Always strive for the best and as they say; fail forward.

Top Innovations Campaign

Thato Kasongo

MOHIRI

Mohiri is a personalised job alert service that helps connect users to job opportunities through mobile alerts.

Q. What problem are you solving?

A. The plight of unemployment in Botswana.

Q. What is your solution?

A. A mobile alert service that connects job seekers to job opportunities by matching the job alert to the job seeker’s profile.

Q. What is innovative about your project/business?

A. The service is unique and innovative because it is an AI driven assistant and a subscriber gets alerts that are relevant to their profile thus reducing the need to keep up with information/adverts overload in newspapers and websites.

Q. What inspired it?

A. We were stimulated by the high levels of unemployment in our country. Then we worked on a technology that would solve the problem by harnessing the use of the internet and technology.

Q. Who is your target market?

A. Low to medium skilled job seekers, for example electricians, market intelligent analysts, tutors, farm workers, sales representatives and medium skilled jobs at graduate entry levels. We receive job adverts from any employer who wants to recruit for low to medium skilled positions. We have also partnered with HR Business Partners to offer an end-to-end process of recruitment.

Q. What social and economic impact is your project/business envisaged to make?

A. We have reached 270 000 people every week that benefit from content related jobs. From a job creation point of view, our team has grown from two people to seven people.

Q. What type of skills does your team have to be unearthing this type of innovation?

A. We are a team of seven with a diverse skills set i.e. computer programming, graphic design, digital marketing and journalism.

Q. What challenges are you facing in your business?

A. Our biggest challenge is market penetration. We are in an industry where a superior service platform such as Mohiri is competing with traditional beliefs where employers still perceive newspapers as an effective means of advertising despite their limited circulation and cost.

Another challenge we are facing is lack of funding to grow the business in terms of resources. We need more resources to market the solution to more potential employers and further equip our back-end operations.

Q. What is the long-term vision of your solution?

A. We want to grow Mohiri into Southern Africa’s biggest jobs service platform. We are using Botswana as a test base for the platform with a goal to scale up to countries with higher potential in terms of population and unemployment rates such as Zambia and Tanzania.

Q. What assistance are you receiving from BIH and other stakeholders?

A. We are in the BIH Acceleration Programme where we are receiving coaching, mentorship, access to partner programmes such as the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) Programme. Through BIH, we have been to international pitching competitions that exposed us to potential markets. The skills we have acquired in the BIH Acceleration programme are attributable to the market penetration we have achieved so far.

Q. Where are you based for those interested in the service/product?

A. Our offices are within the Botswana Innovation Hub Icon building.

Q. Do you have any presence on social media?

A. We are available on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn in as Mohiri.

Q. Inspire fellow citizens to innovate; what would you say?

A. Botswana is very ripe for disruption. Old systems are ineffective but remain unchallenged. Any field you can think of be it Marketing, Finance, or HR needs innovation for relevance and survival, therefore, there is a lot of opportunities for anyone to innovate.

Top Innovations Campaign

Likius Likius

AMINAAMI ACCESS

A web-based visitor management and feedback system that harnesses the power of technology.

Q. What problem are you solving?

A. The disconnect between a customer and an organisation resulting in poor service delivery due to poor customer–organisation method of interaction such as registration books and paper feedback sheets.

Q. What is your solution?

A. A web-based visitor management and feedback system that replaces registration books and paper feedback sheets with the ability to receive remote/ online meeting requests.

Q. What is innovative about your project/business?

A. The system can be accessed at the Reception (in the premises via a Tablet and remotely for the customers’ homes or offices. The home/office access will be available 24/7. The system also has a backend where officers/departments can access client interactions at any given time.

Q. What inspired it?

A. I was approached by a client who said she wanted a hassle-free-system-based visitor registration and would also like to receive visitor feedback. She presented a problem and after some research and a few trials, my team and I brought forth a solution.

Q. Who is your target market?

A. Government, Parastatals and Large Corporates with a minimum of 20 visitors per day.

Q. What social and economic impact is your project/ business making?

A. Botswana is ranked very low in terms of service delivery. We are helping organisations harness the power of technology by collecting data and

responding to customer needs. We intend to make the product available online where clients can create accounts remotely. This will give the product a global appeal.

Q. What type of skills does your team have to be unearthing this type of innovation?

A. A total of 7seven employees. We have two developers, two Digital Marketers, Admin, Assistant and an Accountant.

Q. What assistance are you receiving from BIH?

A. We have benefited from the acceleration courses such as business management that BIH offers. The works have also been instrumental in increasing our knowledge and networking us with the market. BIH is also assisting us with office space, workstations, access to internet and printing services.

Q. What challenges are you facing in your business?

A. Limited capital. We would like to hire more skilled personnel to develop the product further. The trials that we conduct with potential clients cost money, therefore we suffer from customer apathy because most customers would like to experience the product before they fully commit to procuring.

Q. Do you have any presence on social media?

A. We do have presence on social media. Facebook: @AminaamiAccessBw and Twitter: @AminamiBw

Q. Inspire fellow citizens to innovate; what would you say?

A. On reflection, it is a good thing that Botswana is still lagging behind in terms of innovative services, this presents everyone with an opportunity to adopt new ideas and localise them to suit our environment.

CHAPTER FOUR

TRADE, INVESTMENT & LEGAL SERVICES

Botswana Investment and Trade Centre

Through its critical role within Botswana’s economy, BITC also encourages and nourishes domestic investment and expansions, promotes locally manufactured goods to regional and international markets, contributes towards improvement of the investment climate through policy advocacy, increases citizen participation in the economy and seeks to create sustainable job opportunities.  BITC seeks to be the apex Investment and Trade Promotion Agency (ITPA) driving the transformation of Botswana into a globally recognised trade and investment destination.

Our Mission is to innovatively attract investment and facilitate export to stimulate economic diversification and job creation in the country by promoting Botswana as a place to visit, live and invest.

Attracting Investment into Botswana

In an effort to become a leading highperformance Investment Promotion Agency, our focus on investment promotion is leveraged on research to identify and profile growth sectors, and to create strategic go-to market value propositions that will attract investors to the country. We place great emphasis on pre-existing strategic national priorities that are focused on delivering economic growth, development and diversification. These include:

Mining & Energy - Beneficiation

Agriculture and Agro-processing

Education

Transport and Logistics

Financial & Business Services

Tourism

Manufacturing

Information & Communication Technology

Effective Stakeholder Engagement, Involvement and Alignment

Botswana Investment and Trade Centre prides itself in having proactive and continuous collaboration with key stakeholders at the forefront of corporate strategy. This includes partnership with Botswana Foreign Missions in the region and abroad which greatly expands the county’s footprint into international markets. This provides a platform through which businesses, beneficial partnerships and industry associations can be identified by providing a point of information exchange for both international and domestic investors. Local stakeholders are key to enabling BITC’s domestic investment efforts and have continuously supported the organisation in achieving that.

Botswana Investment and Trade Centre continues to support businesses through various programmes: Export Development Programme, Botswana Trade Portal, Botswana One Stop Service Centre and the Nation Brand’s #PushaBW campaign amongst them.

Email: enquiries@bitc.co.bw

PRECIOUS AND PARTNERS

PRECIOUS & PARTNERS (P&P) IS A YOUTH-OWNED LEGAL PRACTICE, CURRENTLY FOSTERING THREE QUALIFIED, ENERGETIC AND DYNAMIC LAWYERS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE AS LEGAL PRACTITIONERS WITH VAST LEGAL EXPERIENCE WITH EMPHASIS ON CORPORATE/COMMERCIAL LAW &

CIVIL LITIGATION.

Precious & Partners is a female-founded legal practice and commenced its legal operations in April 2018 with a staff compliment of 12 (twelve), and still counting...

Our CEO has over 12 years combined legal experience first as a General Litigator and post-qualification as a contentious and persuasive Litigation Lawyer. She has primarily made a name for herself dating back from 2007 as a student lawyer, and has overseas private client legal experience which sets her apart from the rest.

Upon completion of her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) of which she graduated first, she was then admitted to the bar in the Republic of Botswana in 2015, initially as an Attorney and thereafter a Notary Public and Conveyancer. Adding to her experience, skills set and hunger to excel; she then relocated to the United Kingdom where she has worked as a Legal Advisor and Professional support lawyer in two of London’s top legal 500 firms; Fishers Jones Green Wood LLP and John Fowlers LLP consecutively. She is currently registered as a Foreign Lawyer with the Solicitors Regulatory Authority in the UK & Wales, and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree (LLM) in Corporate Law.

Whilst overseas she took up both Commercial and Private client Law cases, coupled with her Litigation experience she also dealt with various litigation matters. Adding to her experience, prior to relocating to the UK, she worked as a Junior partner and Head of Litigation at Lerumo Mogobe Legal Practitioners. She was also in charge of Commercial & Civil litigation portfolios involving financial and government parastatals including First National Bank, Bank Gaborone, Botswana Power Corporation and Gaborone City Council, to name but a few; for provision of Taxation Law, Commercial & Civil Litigation matters.

PRECIOUS &PARTNERS

LEGAL PRACTICE

Precious Gondwe, Founder & CEO

Precious & Partners Legal Practice is Headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana and expanding.

OUR CASE LEGAL SUITE PRACTICE MANAGEMENT LEGAL SOFTWARE SYSTEM & ICLOUD

FILE BACK UP

P&P has a case management system (Legal Software) that fast tracks client cases from the time a file is registered, throughout the entire process until the time of conclusion of the matter. The system allows recordkeeping reminders and notices, address details, billing, and also soft copy backup of the physical files that can be accessed virtually as the documents are backed up on the cloud.

This means that the system is both secure, as login credentials are used to access it but also stores information on the cloud for backup purposes.

Plot

1st

WARONA LAW OFFICE

MOLAO WARONA ROTLHE

What’s in a name?

In this case - everything! Warona is a Setswana pronoun, which translates to “ours” in English. The fact of the matter is the law is “ours” – all of us, made by us to govern and protect us. It also happens to be the middle name of the Founding Partner, who saw it befitting to serve as the firm’s brand and its philosophy when setting up shop back in 2019.

Warona Law Office identifies as a boutique law firm that practices in niche areas of the law. Our attorneys are seasoned and qualified to offer counsel on a wide array of issues but have elected to explicitly exclude criminal law as part of its offerings. We have come to learn that disciplinary silos can inadvertently cause scotomas. Real life legal issues often crisscross disciplines and sometimes jurisdictions. Our driving force is untangling issues and coming up with innovative solutions within the confines of the law.

We boast a young team of professionals who are solution seekers first. Our model has as one of its key objectives to provide quality service that is client focused and accessible. To this end, top talent in fields such as administration of estates, property law, commercial law, human rights and litigation serves as an asset to the operations of the firm.

All our clients are important to us, which is the reason we make ourselves accessible on numerous platforms to be able to respond at the earliest convenience. Setting ourselves apart came as an adaptation response as the pandemic surged in the formative months of the firm.

Visibility and social media presence are critical to our model. Topics and various themes are shared to increase legal literacy within the populace on topical issues and common misconceptions. The reception has thus far been encouraging, with a following which continues to grow organically.

The practice has grown to seek out issues concerning human rights law and aiding marginalised groups. Strides have been made in bridging the legislative gap on issues of sexual harassment in the private sector, for example, through the development of inhouse policies and conducting internal investigations on the subject matter. In our own space, we chase having a safe working environment for all with the freedom to dress professionally without fear or discomfort of being harassed in the workplace.

With regards to marginalised communities, the firm is actively assisting a few community trusts with protecting their interest’s vis a vis managing natural resources within their respective communities. Our country is rich in wildlife and natural resources. If we do right by the next generation, we would enjoy the natural endowment while ensuring sustainable and green development.

The above mentioned areas of the law are not popular amongst our peers, but our attorneys are finding purpose and fulfilment in occupying the unoccupied spaces in the legal fraternity. The human rights wing is budding and continuing to expand as our network grows and reaches far and wide.

This nomination has served as confirmation that we are doing something right! It is truly an honour to have been singled out and praised for taking the road less travelled. We will continue to grow and make a difference in the Botswana which we pride ourselves in.

Tel: +267 3118115/71402303

Oratile Warona Gaopotlake, Managing Partner

First National Bank Botswana

FNBB INNOVATES TOWARDS GREATER FINANCIAL INCLUSION

First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) has established itself as the country’s leading driver of innovation and investing in financial inclusion to help more Batswana realise their aspirations beyond simple access to transactional banking services.

FNBB is Botswana’s largest commercial bank by balance sheet, footprint and customer volumes. Over the years, the Bank has leveraged this market-leading position by ensuring that mainstream financial access reaches the most underserved and unserved corners of the country.

Financial inclusion in Botswana is a priority recognised by Government as a challenge to the broad-based expansion of economic activities and opportunities. Several studies over the years have shown that large sections of the population do not have access to formal banking services, limiting the critical financial intermediation role that these institutions play in boosting economic development.

In 2012, the inaugural Global Findex Database, a groundbreaking global study, provided the first authoritative look at the level of banking access in Botswana, finding

out that two out of three adults did not have bank accounts. In 2015, three years later, the second edition of the study found that 48 percent were still unbanked.

According to the World Bank, the importance of financial inclusion cannot be overstated.

“Financial access facilitates day-to-day living, and helps families and businesses plan for everything from long-term goals to unexpected emergencies.

“As accountholders, people are more likely to use other financial services, such as credit and insurance, to start and expand businesses, invest in education or health, manage risk, and weather financial shocks, which can improve the overall quality of their lives,” the World Bank says.

Broadly speaking, the challenges around spreading financial inclusion for many countries include the limitation of physical infrastructurebased banking, low financial literacy, costs of accessing services and others. Botswana is unique in that it has a small population spread across a wide geographic space featuring remote and harsh terrains, which makes investing in physical banking infrastructure costly both in capital and operating costs.

As a market leader, FNBB has innovated and invested around financial inclusion through its Bricks to Clicks strategy, formulated more than a decade ago. The strategy has encompassed a deliberate shift to using technology to expand its reach beyond physical branches and Automated Teller Machines.

Rather than being just a catchy phrase, the Bricks to Clicks strategy has involved building a culture of innovating around products that can spread financial inclusion and boost value for customers, under the “How Can We Help You” philosophy.

“One of FNBB’s strategic focus is to continuously penetrate areas where the Bank has no presence with its Brick to Clicks strategy which is well aligned to maximise the benefits of technology while simplifying the lives of customers,” FNBB CEO, Steven Lefentse Bogatsu said previously while accepting a Euromoney Award for Excellence.

Between 2010 and 2015, the award winning strategy delivered several market-firsts such as internet banking, cellphone banking, eWallet, *174# mobile transact, *186# payment platform, online shopping payment gateway, FNB App and ATMs with deposits.

Between 2016 and 2021, FNBB launched eWallet Bulk Send for business, Mogwebi Business Insurance, Bank on Wheels (mobile branches), Cashback Rewards, CashPlus, Enhanced eWallet with eWallet@Till, FX Bulk uploads and also introduced Signature Credit Card and MultiCurrency Card.

In 2022 alone, FNBB has introduced FX on App, Rewards on App, Credit and debit card maintenance on App and FNB Funeral Plan for individual customers.

The investment in innovation towards financial inclusion has been reflected in the results of more recent financial inclusion surveys. The FinScope Consumer Survey launched last year by the Ministry of Finance found that 1.29 million adults, or about 80% of adults, were recorded as financially included in 2020, a dramatic turnaround from the results of previous studies.

Much of the success has been built on the country’s expanding Information Technology infrastructure, which has seen fixed broadband subscriptions explode from 17,196 in March 2012 to 111,851 in March 2022.

The growth has been even more phenomenal in mobile broadband subscriptions, the primary

Internet access tool used by Batswana. Here, the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority indicates that subscriptions have risen from 1.18 million in March 2012 to 2.43 million in March 2022, the latter figure representing a subscription density above the national population of 2.3 million.

The same growth in teledensity can be seen in mobile phone subscriptions which rose from 2.95 million in March 2012 to about 4.2 million in March 2022, indicating a trend where individuals hold more than one mobile service subscription.

The result has been that FNBB’s investment in innovation has been able to anchor on the growth in Internet and cellphone coverage, bringing banking access and add-on services closer to more and more Batswana.

The award-winning FNB App, Africa’s first banking app, has proven wildly popular over the years, becoming the primary interface that existing and new customers use to access the array of services and products continuously being rolled out by FNBB.

In the past 12 months, at Africa group level, the App recorded over three billion transactions and 1.6 billion digital interactions, making it a continental leader in fintech and banking access.

In Botswana the results of the investment in innovation has been clearly seen in the uptake of the various solutions FNBB has introduced into the market.

“We have successfully extended banking services to more remote locations through CashPlus (and) our CashPlus outlets grew by 81%, while CashPlus transaction volumes increased by 137% to the value of P 1.9 billion,” says Bogatsu.

“The Bank also continues to register growth across all digital platforms as customers appreciate the ease of electronic transactions as well as the option to serve themselves in the form of convenient, value -added service. “Ninety-six percent of our customers use one of our digital channels with 44% taking usage of the FNB App.”

FNBB however has not rested on its laurels and continues to further innovate, moving

beyond simple transactional banking services and into solutions that help individuals, families and businesses realise their dreams and aspirations.

Recently, the Bank launched a new brand vision, a major continent-wide rebrand that unveiled a suite of value-added services on the App and other customer-centric transformations across the bank.

“We aspire to be a trusted partner helping customers, their families, and their businesses thrive and achieve their goals through positive changes in financial behaviour,” says FNB CEO, Jacques Celliers.

“To this end, we want to make it easy for our customers to free up cashflow through best value for money solutions that make their money go further to realise their investment and insurance needs in line with their goals.

“We want to help customers through various life stages for themselves, their families and their businesses, and to ensure we advise them on the right solutions for their needs.”

FNB is focused on being advice-led, rather than product-led in the delivery of its solutions. In its journey to transition beyond banking, it is striving to become an integrated advice partner connecting the dots between their customers’ day to day activities and their aspirations and goals. The Bank continues to build competitive

investment, insurance, lifestyle and business solutions to best deliver to customers’ goals. This is all underpinned by the ease and safety of its platform and extensive network of advisors.

The FNB App has been redesigned to offer even more intuitive help through its ease of use and a safer digital experience.

“We have listened to our customers and have set out on a journey of a new user experience underpinned by personalisation.

“Customers can now personalise their FNB App by customising its home screen and selecting frequently used or preferred features.

“Customers can also view a snapshot of their transactional accounts, credit, investments, insurance, and value-added services.

“In addition, the search function has been improved to help customers find services much quicker.

“Similar enhancements are being made to the internet banking channel,” Celliers says.

The changes enable consumers to easily understand, and use the extended offerings while creating a seamless digital user experience across interfaces, ensuring an unmatched customer experience.

Going forward, FNBB has placed supporting homegrown solutions and innovations as a

strategic priority area. Part of this includes continuing to provide an accelerating environment where employees can share ideas and innovate in a thriving and evolving workplace.

Another part, is the partnership between the FNBB Foundation and the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH) to support and develop homegrown innovative solutions. The partnership was initiated to provide funding opportunities to eligible entities and encourage the participation of start-ups in solving new challenges posed by COVID-19. Start-ups benefit from technical advice, coaching, mentorship, access to markets, access to partner programmes, office space, subsidised corporate tax, a special dispensation of the import of skilled personnel and many other tailored interventions to help them grow.

Innovation has been at the heart of FNBB’s approach to banking and financial inclusion, helping propel it to a market leader in Botswana. Going forward, innovation will ensure that FNBB remains the trusted partner for many Batswana looking to realise dreams for themselves, their families, businesses and the economy.

“COVID-19 reminded us that risk is almost always accompanied by opportunity, and there is plenty of opportunities ahead. Botswana remains an attractive, business-friendly investment destination,” says Bogatsu.

“Government has a plan, which we fully support, to address economic vulnerability by diversifying into other growth sectors. “FNBB’s resilience is founded on a strong capital base, a maturing risk management system and a loyal customer base. “We recognise that it is necessary to find new ways of staying ahead competitively and we monitor change and our customers’ responses constantly to ensure that our strategy keeps us relevant and competitive.”

CEDA

THE CITIZEN ENTREPRENUERIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CEDA) IMPLEMENTS REVISED FUNDING GUIDELINES

Since its inception in 2001, the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) has been gradually reviewing its guidelines to match the ever evolving and dynamic environment in which it operates. The review of the CEDA guidelines is aimed at positioning the agency to grow, become highly sustainable and develop SMMEs to be the drivers of economic development. The first review of the CEDA guidelines was eight (8) years after the Agency was established.

In October 2019, the agency conducted a review of its financing model to ensure continued relevance as per stakeholders’ expectations. This review was meant to put focus on CEDA’s core mandate which is to finance,

Mr. Thabo Thamane Chief Executive Officer

develop and sustain citizen-owned businesses. CEDA strives to provide accessibility, sustainability and growth for its clients and the latest review covers adjustments on loan limits, interest rates, repayment periods and security/ collateral requirements.

The review was aimed at key external factors that would potentially influence CEDA going forward and these include, among others; improved focus and investment in citizen empowerment initiatives aimed at dealing with a highly competitive environment, the deterioration of global economic conditions, increased mobile penetration and use of technology as an enabler of business processes and strategy. The review also considered and addressed issues of high urbanisation rates,

reduction in government subvention and most importantly, the need for CEDA to be sustainable going forward.

As such, the reviews as announced by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi recognised the importance of stakeholder engagement and input in the review of the guidelines. Stakeholders engaged include CEDA clients, members of the public, CEDA staff, CEDA board, sectoral representatives, and civil societies, amongst others. As previously highlighted, of immediate importance was the review of the CEDA’s minimum and maximum loan limits for the delivery of various financial solutions to emerging SMME needs.

Following the review, CEDA approved and adopted the following:

1. Increase small/micro scale projects loan limits from a maximum of P500, 000 to a maximum of P1, 000,000

2. Increase medium scale projects loan limits from a maximum of P4,000,000 to a maximum of P10,000,000

3. Increase large scale projects loan limits from a maximum of P30, 000, 000 to a maximum of P50, 000,000

Interest Rates

An interest rate equivalent to the prevailing Bank Rate per annum will be charged on all loans, except micro & small loans which remain unaffected by the adjusting bank rate, at 3.75%.

However, for special sectors (currently manufacturing, mining, construction, energy, technology and innovations, agriculture, creative industry and tourism) as may be selected by the Board from time to time an interest equivalent to prime lending rate minus 3% per annum will be charged.

Repayment Periods

Repayment periods have been reviewed such that loans of up to P1, 000,000 will not exceed seven (7) years. Loans from P1, 000, 001 to P5, 000 000 will not exceed 15 years while loans from P5, 000 001 to P10, 000, 000 will not exceed 20 years.

Repayment periods for large scale projects will now not exceed 20 years. Previously they were not to exceed 15 years.

Security Requirements

Security/collateral will be mandatory for loans over P5, 000,000, whereas security/collateral requirements for large loans in the special category will be personal surety and security over assets financed. Additional security requirements may be discounted based on job creation, economic diversification and location of the project. Furthermore, CEDA endeavors to ensure that security requirements will be discounted for people with disabilities, youth and women and will be determined by the board from time to time.

CHAPTER SIX

NON-BANK FINANCE

Letshego Holdings

BOTSWANA-BORN LETSHEGO ADOPTS INNOVATION ACROSS FUNCTIONS TO ACHIEVE FUTURE-FIT VISION FOR PAN-AFRICAN OPERATION

Since first opening its doors in Gaborone 24 years ago, inclusive finance leader, Letshego Holdings Limited, has extended its reach into 11 sub Saharan markets through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. The Group went public with its listing on the Botswana Stock Exchange in 2002.

As one of Botswana’s few home-grown multinationals, the financial institution has carved out a niche segment inbetween traditional banks and fintechs. This positioning has enabled Letshego to remain adaptive and flexible in adjusting to an increasingly competitive financial services sector, while maintaining business resilience through the pandemic and unpredictable market conditions inherent to an emerging markets business.

Letshego first established its regional brand as a valued public service partner and lender, initially supporting Government employees with simple, appropriate and affordable deduction at source loans. As the entity has expanded, Letshego has been steadfast in its purpose to ‘improve lives’ and to progress in diversifying its product offering by extending its reach to support individuals outside of the public sector, as well as Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) or small business owners.

In September 2020, Letshego announced its Strategic Transformation, a detailed and comprehensive 5 year plan structured to leverage the Group’s legacy strengths in pan-African experience and deduction at source lending. The objective is clear: to create a future-fit organisation that leverages digitalisation and technology to empower its people and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving financial services sector.

“Innovation is a term that is loosely used in many sectors, but when applied to bolster an existing successful and established commercial strategy, the outcomes are exponential. At Letshego, we have a hands-on understanding of regional market environments. We have taken the time to learn and understand the behavioural trends and needs of our customers, leading to a Transformation Strategy that selects the technology and digital enhancements that will allow us to unlock long term commercial and social value. We are amplifying customer levers that support our inclusive finance mandate, such as increasing access, affordability, product choice, and social impact. It is about solving for real needs, and for real people. People across Africa are at the heart of why we do what we do.” – Group Chief Executive, Aupa Monyatsi.

Letshego’s 5 year plan is mapped out in what the Group refers to as its ‘6-2-5 execution roadmap’. The roadmap sets out the Group’s phased approach in investment, adaptation and implementation of its digital and technical enhancements, systems automation and product diversification, ultimately increasing customer experience, growth and longterm stakeholder value.

Letshego’s strategic areas of focus or ‘5 Conversations’ are: Digitalisation; Product Diversification; Geographic Rebalancing; Agile Execution Engine and Sustainable Stakeholder Value.

Aupa Monyatsi, Group Chief Executive of Letshego Holdings added, “Innovation is not one dimensional when applied to any business, but multi-dimensional in its potential and exponential value. For this reason, Letshego has sought to gain the merits of innovative thinking and application across all functions of our business – be it innovation in products, systems, customer channels, communication, people-first empowerment or reporting. We have even innovated the way we work together and collaborate, by adopting world-class Agile Enterprise methodologies to increase execution, operational efficiencies and project

Innovation in platforms increases access and operational efficiencies

In 2021 Letshego concluded the launch of its digitised platform, the ‘LetsGo Digital Mall,’ providing omni-channel access to the Group’s growing suite of products and services. The Mall provides both financial and non-financial solutions, inclusive of lending, savings, insurance, payments and lifestyle.  Omni-channel access includes USSD, WhatsApp, Web and Mobile App and is available on Google Play Store, Huawei App Gallery and iOS stores.  Since its launch, Letshego’s ‘Digital Mall’ platform continues to be enhanced and evolved in capacity, function, capabilities, product choice and ease in user experience.

Monkgogi Mogorosi, Letshego Group Head of Digital Mall comments, “The pandemic served to fast-track the digitisation of our customer touch points to ensure our customers could still access our services and support without traveling to a branch. It helped our customers appreciate the power of using digital to access products and services. Artificial intelligence, robotics and data help us to deliver end-to-end zero touch processing for the majority of our financial services. The Mall can be considered a central catalyst or nucleus in the Group’s digitalisation strategy, where customer interfaces, systems, processes, tracking and operations will achieve seamless integration and functionality.”

Product diversification boosting customer choice and social impact

Letshego’s expansion in product choice includes the addition of standard financial services such as savings and payments, as well as inclusive concepts in product innovation such as ‘Crowd Saving’, ‘Affordable Housing’ and ‘Instant Loans’.

“Our ‘Crowd Saving’ solution aligns with the new age concept of “crowd funding” and enables our customers to set their savings target in the LetsGo Digital Mall, and then invite family and friends to contribute or donate funds electronically. It’s a social tool that promotes networking while also encouraging the merits of saving, an important aspect of savvy financial management,” – Group Chief Products Officer, Chipiliro Katundu

“The vision for the LetsGo Digital Mall is a world-class platform providing a one-stop-shop for solutions to meet our customers’ personal and business needs. Letshego is leveraging partnerships with leading global fintechs to expand our product and service offerings and deliver sustainable value. The Mall is an easy to access, user-friendly and exciting virtual platform that is powered by robotics and data analytics to provide tailer-made financial and non-financial solutions to our regional communities. It has multiple entry points to cater for different customer segments and needs, with innovative offerings and partner services added on a continuous basis. The future is Digital….. LetsGo to the Mall!” – Head of Digital Mall, Monkgogi Mogorosi

Lack of housing remains a national challenge for many countries across sub Saharan Africa, with more than half of Africa’s rural communities estimated to be living in informal structures often threatened by extreme weather conditions. Letshego’s commitment to improving lives by leveraging its offering and commercial capabilities led to its most recent flagship product launch: Affordable Housing.

In recognising the growing gap in accessing mortgages and housing finance, especially for those who are self-employed, Letshego’s Affordable Housing serves to extend the reach of solutions that bring, security, and a healthy home environment. The housing solution offers customers a variety of options that include accessing finance for acquisition of land and a home, or accessing capital to renovate existing homes and residential structures.

“Letshego’s Affordable Housing goes a step further by empowering and recommending a network of local suppliers, artisans, builders, electricians and plumbers. The objective is to build a sustainable ecosystem that not only supports our customers, but also promotes local economic development through the inclusion of accredited suppliers and building contractors,” added Katundu.

“

As we strive to become a digital-first organisation, our talent and skills base requires upskilling in digital and specialist skills to support the Group’s ongoing transformation. By providing easy access to internationally recognised curricula across a multitude of relevant topics, we can empower and train more of our people, wherever they may be located across our pan-Africa footprint.” – Group Chief People & Culture Officer, Kamogelo Chiusiwa

Finally, Letshego’s Instant Loan is simply that, “instant access to cash.” With a few taps on their

can have short-term cash loans deposited directly into their mobile wallets. Supported through effective partnerships with local

operators,

can access smaller loans to bridge short-term cashflows, supporting daily or weekly cashflow needs, all while building their own formal credit record

future access to capital. Traders and small business owners active in growing informal sectors often struggle to establish credit references and access capital easily; Letshego’s Instant Loans serve to bridge this gap.

Empowering a people-first culture to support digital age demands

Over 97% of Letshego’s employees have registered and participated on the Group’s Digital Learning platform. In partnership with Coursera, an external digital learning provider, Letshego has provided access to over 4,500 accredited course curricula from internationally recognised universities, colleges and educational institutions. The Group remains passionate about empowering its people, wherever they may be located, and building tomorrow’s people, today.

Recognising the increasing demand by companies to hire digital skills across the region, Letshego has also taken the initiative to help increase the availability of specialist skills within its markets by supporting digital and entrepreneurial skills development.

Botswana was the first market to launch the Digital Mastery Programme, where Letshego partnered with an external consultant to conduct a thorough search for local, digital and tech savvy candidates. Only 14 out of 1200 enthusiastic applicants managed to navigate and pass the arduous 4 stage interview process, and have now embarked on their 18 month development journey. The Digital Mastery Programme will see associates graduate through a series of interactive and practical on-the-job learning experiences across Letshego’s operations. This is in addition to opportunities to support digital innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems through learning workshops.

LESOTHO

ESWATINI

NAMIBIA BOTSWANA

TANZANIA

MOZAMBIQUE

KENYA UGANDA Rwanda

mobile phone, customers

mobile

Letshego customers

to support

Letshego’s CEO for Botswana, Fergus Ferguson

“

“Digital technology is not only enabling Letshego to strengthen its risk mitigation processes and improve the quality of our portfolios, but also unlock value for our customers with additional rewards and better access to credit for those who manage their financial assets responsibly. This is truly empowering as it enables more individuals to participate in the formal economy, and gain access to more complex financial options to support income generation, and ultimately improve more lives.” –

Group Chief Risk Officer, Richard Ochieng

Practical and on-the-job learning is an important hallmark of the programme. We have further enhanced our Digital Mastery Programme by sponsoring basic living expenses for the final 14 Associates, allowing them to focus on the programme and not have to worry about a source of income over the 18 month period. With Letshego’s regional operations, our Digital Associates gain first-hand experience from Letshego’s operations as well as interaction with international partners, boosting future career prospects,” comments Kamogelo Chiusiwa, Group Chief People & Culture Officer.

Leadership and Executive Training are further enhanced through international programmes offered by recognised institutions, including the Gordon Institute of Business Science and McKinsey’s Black Academy, both offering global networks of professional students who gain world-class leadership and professional skills tuition.

Innovations in governance and risk ensure holistic evolution in business transformation

Letshego’s risk management framework and tools have also benefited from technological innovation, with the automation and digitisation of its treasury and market risk management, credit evaluation and collections platforms.

Deployment of application scorecards and associated API integration with Credit Reference Bureaus provide Letshego with predictive credit decision capabilities that facilitate customers’ ability to access credit on a responsible basis, given the provision of an objective credit risk assessment. Integration with available Government infrastructure and other capabilities such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR) systems are also enabling Letshego to achieve straight-throughprocessing options as well as increasing scalability of business processes, ultimately supporting improved service for Letshego customers. In markets where central credit bureaus may not cover self-employed entrepreneurs, these customers

now have the opportunity to build their own credit records with Letshego’s digitised data and behavioural analysis platforms. Collections platforms now link with a customers’ behavioural score, thereby helping Letshego to deepen its understanding and relationship with customers.

Letshego Botswana, the Group’s commercial subsidiary, leverages regional research and innovation for the benefit of Batswana

100% of Letshego Botswana’s employees are Batswana, and responsible for leading and delivering Letshego’s solutions, support and products to customers across a mix of digital and physical channels.

Leading Letshego’s country and local investment strategy, Fergus Ferguson, Letshego’s CEO for Botswana, summarised the subsidiary’s focus on impact financing: “Our commitment to inclusive finance and achieving a marked impact in the lives of fellow Batswana informs and guides our structure, approach and delivery of financial solutions in Botswana. Recent product launches include Affordable Housing where customers can buy a house or renovate their existing home, irrespective of their location. Small business owners can access Purchase Order Financing to meet the cashflow demands that come with qualifying for larger tenders thereby increasing income potential. Individual customers can now access lifestyle solutions, like Wellbeing and ‘Mosako’ funeral cover.”

With the Group’s progress towards achieving its target operating model, and its increasing capacity in the acquisition, tracking and assimilation of data and statistics across its business, Letshego expects to continue to innovate its thinking and approach well beyond its 5 year plan.

Vunani Fund Managers

HOW VUNANI HAS HARNESSED INNOVATION TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE

For investment related management services, innovation helps broaden customer service delivery. As an asset management firm, we need to stay ahead of the curve, in order to be able to deliver our products for the diverse clientele base we deal with on a daily basis.

For that reason, we have been relentless in our pursuit and adoption of innovative ways to do business. When senior executives at Vunani recruit new members of staff, a key component they are always looking for is an ability among candidates to think outside the box. Candidates who stand a better chance of being chosen are those that demonstrate an ability and willingness to solve problems swiftly, less expensively and better.

Employees are always encouraged to point out where we can improve our operations through fintech solutions. Critical to the way executive management engage staff is the ability to innovate.

We are a proudly Pan-African financial and diversified investment management company, active in nine African countries. We are fully committed to our promise of nurturing an integrated range of innovative products and services, in order to deliver positive, consistent return for our clients. This is premised on our value proposition of catalyzing a fruitful harvest for our clients, in line with their financial objectives, appetite and scale. We are Vunani Fund Manager (Pty) Ltd (“Vunani”)

It has now become almost a cliché that companies that are slow to embrace innovation lose their market share and ultimately die. At Vunani Fund Managers, we have long appreciated the importance of innovation in our sector.

Technological changes have created big shifts across the globe, that have led to tremendous benefits to humanity. Companies that have moved swiftly to adopt technological changes have gained the rewards from upcoming young market that is technological savvy.

The last few years have shown that customers walking into offices has significantly dropped, as more customers prefer end to end service from the comfort of their offices or at home. The pandemic also provided an opportunity for us to deliver through innovation without interruption to our commitment to clients.

In our sector of operation, Vunani has the largest individual retail customer base in Botswana. As such, we feel the need to serve these customers as seamlessly as possible, by making sure that engagement with our clients can be done remotely in order to service our clientele base across the country.

As the leading unit trusts manager, Vunani remains committed to delivering performance, while adhering to the highest ethical industry standards.

Plot 70667, Fairscape Precinct, 6th floor, Fairground Office Park, Gaborone, Botswana

Tel: +267 391 0310 +267 391 0311

Email: investorinfo@vunanifm.co.bw vunanifm.co.bw

CHAPTER SEVEN EDU-TECH

BOTSWANA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (BIUST)

EMBRACING BOTSWANA’S TRANSFORMATION TO KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY

The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) is a research-intensive University and the only specialised University in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM). It aims to increase:

Competitiveness; Economic growth and sustainable development; The number of skilled scientists and technologists;

Movement of skilled people across national boundaries;

Demand for access to tertiary education; Stimulation of research, innovation and technology transfer and society’s aspirations; and

To be a more competitive and innovative tertiary education sector.

The mission of BIUST is to produce world-class research and innovation in science, engineering and technology contributing to industry growth and development and advancement of a diversified knowledge-based economy.

The Strategic Plan is entitled a Catalyst for Innovation and Transformation to buttress establishment of BIUST and it is centred on the University developing a strong academic value chain comprising three key elements:

Teaching and Learning; Research and Innovation; and Engagement for Development.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

The reconfigured University’s learning programmes produce market relevant graduates; these  include Financial Mathematics, Mechatronics, Actuarial Sciences, Forensic Sciences, Cyber Security and Biotechnological Sciences amongst others;

48 percent of our graduates are employed within six months after graduation;

The University has upgraded all its learning programmes from Bachelors to include Honours Degree qualifications making our graduates more attractive to the global community;

The academic curricula for the undergraduate programmes cover courses that equip students with business management, entrepreneurship and other soft skills

needed for them to be well- rounded STEM graduates, a differentiating factor to brand the BIUST graduate;

The University Library is pioneering a Presidential Collection as an incubation of the Presidential Collection concept, and this is the first of its kind in the country;

The BIUST Academic Staff members are PhD holders, with a track record of research, varied professional experiences and are renowned nationally or internationally as practitioners in a specific field or have made impactful contributions to their domains of expertise; and

BIUST is appointed a National Coordinator for the African Very-long based interferometer Network (AVN) project of Square Kilometer Array (SKA). It is housing facilities that will be used to develop the capacity to operate and maintain an antenna for the telescope. BIUST is also hosting the SADC Satellite Receiver to enhance Botswana’s Geo-Information System through Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa (MESA) project.

COMMERCIAL ATTRACTIVENESS

Using the pyrolysis plant, the Chemical Engineering Department has completed the Coal-to-Liquid Conversion project to turn coal into oil, tar, and soap products, using local materials;

BIUST has received external research funding from the following institutions: Debswana; Botswana Defence Force; Simons Foundations; Botswana Innovation Hub; NEED Project; Innovate UK; Horizon 2020; Future Leaders; Global Challenges Research Fund; and Connect4, European Commission, the O.R Tambo Research Chair Initiative (ORTAChI) and UNESCO Chair on Advanced Manufacturing aimed at promoting international inter-university cooperation and networking;

BIUST has sophisticated research equipment that is currently used mainly by the University for teaching and learning, research and for commercial gain;

One of the landmark research projects is the kickstart of the BOTS SAT 1 (Satellite);

The re-engineering of Drones for Health initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Health, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other international corporations such as AVY of Netherlands;

High Quality Fly-Ash and Slag Bricks research has been completed and ready for investor’s uptake, this product is using locally available raw materials. The Fly-ash and slag brick as an eco-friendly brick made from by-products currently treated by the mining industry. Compared to the conventional brick, it has superior strength and meets the national quality standards;

Smart Hard Hat - The current hard hats used in Botswana do not incorporate biometric sensors as a safety measure. Currently, there are no locally designed and manufactured hard hats to feed the mining and construction industries hence consumption is fully fed from imports;

Poultry Litter Pyrolysis Plant - Poultry Litter is a waste product that needs to be properly disposed in accordance with best practice. In the absence of a safe sustainable solution, we have a Poultry Litter Pyrolysis plant that will unlock the value of PL as a resource for our customers, converting it into valuable products (a) Biochar, (b) Biofuel Oil, and (c) Electricity for local consumption;

Production of Sodium Hypochlorite CLHOR Alkali Process - Botswana is rich with exploitable natural resources among them salt deposits produced from the BOTASH’s operations, the largest producer of natural sodium products in Africa producing about 650 000 tonnes per annum. The salt produced contains about 98-99% Sodium Chloride (NaCl) through an electrolysis or chlor-alkali process to obtain sodium hypochlorite and by-products; Chlorine, Hydrogen and Sodium hydroxide. Sodium hypochlorite, is used for the production of cleaning detergents, manufacturing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), water treatment and as a disinfectant of medical equipment;

Off-Grid Secured Smart House - In industry, there is a desire for cost efficiency in the use of electricity. Existing smart home/building systems can provide monitoring, automation, and control of electrical appliances in a building. However, these systems lack an independent power supply, security and access control measures for sockets and switches which leaves them vulnerable to misuse, leading to electricity wastage or damage to electrical appliances and property; and

Antimicrobial Toilet Seat Mat - Antibiotic resistance is becoming a rundown of global health crisis due to rapid development of resistance to current antimicrobial drugs among them Acinetobacter genus and Staphylococcus aureus. Rest rooms, particularly public toilets mostly harbour pathogenic microbes because of high usage and ineffective cleaning. To address this concern, this project is aimed at synthesising an anti-microbial toilet seat mat to replace conventional disinfection.

SOCIAL RELEVANCE

Outreach and Engagement services take the University to the people and bring the people to the University. The following are some of the University achievements:

a) So far, the University trained and graduated: 185 Youth Development Fund Beneficiaries in entrepreneurship to support their business initiatives; 489 Mathematics and Science Teachers both primary and secondary in a Problem- Based Approach to teaching STEM subjects.

b) The University has established PreUniversity Academic Programmes to promote Social Responsibility. Some of the active initiatives are:

BIUST circuses programme is a collection of themed science and mathematics demonstrations presented in a fascinating and yet very educational manner to increase concentration, absorption and retention, currently 142,000 students have gone through the programme;

BIUST STEM festival is about celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics achievements by showcasing products and or intellectual concepts/ideas to motivate participants to develop more interest in STEM; BIUST’s schools’ visitation programme gives primary and secondary school learners an opportunity to talk to academic experts (lecturers and technicians) on the subjects of the learners’ interests or subjects deemed difficult;

Inquiry Based Science Education project introduces learners to the key elements which are used in scientific research much early in life, such as observation, experimentation, asking questions, making hypothesis, designing investigations, mainly to improve learners’ performance; BIUST student mentorship outreach programme involves BIUST engineering students working with pre-tertiary learners of Lotsane Senior Secondary School. The programme seeks to work on the students’ attitude and help them with good understanding of the subjects through motivational talks and tutoring by their peers who are at university level. BIUST Engineering Students Association (BESA) members provide tutorials to the students at specified times, particularly on weekends and holidays;

BIUST video conferencing STEM support programme with secondary schools whereby BIUST lecturers connect with the school to explain some concepts; Botswana Scholars programme involves BIUST postgraduate tutor recruitment and selection; training in teaching and learning facilitated by BWScholars and AccessEd; placement of tutors in local government schools to work with underserved young people to increase insights and progression to University, develop transferrable learning skills and provide professional development opportunities for  post graduate students;

Entrepreneurship programme for youth job shadowing and mentorship program aims at developing the following problem solving, Analytical skills, Critical Synthesis skills; and Girls excelling in Mathematics and Science (GEMS) programme: Six remote area senior secondary schools were identified for the GEMS mentorship programme. They include Matsha, Mahupu Unified, Tsabong Unified, Shakawe and Maun. Its objective is to foster a STEM focused pre-university candidate.

CONCLUSION

BIUST has positioned itself to be one of the key drivers for transforming Botswana’s economy from a resource-based to a knowledge-driven economy. Not only is the country now able to produce its own scientists and engineers, BIUST has also developed a strong academic value chain comprising of teaching & learning, research & innovation, and engagement for development.se

Botswana Accountancy College

The Botswana Business School

Futuristic Strategic Focus

The institution celebrated twenty-five years of transforming lives through a variety of activities including profiling some stakeholders to demonstrate the goodwill built over the years. A new Strategic Plan for 2022 – 20227 was developed and it creates a platform to propel the institution into another chapter of twenty-five more years and beyond.

The key five strategic pillars focus on Teaching and Learning, Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, Transition to University Status and Internationalization, Asset Mobilization and Optimization and Student and Staff Experience

The strategy essence is premised on broadening & deepening academic, continuous professional development, consultancy and leadership training programs, expanding geographic reach, and optimizing infrastructure to create a world class teaching and learning experience.

• The transitioning to university status broadens the portfolio of programme offerings.

• The expansion into Africa accelerates our internationalisation.

• Investments in infrastructure and digitalisation drive efficiencies, promotes access, improves seamless customer service and creates a world-class teaching and learning environment that meets the needs of our customer, staff, and the market.

Vision

The university of choice for business sciences in Africa and beyond.

Mission

To transform lives in Africa and beyond and develop leaders who make a difference in their businesses and communities. We do this through excellence and innovation in teaching, research and scholarly practice

Our values are the general guiding principles that will govern how we do business and how we engage various stakeholders locally, regionally and internationally.

Accountability

Collaboration

Excellence

Innovation

Integrity

We accept, own and and complete our duties within authority and on time. We honor our commitments and take responsibility for our actions.

We work in partnership with others to create, produce and grow. We believe in the power of teamwork to produce greater results.

We strive to excel in every aspect of our work and deliver the highest quality services to our customers and stakeholders.

We strive to find creative yet practical ways to transform, solve problems and effect impactful change.

Through our actions and words, we uphold high ethical and professional conduct in our engagements.

Embracing the New Economy through Innovation

Entrepreneurship and innovation have become important conversations the world over. As humanity evolves and economies grow, it is imperative that these two have been at the centre of providing solutions to advancement of humanity and productivity. Various technological advancements have been a catalyst for developments in both entrepreneurship and innovation; and collaboration between innovators and entrepreneurs has resulted in big investments and delivery of life changing solutions.

With growing challenges posed by the continuous changes of various economies worldwide, unemployment has become

a worldwide pandemic. Advancements in technology have also impacted in the required skills across various industries which have resulted in underemployment in some instances. The growth in artificial intelligence and robotics have also resulted in the extinction of some professions and the question that continues is what professions are safe?

But even with these threats to livelihoods, it is important for all to upskill regardless of the industry. Upskilling allows various professionals to possess the relevant and required skills to be productive in the current environment. With that said, academic institutions or institutions of higher learning are critical in the transition of various professionals.

Botswana Accountancy College (BAC) prides itself in producing market ready and industry relevant graduates with local and international exposure. The institution achieves this through local and international partnerships and continuous industry engagement to ensure the curriculum meets industry needs.

Although the name suggests that it’s an “Accountancy” institution, the College has evolved over its 25 years of existence to become the Botswana Business School offering programmes in business, management, ICT, and hospitality at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. With this dynamic programme portfolio, the institution has made significant contributions to the local and international economies.

Key Highlights on Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship

1. Acceleration and embracing technology as an enabler

• Learning tools

To prepare students for the future of digital technology and information, the College created students’ laptops and tablets scheme to empower them to learn at their full potential and prepare them for the real world. Laptops and tablets facilitate students to think critically by stimulating analytical thinking. These devices allowed students to work from anywhere and anytime to access e-learning resources, library materials, research on install applications that would enhance learning and innovation. Students are also allocated Data Sim Cards to connect to the internet.

• Embracing virtual platforms to drive efficiency and productivity

When working from home was introduced, employees were provided with laptops and data sim-cards for business continuity and shift working schedules were established to cater for social distancing within the work environment. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) was promoted to allow users to access BAC servers/services from home. The ICT Department also introduced application virtualization platform (parallels) to optimize connection between client laptops and BAC servers on applications that did not respond well to VPN.

Microsoft Teams was also promoted allowing BAC staff to hold virtual meetings, chats and collaborate on documents. This allowed the BAC community to slowly migrate their files and workloads to Cloud storages including Microsoft teams, OneDrive for business and SharePoint. The Zoom platform was mostly used for webinars and virtual conferences.

An online application platform called Thito Academics was developed internally and

introduced to enable students to submit their applications online through which more than 90% of the 2020/2021 academic year student applications were processed.

Another application was also developed and introduced inhouse by a team of students led by one of the BAC lecturers is the Grade Book which allows students to register for classes at the beginning of the semester. Other features of the platform include capturing of students marks for course work assignments and projects.

• Online Learning Programs

The launch of the Online Learning platform for professional programmes was a great breakthrough for the institution. It was launched in 2019 in Botswana and in 2020 in Eswatini. The programs offered include the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

The platform runs in partnership with International Business Training College (IBTC), and the content of the learning material is provided and underpinned by the renowned globally recognised content producers for accounting and finance qualifications, BPP Holdings Education Company.

It provides students with the with a convenient, flexible, and affordable solution to learn either online or offline at a time suitable for them. Students have access to study materials, an online tutor and can participate in group lessons. Students can also schedule tests, assessments and even examinations when ready making it more flexible for learning.

2. Adoption of innovative solutions to enhance student learning experience

To support innovation and entrepreneurship, BAC set up an incubation in partnership with the University of Sunderland where lecturers support students with the creative ideas to convert them into solutions for

enables Council Officials to register and apply for licenses to become waste carriers and to also renew those licences; meaning that Batswana business owners no longer need to travel to cities to apply for a licence to carry waste. It will also reduce fraudulent registrations and other out of line activities.

1. Collaborative Partnerships to support innovative solutions

• Huawei – BAC Partnership

businesses and the community. The students in the Francistown Campus continue to be innovative.

Through a collaboration between the students and the School of Computing and Information Systems lecturer, a smart visitor registration application called Baeng, was developed to use for contactless registration of visitors at all entry points on our campuses. The application can be customized and developed further to add other functions to enhance operations of the business.

The Application is available on the App Store, students and staff were requested to use their browsers to search for www.baeng.online for self-service registration. For self-registration to get a QR code which was then scanned at all entry points for ease of registration and recording of temperatures. Through the introduction of this App, the screening time at our campuses entry points significantly reduced and this

assisted in capturing information about all our campus visitors. The App is scalable, customisable and can provide data analytics reports on usage, category of visitors and many other functionalities which can be integrated with other systems.

A team of Francistown and Gaborone campus computing students won a hackathon competition held during the Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) festival hosted by Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST). They developed an application to combat genderbased violence that can send alerts to security officials in case someone is in danger.

Some computing students from the Francistown campus developed an Online Licencing System for Waste Carriers for the Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control DWMPC. This system

•

A new partnership and key milestone between Huawei Technologies International and Botswana Accountancy College was forged for a joint ICT Academy. The Minister of Education and Skills Development Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe officially opened the Huawei Lab. The lab is designed to capacitate students with technical ICT skills to use engineering and technology to be creative and to develop solutions for the industry and society. This will result in a significant contribution towards advancement of knowledge and skills in technology that can provide solutions for the industry and such training will be done through the Huawei Academy. It is provided to support requisite qualifications for network engineers and other IT professionals.

Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub & Microsoft

Microsoft App Factory BAC has collaborated with Microsoft PTY Ltd as a technical partner. It extended its collaboration to the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH) and Microsoft Africa PTY Ltd resulting in joint work for the development of App Factory Projects to promote technological and innovative skills.

Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BIH) for innovation funding and start-up acceleration, where students are linked with industry partners and challenged to provide ICT solutions to address industry problems.

The projects facilitated under the App Factory initiatives are done in partnership with industry for co-creation and co-production.

This programme was conducted in collaboration with Microsoft Africa and Botswana Digital Innovation Hub (BDIH). Approximately fifty-three (53) students were linked with five (5) industry partners and challenged to provide them with ICT solutions. The programme is run over a six-month period where students are given an opportunity to come up with solutions for the industry. The four (4) solutions have reached the prototype stage and will be taken to market once ready.

• Investment Battlefield

BAC Student Investment Battlefield Start-Up Competition in Partnership with Botswana Investment & Trade Centre (BITC). The objective of the competition is to promote the spirit of

entrepreneurship amongst BAC students to address graduate and youth unemployment through nurturing and supporting entrepreneurship and innovation. To date nine students have benefitted from this initiative and are at different stages of implementation of their start-up businesses.

2. Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Ministry of Youth and Economic Empowerment (MYSC)

The training of Youth Fund recipients of the North on introductory business management, customer service, leadership, record keeping, cost management, financial report, employee relations and many others to impart skills for them to confidently run their start-up businesses and grow them into sustainable ventures.

Annual Golf Day

One of the new ways to raise funds for the CSR initiatives includes introduction of the Annual Golf Day which provides networking opportunities for BAC Alumni and stakeholders. To date the tournament has attracted many players and sponsors and the funds have been used to support the Adopted Schools’ teaching and learning initiatives, youth empowerment seminars and ICT Literacy for teachers at the schools. The schools are also assisted with computer maintenance and networking solutions for computers that were contributed by BAC by computing students and ICT technicians.

LION TUTORING

WHAT REALLY SETS US APART FROM OUR COMPETITION IS THE WAY THAT WE HAVE MERGED TECHNOLOGY WITH OUR ALREADY EXISTING SERVICES

Starting off as just a tutoring company, as time went on we merged our tutorials together with technology, together with the 4th industrial revolution we are the first company in Botswana to work as uber for tutors. We are basically matching tutors and students across Botswana, South Africa and soon we will be going to Accra, Ghana. What really sets us apart is our ability to merge technology with our already existing companies.

The way the Lion Tutoring app works is we load tutors onto our platform and if a client would like to secure a tutor, they simply log into our platform, where the app will find their location. The client then punches in the subjects they want and then from there the app will show the available already vetted tutors in their location.

Thobo Khathola, Managing Director

That is another thing that sets us apart, our tutors are vetted; meaning we have done background checks with our HR partners: PNET and dots360 in South Africa and Career Pool in Botswana.

Ours is a love story about Botswana, we really like to brand Botswana as a technology destination, as a group of young people who are really embracing technology and the 4th industrial revolution.

The company was founded in the year 2015, by Thobo Khathola and it was really to address the issue of our very high failure rate and also high unemployment rate. Lion Tutoring has a 96% pass rate from the last year’s 2018-2019 results. We also employ more than 300 young Batswana and are currently hiring 20 South Africans.

Our company was founded with the mandate of addressing those two problems, high unemployment rates and high failure rates. We provide private tutoring services to students from primary and pre primary school all the way to university, undergraduate and post graduate. We also offer tutorials for different curriculum; there is IGCSE, BGCSE, A-LEVELS, Cambridge primary checkpoint, IEB and IB and offer these private tutorial services through the help of our app.

We are the best at what we offer because it takes a very short period of time; which is a day for us to match a tutor to the right student and also have tutors who are teachers, so we normally recruit teachers to be our tutors holding PGDE, bachelors and masters in education.

Our other strength is our App, we are the first company who is operating an uber for tutors in Botswana, and the thing that makes us the best at what we do is our credibility: our clients are very comfortable and very

confident in our services which is what makes our brand stick out from the rest.

Lion Tutoring won three awards in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and were named the Best Youth Owned Business in Botswana; at The Botswana Youth Awards and The Palapye Business Awards. Our biggest achievement is that we made it into the Forbes 30 under 30 listing for the year 2020. Mr. Thobo was listed on the Forbes 30 under 30 list of 2020 and also appeared on the cover of the April Forbes Africa magazine, thus being the first Batswana actually to be on the cover of Forbes 30 under 30 magazine. Mr. Thobo was also listed in the Botswana Stock Exchange’s First Publication as one of the Top Youth Entrepreneurs to look out for and The Botswana Youth Mag listed Mr. Thobo as the Top 30 Most influential Youth in Botswana

The company is based in Botswana with Branches in Gaborone, Phakalane, Palapye and Francistown. They also operate in South Africa; Rustenburg and Johannesburg. Lion Tutoring is looking to take advantage of the 4th Industrial revolution by engaging a worldwide audience through their e-commerce platform and Mobile Application. The Lion Tutoring APP works like UBER but for tutors, and has started gaining tractions from the international markets. Our biggest project is that we are expanding into Africa, we already have an office in Sandton and students all around South Africa and will be branching out to Accra, Ghana.

We have a number of testimonials, for example we have tutored students through the aid of the FNB foundation at Mogoditshane primary school, where the students’ pass rate was increased by a good 10% over a period of only two months. Another testimonial will be the University of Botswana and Botswana Accountancy College (BAC), where we had been invited as guest lecturers for their entrepreneurial courses.

The company’s vision for the future is to concentrate on the African market and by 2025 should be a company that is in all the cities of Africa. By 2030 we would like to see ourselves available to the whole of the world, already we have students who are doing online tutoring as far as Canada and Australia - that is our vision for the future.

Tel: +267 7196 4536 +27 010 800 1957

Email: Tkhathola@liontutoringinternational.com

NINETEEN21

UNORTHODOX THINKING

Established in 2019, Nineteen21 is an innovative subscription business that presents savings and rewards solutions across a number of tiers. The company initially sought out to find a solution for college and varsity students to save money and maximise on the value of their limited monthly allowances. The company built smart partnerships with a number of vendors and service providers across various sectors. The target was to acquire at least 20% of the Botswana tertiary student market or 18 – 25 year-old segment. This led to the development of the Student Lifestyle Plus Discount Card. Students would subscribe to this card from as little as P50 per month and save up to 10 times the value of their monthly subscriptions on average.

The popularity of the student subscription model grew steadily until it was thrown off track by the COVID-19 curveball. Limited movement and trade restriction meant that Nineteen21 could not conduct the typically event based and interactive activation strategies it had planned. The Nineteen21 team put their heads together at the height of the pandemic to develop an alternative product that would generate revenue while schools were closed and movement restricted.

This led to the birth of their Staff Rewards and Union membership programme which was sold as a Staff Welfare product to corporates and medium scale businesses. Nineteen21 provided customized Rewards cards for their corporate and union clients and extended the discounts already offered by existing vendors in the student tier. The company negotiated further discounts and signed vendor agreements with more relevant stakeholders to satisfy the needs of the working-class segment.

This gave birth to an ecosystem that consists of over 20 vendors and corporate partners servicing a network of 10,000 subscribers in just 18 months of operation. The vendors enjoy increased sales, patronage and a direct marketing channel while the subscribers are able to put money back in their pockets through accumulated rewards and discounts daily.

In managing the efficiency of their ecosystem, the team at Nineteen21 realized that they have inadvertently created a unique, multi-touchpoint marketing channel for their vendors. On realizing this the company launched their marketing arm called 21Marketing. All

vendors in the Nineteen21 ecosystem get to enjoy direct advertising and messaging to the existing and growing subscriber base. This gave rise to a demand in marketing, advertising and communications services tailored to the privileged members of the ecosystem. 21Marketing is a separate and independent division of the company and now services clients both within and outside the company’s vendor network.

Nineteen21 is now experiencing exponential growth through its groundbreaking ad campaigns and talent for formulating unique and mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with a number of big corporates in Botswana. Nineteen21 presents a unique sales strategy that is unconventional but works.

When asked about the company’s long-term goals, the company CEO Nkosi Mwaba said, “We have a highly adaptive business model and strategy, we are agile and move quickly to maintain relevance and stay ahead of the curve. One of our objectives is to become the largest and most efficient savings and rewards ecosystem in Botswana, this network will become a high impact market place for those who wish to participate, we will have a direct, significant and positive impact on our member’s bottom line.

Every business trading in our space will want to be a part of what we have created in the next two years. Our goal is to achieve 100,000 subscribers within 24 months”.

Nkosi Mwaba, CEO

Mpho Kgosi, Chief Operations Officer

CHAPTER

EIGHT

TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS

BOTSWANA COMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY (BOCRA) PROMOTES ACCESS

AND USAGE OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES

FOR INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION.

BRIEF BACKGROUND

Botswana’s rags to riches economic success story is often compared to that of countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore. A former British protectorate, Botswana was poor by all standards when it got its independence. By the early to mid 80s, the country’s mineral resource was clearly changing the course of the country. A country with a strong democratic culture and values, the country managed to escape the socalled mineral curse where countries with considerable mineral wealth were often embroiled in conflicts and wars.

Fast forward to early 2000, the African region was battling the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and Botswana was one of the most negatively affected. By 2015, the United Nations Development Programme ranked Botswana 3rd in the Sub-Saharan Africa for its Human Development Index. This was a significant achievement given the challenges the country has had to face. During this period, Botswana enjoyed a strong economy, however, the country faced another challenge – overdependence on its staple industries of tourism, mineral extraction, and agriculture.

The country’s lauded success had not translated to reduced poverty and inequality or excessive dependence on Government to create employment. Landlocked, Botswana depended on its neighbours for information communication technologies (ICTs) especially broadband internet, and this was prohibitively expensive. Faced with these choices, Botswana decided to invest its wealth on science and technology to leverage sustainable economic growth and employment creation.

To achieve this, the country invested heavily in developing a robust ICT backbone infrastructure from Europe, traversing West Africa through to East Africa, all the way to Asia. This infrastructure would connect Botswana to access the global economies - from the established European economies to the rising Asian economies. However, the country’s efforts to move from its ‘economic’ comfort zone were sluggish, and so, efforts to spread information communication technologies were fragmented, and the results, not very promising. What the country needed was an impetus that could ‘intentionalize’ all these aspirations. Enter the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) and the Universal Access and Service Fund (UASF).

BOTSWANA

COMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY

AUTHORITY (BOCRA)

The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA/the Authority) was established by Act of Parliament, the Communications Regulatory Authority Act (CRA, 2012) to regulate the communications sector in Botswana. Our principal mandate is to further and protect the interests of consumers in relation to price, quality and safety of communications services, and to further the interests of citizens and businesses in relevant markets, where appropriate, by promoting competition.

To date, the UASF has focused its intervention on providing communication services to underserved and unserved communities around the country.

In collaboration with BOCRA, the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), the Ministry of Basic Education (MoBE), the UASF has financed the Schools Connectivity and Computerization programmebringing highspeed broadband internet and installation of ICTs to primary schools in rural and remote locations. In 2019, this partnership saw 68 schools in the rural and remote parts of the Kgalagadi, Mabutsane and Ghanzi regions benefit from the scheme. So successful was this project that Botswana has received recognition and accolades from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO) and benchmarking visits for innovative use of funding to democratize ICTs and contribute to employment creation.

Recently, this funding has been extended to the broadcasting sector where communities that have not had access to private broadcasters signal coverage are now able to enjoy broadcasting programmes due to development of infrastructure that allows these broadcasters to extend their signals to these regions.

Building on the achievements of Vision 2016, Botswana’s national vision aims to move Botswana’s economy to a higher income earner by 2036. To achieve this, Botswana recognizes that information communications technologies (ICTs) can lead to transformation and innovation of the economy. Yet, connectivity by itself is not enough. How do we create a culture of inclusive innovation and digital transformation?

The BOCRA Strategy (2019-2024) puts emphasis on infrastructure development, investment in services and applications, innovation and inclusive access to information and communication technologies. Yet, competition by itself is not enough as evidenced by the fact that profit making enterprises would not necessarily provide service to certain parts of the country that are considered non-profitable. To ensure that ICTs were made widely available to Batswana, BOCRA put together a special purpose vehicle that would involve a judicious mix of competition, public and private partnerships and effective regulation to achieve this dream.

UNIVERSAL ACCESS AND SERVICE FUND (UASF)

The CRA Act mandates BOCRA to ensure that all Batswana have access to basic and affordable communications services. By Notarial Deed of Trust, BOCRA established the Universal Access and Service Fund (UASF) to use levies imposed on proceeds from licensed communications services providers to operate a fund whose mandate is to extend to connectivity, computers and ICTs, and expansion of voice coverage for private broadcasters to unserved and underserviced areas within Botswana.

The UASF has extended its sponsorship to extend private FM radio broadcasting signals to areas that have hitherto only received broadcasting from the state broadcaster, Radio Botswana and its commercial arm, RB2. Under this programme, villages such as Hukuntsi, Takatokwane, Malwelwe and others now have access to private broadcaster services.

So far, the Botswana success story has come across some challenges but has been well on its way. The COVID19 pandemic challenges the dream of a digital Botswana that we have envisaged. As the deficiencies and inequalities get clearer, this situation challenges and reframes what we had planned, and requires us as a nation to re-think, and re-imagine what it means to use ICTs to drive an inclusive, innovative digital society.

As we reflect on our past achievements over the years, we are confident that the shared vision of a digitally connected nation can still become a reality.

BOTSWANA COMMUNICATIONS

REGULATORY AUTHORITY (BOCRA)

Plot 50671 Independence Avenue Gaborone, Botswana

Tel: +267 395 7755

Email: info@bocra.org.bw

BTAbw bocrabw

BOCRA Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) bocra_bw bocra.org.bw

JB-TECH SMARTPHONES

JB-TECH IS A BOTSWANA SMARTPHONE BRAND. A SMARTPHONE IS A DEVICE THAT BATSWANA AND AFRICANS CAN ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH. JB-TECH WAS FOUNDED BY JERRY BOITSHOKO AFTER A REALIZATION THAT FOR AGES WE HAVE BEEN RELYING ON SMARTPHONE BRANDS THAT ARE FOREIGN OWNED.

After all a smartphone is a necessity in our current times; our everyday lives revolve around it. It is beyond communication.

We produce the Jb-Tech smartphone. For now we have only a single model that we have rolled out to the market. It is also available for purchase on our online store for easier transactions with clients all over the world and in keeping up with the times we do have various methods of payment, including crypto currency. Online it is available for sale in American Dollars as it is the standard form of payment worldwide.

Our online store is www.jb-tech.xyz

It can also be downloaded on the app store by following the link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jbtech.jbtechofficial

Although we are still taking baby steps, our desire is to be at par with Apple and Samsung as they are our competition. We have risen to the challenge of offering a competitive product in terms of technology, user friendliness, and affordability.

Jb-Tech does not only produce the smartphone brand, it develops mobile applications and softwares that are meant to simplify everyday life challenges.

Our product has been featured on the ‘Focus on Africa’ program on BBC World Radio and we are currently working on exporting our products on a massive scale into Zimbabwe.

Our vision is to have presence in each of the 55 African nations in the coming years. In order to achieve this we are taking on one country at a time. For now our target is not taking on the globe. We only need Africa.

DICHABA GROUP

WHAT STARTED OFF AS A PASSION FOR ASSEMBLING COMPUTERS HAS NOW TURNED INTO A FULLY-FLEDGED COMPANY THAT HAS SOLD ITS DEVICES TO VARIOUS COUNTRIES WITHIN THE CONTINENT

The “Dichaba story” is testament that sometimes dreams take long before they are fulfilled but that if you are passionate and you persevere - your dreams will become your reality. Our tagline for the mobile phone arm of the Group, Ditec Mobile, is “Dream It” because our business is essentially a product of the founder’s dreams.

Ditec Mobile

Ditec Mobile, a subsidiary of the Dichaba Group is the brain-child of Thatayaone Dichaba, a Botswana-native who found his passion for assembling electronics while studying Computer Science at the University of Botswana. After dabbling with software development and network installations, Dichaba would go onto find his footing when he launched Ditec Mobile in 2011. Several years were spent studying the industry, and he would later go on to launch the company (and the nation’s) first mobile phone, Pioneer. The cellphone certainly lived up to its name - as it was sold not only at every other cellphone retail store in Botswana, but was also sold in several countries within the region.

Countries were so receptive to the Pioneer that Ditec went on to design and customise cellphones for various network operators within the region. Some of the major network operators we have worked with include Mozambique’s Mcel and Botswana’s BeMobile (now Botswana Telecommunications Corporation LimitedBTCL).

Ditec’s vision is to bridge Africa’s communication gap by providing affordable mobile devices.

Dichaba, which is directly translated to ‘nations’ in the Setswana dialect lived up to his name and he was able to lead his team into several markets including South Africa, Angola, and Mozambique.

Gone are the days when our focus was just on mobile phones, we have since produced other consumer electronics. We have introduced our own brand of Ditec laptops, desktops, Smart TVs, tablets, refrigerators and routers. Though only launched in 2020, the uptake of our new range of electronics has been nothing short of amazing!

Best known for its excellent and timely aftersales support, Ditec’s thrives to accomplish 100% success rate when it comes to our “wait while we fix your device” policy. The policy is as it sounds; our customers wait while our highly-experienced technicians attend to their devices. Ditec is all about providing unmatched 360° sales experience. For us it is not just about making a sale, it’s about providing our clients with support even after the initial sale. Aftersales support includes getting the devices back to the customer as soon as possible, in optimal working condition.

Di-Apps: Our Mobile Application Store

At Ditec, we don’t believe in a single-story, we want others to share in our success. In 2016 Ditec launched Di-Apps, a mobile application store which comes pre-installed in all our mobile phone devices. The idea behind Di-Apps was to give African application developers an opportunity to publish their work on this platform. By publishing with us, developers not only get much-needed exposure, but this is Ditec’s way of stimulating consumption of African content. We make accessing locally developed content much easier.

Dichaba Consumer Electronics: our Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

In 2020, at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dichaba Group went on to form Dichaba Consumer Electronics (DICE), an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Our state-ofthe-art assembly plant is located at the iconic Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) Science and Technology Park in Gaborone.

Because DICE is an OEM, we produce for various customers, including Ditec and other independent establishments that have their own range of consumer electronics. The electronics are designed and customised to the needs of the client. Some of the electronics produced at our plant include, Ditec laptops, desktops, TV sets and routers. Our main clients include mobile operators and multi-national chain stores.

DICE prides itself in creating opportunities for other innovators, by providing them with the necessary support. Our support includes amongst others - availing working space for other start-up companies. Some of the companies that are housed at our plant include Deaftronics, a multi-award winning company that assembles solar-powered hearing aids. We are not only innovative, but agile.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we tweaked our strategy and started assembling infrared thermometers. There was a global shortage of infrared thermometers and we were not only able to provide a solution to a global challenge, but we were also able to increase our workforce. Being manufactures, our pricing was not only competitive but gave our clients peace of mind by offering thermometers that were certified by our local medicines board.

Recognitions

Ditec has been featured on numerous documentaries and we have won several local awards. We have been recognized for not only being innovative but for being torchbearers, for up-and-coming innovators. As a cutting-edge local company, we have had the opportunity to represent Botswana in numerous trade exhibitions. This not only gave us an opportunity to showcase our products but to position Botswana as an innovative nation. Our business journey is well-documented

and has been featured on BBC, one of the world’s biggest media houses; we have also been covered by several local and regional publications.

Our vision for the future

The GMSA 2020 Report estimates that by the year 2025, 50% of the Sub-Saharan Africa population will have access to their own mobile phone, a 5% jump from the current 45%. These figures clearly state that majority of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa is still unconnected. We don’t just want to be Africa’s go-to mobile phone brand, we want to be the go-to consumer electronics brand. We envision a time where for every one in ten African households, there is a Ditec Smart TV and a Ditec Smart Refrigerator. We want to be a household name. Pun intended!

We don’t want Ditec to be a Botswana success story, we want the whole of Africa to share in our success!

Get in-touch Tel: (+267) 73802820

Emails: info@ditecmobile.com info@dice.co.bw

Ditec

iFirsh

iFIRSH EVOLUTION BACK DATES TO 2015, WHICH WAS A WEBSITE FOR TENDER NOTIFICATION, LATER TRANSFORMED TO AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE BETWEEN SUPPLIERS AND BUYERS. NOW, AN ON-DEMAND QUOTATION PLATFORM.

THE PROBLEM

Productivity: Wasted time by buyers moving physically to brick and mortar establishments in search of quotation bargains.

Exposure: Geographical limitations or not knowing where or who provides such goods, and at what price?

Transparency: There are no monitory tools to track procurement processes. Most companies are left out & corruption is high due to lack of transparency.

Pricing: Inflated prices. Buyers not getting the right competitive price.

Scarce: Analytics Real-time data. No Market insights (tracking commodities, purchasing trends, inflation). No database decision making.

BotswanaPost

LEVERAGES ON INNOVATION TO EVOLVE INTO A ONE-STOP CENTRE

As recently as a decade ago, BotswanaPost appeared to face extinction as the introduction and spread of the Internet, as well as email and mobile phones, threatened its core business of mail delivery services.

In its glory days, the postal service was the only communication link between people in the country, with “post men” running or cycling between towns and villages, physically delivering mail to recipients. The introduction of the Internet and associated services such as email and social media, raised the threat of extinction to this business model.

The postal and courier utility was not alone in this challenge. Post offices all over the world faced the same existential threat, as the Information Superhighway brought cheaper, faster and more convenient communication to consumers.

Postal mail became known as “snail mail”. Penpals became “friends” on social media. Bills that were previously posted became available as online statement retrievable and payable at any time. For most postal services, only philately or the art of stamp collecting, remained exclusively relevant to post offices.

Innovation became not only a necessity, but an urgent need for survival, one which BotswanaPost has embraced even building up its own internal research and development capacity to ensure that the transformation is targeted and relevant to the local market.

The transformation and diversification have been anchored on BotswanaPost’s target of reaching the country’s unbanked with access to quality financial services and with its unmatched footprint across Botswana, the company is the ideal vehicle for rolling out fintech to more Batswana.

Clifford Lekoko, BotswanaPost’s Chief Commercial Officer, explains the importance of innovation to the company’s survival, growth and continued impact in the local socio-economic space.

“Innovation is a word that I always say we should not take lightly. It changes the way people have been doing things and to properly innovate, you must put the right processes in place such as research and development.

People take innovation to mean being creative to meet customers’ needs, but we take it seriously and see it as something that will make us relevant even in the future.

If we had continued as a traditional post office with a focus on our core business, we would not have gone anywhere,” he says.

Leveraging on research and development, as well as benchmarking, the BotswanaPost is now a one-stop-shop offering advanced communications systems, advanced payment systems, multichannel access, mobile money, Poso card, kiosks across shops, internet services, bill payments, insurance and others.

From being a postal service business, BotswanaPost is now one of the country’s biggest purveyors of innovative service solutions, providing digital money services, virtual vehicle licence and home delivery, services such as payment of DSTv subscriptions and prepaid electricity. The company also offers two funeral plan products, Motshidisi and Mosako, as well as the popular PosoMoney digital cash service.

BotswanaPost has invested heavily in developing new innovative products and by leveraging on its massive footprint throughout the country, it has also become the chosen partner for the private sector in the rollout of market-relevant services.

“We are in multiple businesses which is a change from what the Post was known for,” says BotswanaPost Communications Manager, Tshepo Maphanyane.

“We have fintech, courier services and other opportunities we are creating for partnerships that we have gone into.

We run on a one-stop-shop model where customers can access all services, not just postal, but everything from the online driver’s licence renewal and others being developed from the feedback with customers.

We have services such as DSTv payments, agents, PosoMoney, bulk payments for salaries, 20 service kiosks we have opened with Choppies and 137 post offices across the country.”

For his part, Lekoko explains that BotswanaPost is heavily reliant on technology as an enabler, as well as smart partnerships to diversify its products and services.

Improvements are constantly being done on the portfolio of offerings, with an emphasis on providing value-add to the various products and services.

Recently, the company unveiled three brand new services which include the virtual post box, virtual teller machine and the online vehicle licence renewal.

“On the virtual post box, customers can now register their mobile phone numbers to be used as their designated post box number to receive mail and related services from BotswanaPost. This gives customers the opportunity to redirect mail to their current location for a fee,” Lekoko says.

The online vehicle renewal allows customers to renew their vehicle licence registration through BotswanaPost remotely via online access. The printed version can be delivered at home or office, over the counter at any postal branch as well as through the postal box.

The virtual teller machine, which is being touted as a first in Africa, is an electronic interactive kiosk through which customers can conduct a variety of transactions. Through the machine, customers will be able to access all services at any time providing a simulated version of in-person banking by combining touch screen operation and other commands.

“The machine is a branch in a box. It gives people the choice, access and

convenience and also provides an opportunity to introduce fully automated banking and agency services thereby improving post offerings,” Lekoko explains.

The virtual teller machine is feature-packed and tailor-made for the elderly who may not be too IT-savvy. The machine has a call centre capability and a camera, allowing users to communicate via video to make enquiries. It uses biometric access as opposed to cards and passwords that some may struggle to remember. The machine also takes both cash and coin deposits and can dispense the same, which is critical for customers such as hawkers.

“Our customers include the elderly who may not want to use cards, PINs and passwords but our database does have their biometrics and they can access their grants and distributions from the machine using those,” says Lekoko.

The machine is presently available in Francistown, Seronga, Serower, Maun and the central post office in Gaborone.

“We have to do a lot more research and development into our products and services which is not cheap, but where we cannot manage by ourselves, we will enter into smart partnerships with others,” Lekoko says.

For BotswanaPost, innovation has been the difference between extinction and becoming a leading, relevant player in the delivery of financial access to all corners of the country.

Mr. Cornelius Ramatlhakwane, CEO

Making Brands Brilliant

“Brilliance is the masterpiece of your mind…” an ethos RedPepper has adopted to set itself apart in Botswana’s marketing and advertising communications landscape.

The RedPepper story started in 2010 under its founder Thapelo Letsholo and in these 12 years, the company has established itself as one of the leading marketing & advertising agencies in Botswana by both billings and client portfolio.

Under the leadership of its current Managing Director, Oteng Majuta, the company has remodeled itself into a buzzing hub for creative urban and youthful talent.

Innovation through Partner and Client Collaboration

The agency is affiliated with Dentsu International, one of the largest global marketing and advertising agency networks in the world affording RedPepper high-level engagement in crafting strategies that are informed and benchmarked with international standards and interpreted for local solutions.

RedPepper boasts a client portfolio that consists of regional and international brands such as ABSA, De Beers, and Standard Chartered.

Other key stand-out clients through which the agency showcases its brand building and public relations prowess include the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), Botswana Investment & Trade Centre (BITC) and the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA).

These brands are critical in advancing Botswana’s national goals & policy, thus making RedPepper well versed in stakeholder engagement all the way up to the highest echelons of government.

Brilliance as a Purpose

Botswana’s marketing and advertising agency landscape is largely driven by the need to meet client demands, this often results in banal work that does little to push the envelope. This is what constitutes brilliance, the delivery of work that leaves both clients and audiences better than they were before. At the heart of the agency’s work is the belief in using creativity to solve everyday problems.

RedPepper has the goal to become Botswana’s outright most impactful agency. This means a consistent delivery of work that captures aesthetically, moves emotively, and causes one to think and reflect.

It is no longer enough to be in this business just for profit, there must be a willingness to help craft a future you want to belong to, and this is what RedPepper strives for, not only for itself, but the larger marketing and communications industry of Botswana.

NINE

ACCLAIM EXPRESS

IS A TECH START-UP THAT IS FOCUSING ON REVOLUTIONIZING AND TRANSFORMING THE TECH INDUSTRY WITH ITS VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE - ACCLAIM

Acclaim will serve as a Virtual Business Environment (VBE) for all small businesses globally. The idea is to take small businesses to the internet and be able to create virtual offices, stalls, and markets which are manageable. This innovation was inspired by the digital transformation of the economy and incessant growth of small businesses.

Big companies are going digital with the need to reach more clients, with small businesses needing transformation too. Acclaim arrived at the right time to solve these problems.

This new technology will aid Hawkers, Street Vendors and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to perform and conduct their businesses virtually as if they are in a real world. They will perform activities such as digital marketing, advertising, and promoting, and listing their products and services for FREE.

The key objective of Acclaim Express is to support and promote small businesses since they do not have a proper and reliable platform to list, market and advertise their products/services for FREE. Our goal is to transform flea markets into virtual markets and physical stalls in towns and cities into virtual stalls

Many large enterprises have online platforms to list and advertise their products. This leaves a gap between large and small businesses who do not have such platforms. Small businesses end up resorting to existing platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Therefore, Acclaim will bridge the gap allowing small businesses to create business pages and virtual stalls to be able to list, market and advertise their products/services freely, for interested buyers to see and connect with them.

Above on the left is a business page for people who list their products/ services. The user chooses what to list and after listing it will appear and be visible to every user. On the right are Business Pages that have being created by users who are willing to list products/services.

Mbasela Aubrey Mbasela

Tel: +267 76229247

Email: aubreymbasela@gmail.com

Acclaim Express Tel: +267 76229247

Email: acclaimexpress@gmail.com

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ax.acclaimexpress

Below are screens showing how a user interacts with the app. After logging into the app after registering, they will be able to see who has listed what and from where and connect with them.

L to R: Gaamangwe Victor Morapedi, CTO; Belinda Thagiso, CMO; Poloko Keatlaretse, CPO; Mbasela Aubrey Mbasela, CEO; Rebaone Ngwigwa, COO and Didintle Ogotseng, Head of Graphic Design

BRASTORNE ENTERPRISES

SELECTED AS A WINNER FOR THE MIT SOLVE 2021 INITIATIVE

Brastorne Enterprises has been selected as a winning solver team for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Solve 2021 Initiative.

Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States of America with a mission to solve world challenges. Through open innovation challenges, Solve finds incredible tech-based entrepreneurs all around the world. Earlier this year, MIT launched the 2021 MIT Solve Global Challenges: Health Security & Pandemics, Digital Inclusion, Equitable Classrooms, Resilient Ecosystems, and Anti-Racist Technology in the U.S. Over 1,800 teams from 128 countries responded with innovative solutions. Brastorne identified this opportunity and followed a robust application and vetting process for the Digital Inclusion challenge. The company successfully made it through to the semi-finals, which selected 12 teams out of the 1,800 teams that applied, it was later announced as one of the seven (7) winning teams. Brastorne is the first team from Botswana to have ever been selected as a Solver team in the history of Solve.

Naledi Magowe – Brastorne Enterprises Chief Growth Officer (CGO) as well as Eric Yuan – Chief Executive Officer for Zoom as well as Alex Amouyel –Executive Director MIT Solve at the fifth MIT Solve challenge finals

“The challenge resonated so well with the wonderful work that we do at Brastorne in bridging the digital gap in Africa, it only made sense for us to apply” said Naledi Magowe, the Chief Growth Officer of Brastorne.

Brastorne is a youth driven citizen owned company that is committed to connecting 760 million Africans who lack meaningful access to today’s digital world. “We connect unconnected rural mobile users through our USSD, SMS and IVR solutions in partnership with international organizations such as Draper Richard Kaplan foundation (USA), Mercy Corps (USA), Orange Botswana, Orange DRC, as well as Orange France and others”.

In addition to being selected as an MIT solver, Brastorne was given additional exposure in a plenary discussion about the impact of digital access. Naledi Magowe represented Brastorne speaking alongside the internationally acclaimed Eric Yuan, CEO and founder of ZOOM at the Solve 2021 finals virtual event. Moreover, Brastorne also won an additional prestigious sponsored prize at the event: The HP (Hewlett-Packard) Prize for Advancing Digital Equity.

Although Brastorne supports mobile tech solutions in health, legal services, e-commerce, logistics and financial inclusion, it is best known for its Mpotsa, mAgri and Vuka chat solutions which enable under-served users to build communities, connect, access timely information and participate in a mobile marketplace.

Given Brastorne’s success in Botswana and the scalability of its solutions, the company has since launched its flagship mAgri solution in the DRC in partnership with orange DRC and Mercy Corps. Brastorne has since surpassed its milestone of reaching over 1 million users in Africa. By January 2022 Brastorne will have expanded its footprint to also include Cameroon and Mali. Brastorne is a youth-led organization consisting of a team of 40 passionate and committed young people who want to make a difference not only in Botswana but in Africa.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our loyal supporters, for your continued support. We’re honored to be a part of the MIT Solve program this year, and we look forward to how we can grow with the support of the MIT community!”

Our Inspiration

Digital disruption is creating risks, opportunities and challenges for everyone – “What got you here, won’t get you there!”

Our Value Proposition Leverage data for digital business transformation.

What

Our

PCG SOFTWARE

THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

PCG Software is a multi-award winning, youth led software development startup that offers bespoke digital solutions. We offer a diverse range of services including: planning and consulting, back-end integrations, application development, testing and maintenance to deliver quality software apps that work across multiple platforms and devices.

Our story began as a journey of faith, determination and ambition to change the status quo in Botswana. Digital adoption is still at infancy stages, and where there is appetite, most large corporations and Government often prefer to import tech experts for their solution needs, whereas most middle scale businesses are yet to develop sustainable appetite for digitization.

Letsibogo Ramadi Founder / Director

Our founder Letsibogo, a qualified Computer Systems Engineer by trade, resolved to devote his skillsets towards establishing a business that would be at the forefront of developing technology-driven solutions that address Botswana’s most pressing socio-economic challenges. Bubbling with determination and ideas inspired by an exposure to world-class tech-innovations, whilst living and studying in the UK, the ambitious developer’s bedroom soon became a makeshift office as he toiled away in efforts of launching his entrepreneurial

journey. He competed in various innovation challenges and start-up competitions often making placement position in most of them.

The prize monies from these competitions and contracts signed thereafter provided crucial seed funding and resources for the startup, fueling growth and expansion from a one-man operation to a rapidly growing team of nine talented engineers, designers and business professionals. The startup is gaining traction in the local market, delivering solutions and services to a growing portfolio of high-profile clients including the Government of Botswana and stock-exchange listed entities.

Presently, PCG has two market live solutions namely, OneGov; Botswana government’s e-services platform and MogwebiQuest; a financial and business literacy role-playing mobile game developed in partnership with a leading financial services firm in the country. We are also developing a pipeline of tech led solutions; currently at different implementation stages, that give local entrepreneurs and SMME’s increased access to markets, business development resources and technology to enhance operations. One of note is Mogwebi CyberPlaza, a hyper-interactive trade and networking marketplace aimed at fostering intra-African trade. It’s an innovation that will help businesses connect and collaborate to realize the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

From

–

Although Botswana’s digital eco-system is still growing through infancy, we strongly believe that with all its resources, economic potential and good governance principles, it presents an unprecedented opportunity for technology innovation to drive economic prosperity.

PCG Software is here to seize the opportunity and plans to leverage disruptive technologies to develop solutions across key sectors such as financial services, customer service and logistics. Our plans for the future are to continue growing strong not only in Botswana but across the region as an industry leader in inclusive and empowering tech solutions.

Tel: +267 369 6491/732 11277

Email: info@pcgsoftware.co @pcgsoftwarebw

From left to right: Michael Mavuso - business consultant, Babedi Pule - Business development, Lorato Ncube - UI/UX designer, Innocent Kebosedilekae - AR/VR Developer

the right

Ricardo Nkgau, Jackson Pheaga, Babedi Pule, Letsibogo Ramadi, Gosiame Gaseitsiwe, Kingsley Matshaba, Lorato Ncube, MichaeL Mavuso, Innocent Kebosedilekae

ENABLING BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IN BOTSWANA BY BATSWANA

This system enables remote queuing by clients from any place of their choosing. QFlo eliminates congestion on site as well as enabling effective social distancing during these unprecedented times.

QFlo is a home grown solution, made in Botswana by Batswana. With over 20 years of combined experience in customer service, Creative Insights is uniquely equipped to ensure QFlo services its customers in an efficient and seamless manner. QFlo endeavors to improve the customer experience and ensure customer satisfaction.

Creative Insights is a citizen owned technology and software development company that was created to address poor customer experiences in Botswana. Backed by a board of local and established business leaders, the team of young digital innovators was able to create an upgraded version of the queue management service WorldQueues, to what is now known as QFlo.

QFlo is an automated queue management ticketing system which can be perfectly customized to the needs and requirements of the client.

The system does not only ensure an improved customer experience but also boost staff productivity and efficiency. QFlo also enables the client to gather service delivery data, namely wait times, peak times, service feedback and highest service demand to mention but a few.

QFlo represents the best of local innovation in Botswana. A new experience of queuing has been made available to customers which will greatly enhance their overall customer experience. The system is easy to use and navigate. It can be accessed in multiple ways from the palm

of your hand via USSD, WhatsApp & Facebook Messenger as well as a Kiosk at your chosen location.

• Ministry of Transportation & Communication

• Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency

• MRI Botswana: Prime Health Medical Centre

• Department of Road, Transport and Safety

• Metropolitan Life Botswana

Creative Insights prides itself on creating products that enable organizations to increase productivity, boosting customer satisfaction and driving sustainable business growth. Some of the technologies that the team has ventured into, include the development of BOTs which can be integrated into varying client platforms.

The team have been honored by the Botswana Innovation Hub as the Botswana Innovation Fund Recipient.

Discover how QFlo can enhance your customer experience by contacting the Creative Insights team on +267 74 835 802 or info@creativeinsights.co.bw

QFlo by Creative Insights supported by the Botswana Innovations Hub through the Botswana Innovation Fund

BUSINESS RITES INVESTMENTS (BSSR)

BSSR BEGAN OPERATION IN SEPTEMBER 2020 AND HAS BEEN FOCUSING EXCLUSIVELY ON HIGH QUALITY AND COSTEFFECTIVE BIG DATA SOLUTIONS, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES.

We are advancing at a tremendous pace and with involvement of skilled and experienced people working in the organization. BSSR is currently doing business with local SME’s and is actively taking part in hackathons and competitions, developing innovative solutions, and becoming key players in the country’s digital transformation. The most recent being the ABSA 2021 hackathon with aim to develop and focus on the use of innovative technology to identify and solve operational challenges faced by the bank’s SME clients.

What sets us apart

Before initiating the company, we investigated what most companies where lacking and that was the implementation of big data & BI solutions. In Botswana there are about two or three companies that specialize in the field that Business Rites is in. But even with that we strive to be the best. How? Well with Business Rites Investments we look into being able to lead small and medium companies in the direction of 4th Industrial Revolution by coming up with affordable innovative solutions that are tailored for market in Botswana. This insures a practical approach and smooth transition for our clients’ companies into modern technology-driven businesses.

We help our clients achieve their targeted business outcomes which, include increasing profitability, enabling data-driven decisions, improving operational efficiency, and managing

risk of software products. We understand our clients’ goals and ambitions and provide the perfect solution.

Business Rites Investments is a citizen owned company. The company was founded in September 2020 by Mr. Arnold Kgabi, a Botswana Accountancy College (BAC) student currently in Year 4 studying BSc Honors in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (BIDA), in Francistown Campus. It was formed with motivation from the Francistown Digital City (FDC) initiative.

After meeting with high profile professionals such as Johnson Maiketso (Programme Specialist, Economic Diversification, and Inclusive Growth at UNDP) and Keamogetse Molebatsi (MD at Oxygas) to gaining knowledge on obstacles hindering digital transformation in Botswana, Arnold laid down the foundation of what he

envisions being the answer to drive digital transformation, Business Rites Investments. The company formed with mandate not just to provide better, customised and innovative software solutions and services to SME’s and medium companies in Botswana, but to also build solutions that sells across borders.

We offer end-to-end Business Intelligence and Data Analytics solutions for companies looking to embed data analytics and reporting into their products. To offer unparalleled and exceptional Software Development and Business Intelligence services that facilitate and improve clients’ decision-making effectiveness through provision of cutting-edge, cost-effective, easy-to-use solutions that have a positive and profound impact on business performance.

OUR SERVICES include:

• Business Intelligence & Big Data Solutions - seeking to strengthen our clients to be most effective with their information management and how to realize return on their investment

• Data Warehousing - Architecting quality into BI-ready warehouses and data marts

• Predictive Analytics Solutions - Predictive modeling using data mining techniques that read high volume of data from past and present to predict future indicators

• Web Development and software design

• Maintenance and Support of software’s

• Data Visualization

At Business Rites we pride ourselves with:

• Providing Cost-Effective Solutions

• Culture of integrity. Having strong work ethics, focusing on openness and honest relationship with our clients

• 100% Satisfaction Guarantee – We want you to be completely satisfied with our services. Your satisfaction is our number one priority. No hassles, no problems

• Being committed to quality. We value the needs of our clients that is why we make it a priority to produce only the best products

• Security is paramount. Client data and information is of high confidentiality. You can trust us with your data

• Having an innovative and creative team. We don’t sell you the latest technologies, instead we talk to you about your business problem

and then we offer multiple strategies that get to the root problem and give solutions aligned with business objectives

• Possessing a wide spectrum of skills sets. Any problem aligned with data management and software design we can help

• Being proactive. We ensure all our products work sufficiently with resources of the client. We monitor the products for as long as four (4) months in case of any problems that may arise

• Having a team comprised of youth, all with different capabilities and great minds, as well as with extensive knowledge of current trending technologies

Vision for the future

To become a leading BI consultancy and Software Engineering company in Botswana, and prospectively internationally, which is aimed at making Botswana a data driven country. This will be achieved through helping our customers improve decision-making effectiveness by providing cutting-edge, cost-effective, easy-to-use software that has a positive and profound impact on their business performance.

Email: info@bssr.co.bw

Arnold Kgabi – CEO

Tel: +267 76 765 01 | Email: arnoldkgabi@gmail.com  (BAC Francistown Campus) Business Intelligence & Data Analytics (BIDA) Year 4 Student)

Tsotlhe David – Senior Developer Tel: +267 77 767 139 | Email: tsotlhedavid@gmail.com

(BAC Francistown Campus) Business Intelligence & Data Analytics (BIDA) Year 4 Student)

Isaac Kgabi – Senior Accountant

Tel: +267 75 977 672 | Email:isaacleatilekgabi@gmail.com

(BAC Gaborone Campus, Final Level Accounting Student)

Arnold Kgabi – CEO

Isaac Kgabi – Senior Accountant

Tsotlhe David – Senior Developer

Oratile Masinki

DIGITAL NATIVES

LEADING THE CHANGE

Digital Natives is a 100% Youth and Citizen owned Multi Award-Winning Software and Disruptive agency with the founder, Mthabisi Bokete being Standard Bank Africa Groups youngest Board Member in the history of Stanbic Bank, both locally & globally.”

Digital Natives won the regional 2020 SADC innovation and investment competition with their remarkable finTech, Financial Identity software product ‘Digital Diamond’, and hybrid KYC solutions.

They also introduced a low-cost disruptive SADC first Mobile Digital LED WiFi enabled Truck in 2019. Additionally, they won the 2020 BITC investment Battlefield Competitions with their revolutionary edTech learning management system coined iDeskAfrica targeted at Corporates, Accelerators, Learning and Training Institutions such as Universities. They also won Total Statrupper 2019 with an energy app ‘EZPC’ and Huawei Most Innovate App 2017 with an unemployment curbing platform ‘Get it Done’.

They consider themselves a strong group of innovators that find innovative digital solutions, that will make you stand out. Knowing the difference between being seen and being relevant is key. As in today’s digital business world, it’s not enough to just place yourself where the attention is, but to place the attention where you are.

OUR SERVICES

Cross-platform Applications Development + UI/UX Prototyping

We develop high functioning mobile applications for both IOS, Android & Offline platforms, bringing wireframes, sketches & app views to life is what we do. While providing high-quality prototypes for you to visualize your idea more conceptually.

Mobile Digital Truck Advertising

We provide ad and activation space on our revolutionary mobile digital billboard truck that gives the community free WiFi. In over 20+ locations including Malls and Universities around the city at a drastically affordable price.

Virtual Assistants

We develop WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram and Website Virtual Assistants (Ai/chatbots) that respond to page queries, sets appointments, drive sales, and handles follow-ups to sound client profiling to name a few.

Social & Web Presence Management

SEO for SME’s and Corporations, We build and set up comprehensive digital campaigns blending with product launch events, billboard advertising and media posts.

Collateral Design/Company Branding

Startup, Veteran or need a new modern look? We deliver every design with an undeniably high level of quality. Because you deserve the best!

Tel: +267 76 474 888 Email: create@diginav.co

CHAPTER

TEN

ENERGY, TRANSPORT & AEROSPACE

Botswana Oil INNOVATES TOWARDS LOWERING CARBON EMISSIONS

Tshekedi, Chief Executive Officer

Botswana Oil, the state-owned oil utility responsible for the country’s fuel security, is leveraging on research, innovation and partnerships to contribute more towards Botswana’s drive to reduce its carbon emissions.

Botswana is a minimal contributor to carbon emissions at global scale, with the last update showing that Africa as a whole contributes less than five percent of the world total. Within that, Botswana contributes about four percent to the African total.

Meshack

The fuel sector is among the major contributors to the country’s carbon emissions, including sub-sectors such as transport, mining, electricity generation and household use.

Botswana Oil Chief Executive Officer, Meshack Tshekedi explains the role the organisation is taking in the carbon emissions effort.

“We have to take centre in leading the research and transformation of the energy sector,” he says.

“In this financial year, we are quite an extensive strategy on renewable energy which will inform government on some of the opportunities that exist in our transformation to cleaner fuels. We have to take the lead and put something on the table in terms of strategy. That strategy will be used to engage government and other stakeholders, so that we have a plan when it comes to the transition from fossil fuels.”

Moving the country away from its dependence on the existing fuels in the market will not be an easy task. Botswana is entirely dependent on external sources for its fuel supply and the challenge is for Botswana Oil to innovate from within the country to produce cleaner alternatives.

One innovation Botswana Oil is leading and partnering on, is the research into biofuels. Biofuels produced through contemporary processes from biomass, which includes plant and animal waste, as opposed to fuels produced through geological processes involved in the formation of fossil fuels. Biofuels are considered renewable as they are sourced from replenishable sources and are part of the organic life cycle. They are also cleaner than fossil fuel sourced products and the International Energy Agency has said biofuels are one of the “primary ways to decarbonise the transport sector”.

Botswana Oil is part of a collaboration between the University of Botswana and the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security which is focussed on researching and developing biofuels for greater use locally.

“Trials are being run on a number of vehicles and the first one was a dedicated Toyota Hilux which has been running on locally produced biofuels since its first kilometre,” Tshekedi explains.

“The University of Botswana has also begun using biofuels on some of its own vehicles, particularly the older trucks. Biofuels are not only cleaner than the fossil fuels, but we are cleaning the environment of waste cooking and motor oil in the process.”

Botswana Oil plays a critical role in this research as the dedicated off-taker of the products being developed. Tshekedi stresses that in the absence of a credible and substantive off-taker of these cleaner fuels, the project would not go far. This is why Botswana Oil has partnered to ensure the project’s success, by not only committing to off-take, but also helping with processes such as approaching the Botswana Bureau of Standards for certification and seeking other regulatory approvals.

“The standards have been developed and once approved, we will off-take, whether through direct supply to vehicles or by blending the biofuels with fossil fuels,” the CEO says. “Part of the research is to establish the blending ratios.”

Besides the University of Botswana, Botswana Oil also has partnerships with the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation and a Memorandum of

Understanding for cooperation with the Botswana International University of Science and Technology.

Another exciting project in innovation that Botswana Oil is working on involves Coal to Liquids (CTL). The CTL project involves the beneficiation of the national coal reserves by turning them into oil. Given that the country has untapped coal resources estimated at more than 200 billion tonnes, the CTL project is a massive undertaking and an economic game changer that will create an entirely new industry in the country, replete with new skills and opportunities.

Known as the Ikaegeng XTL Project (IXTL), the project seeks to ensure security and sufficiency of petroleum products for Botswana. As a producer, Botswana’s dependence on other countries will be significantly reduced or entirely eliminated and in fact, the country could become an exporter of the much-needed commodity.

Botswana Oil has engaged the services of a technical advisor, Hatch Africa (Pty) Ltd, to assist in the facilitation process of the project. As part of facilitating the IXTL project, Botswana Oil and Hatch registered the project with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit as a PPP project. A

feasibility study has also been completed which indicated that implementation of an XTL facility in Botswana, using local coal as a feedstock to produce diesel and gasoline for local consumption was beneficial to Botswana and potentially economically viable.

“This project contributes to our desire and intention to leverage on technology to reduce the country’s carbon footprint,” Tshekedi explains. “It is about reprocessing and reusing a resource. In addition, the end product is not just fuel, but other by-products. The project will have an impact on our Gross Domestic Product, job creation and energy security. It is an exciting initiative in terms of engineering, procurement and construction and it is an industry in its own right.”

Botswana Oil is also innovating around its own internal processes through the greater uptake of digitisation in order to minimise its environmental impact. The organisation minimises all printing, uses online platforms for sharing of information and has established a document depository.

Part of the digitisation involves using the SAP Enterprise Resource Planning software which automates the organisation’s systems.

“We believe we are among the few companies that are pushing the envelope in terms of digitisation,” the CEO says.

Botswana Oil is therefore aggressively pursuing its mandate of ensuring security of fuel supply for Botswana by leveraging on technology and becoming the government’s transformation agent in the energy transition.

PAULMAN HOLDINGS

BUILDING INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS FOR AFRICA...

Paulman Holdings is a wholly citizen-owned company founded in 2010 with the sole vision of becoming the most trusted and respected company, recognized by their clients for delivering excellence whilst simultaneously creating new opportunities for growth in their respective fields.

Their main venture is the transportation of goods and services locally (Botswana) & across the continent thus supporting both local and international road freight transport. This includes individual and combined transport, oversized cargo, and partial loads. They operate through a trusted network of road freight carriers, who have all passed an extensive screening process.

Built on the foundation and experience of serving the transport needs of industry clients since its inception in 2010, the company has gradually expanded into new horizons that include the commercial transportation of goods and services around Southern Africa.

Their portfolio of transportation logistics is flexible, efficient, and dynamically in tune with your operation so you can get your products and services to your customers. They have an accessible, engaged management team to handle your urgent shipments. Their expertise, service and technology ensure that they provide unique, reliable, and cost-effective transport at all times.

Talking about technology and innovation, they have partnered with a tech company to develop an app platform that allows for one to book their fleet options at the comfort of their hands either as a dedicated or shared load (similar to how Uber operates but for trucks). With their vast experience over the years, they have come into this partnership as a 3rd party logistics partner, making their services to be easily accessible from anywhere, convenient and affordable to their customers.

Paulman Holdings services include but are not limited to transporting bulk goods across a wide spectrum of industries such as the following:

• Mining

• Agriculture

• Construction

• Manufacturing

• Pharmaceuticals

• Household and office removals

Their promise of guaranteed satisfaction can be translated into the following:

FLEET OPTIONS

Because they strive to become one of the best service providers in Botswana and Southern Africa, their diverse fleet of vehicles provides customers with multiple transportation options and can accommodate standard and oversized loads.

GOODS IN TRANSIT INSURANCE (GIT)

Rest assured that your goods are always safe with them. Their goods-in-transit insurance covers any accidents or damage that may occur during transportation. Their experienced team takes pride in delivering consistent and timely conveyances to the correct destinations.

With their mission in mind i.e. To build an innovative and sustainable transport system to serve their clients with enhanced experiences, by providing quality service through the most

efficient arrangements, they ensure that customer loyalty, superior financial results and excellent customer satisfaction can be achieved.

With the next-generation logistics management solutions, moving towards making the global supply chains more customer-centric and sustainable, their focus is directed towards the improvement of transparency and traceability of the supply chain. This maintains a flexible and dynamic relationship between their various stakeholders. Their goal is simple; to make their system more sustainable, accessible, affordable, and safe.

Gaborone West Industrial Plot 22053 Unit 2 0000 Gaborone, Botswana Tel: +267 73 407 644

Email: transport@paulman.co.bw

Newman Ramatokwane

SHAREARIDE

TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Sharearide is a service driven by Corrugated Minds, a company built by a young team who are passionate about transforming citizens’ day-to-day lives through the provision of solutions powered by technology.

The Corrugated Minds journey began in 2014, with an idea to provide digital solutions to Batswana’s everyday activities, including Sharearide, which is focused on the digitization of public transportation services. After multiple attempts to secure funding to make Sharearide a reality, Corrugated Minds were awarded the Botswana Innovation Fund in 2020. The BIF, supported by Botswana Innovation Hub, is aimed at promoting innovation through technology in Botswana’s private sector. Sharearide was recognised as one of the projects that offer solutions to some of Botswana’s challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sharearide, a first of its kind in Botswana, is aimed at transforming access and use of public transportation in Botswana by bringing ease and convenience to travellers and transportation service

providers. Instead of queueing at bus stops as passengers normally would, they can now book and pay for their transportation online via the Sharearide platform, which is available as a Web Application and Mobile Application on Android and iOS.

Sharearide intends to not only provide easier transportation access to commuters but to encourage partnership as a way of boosting growth in local service providers.

Sharearide has formed partnerships with bus operators to have local bus routes available on the platform for passengers to book. In addition to online ticket booking technology, bus operators are able to view their route and customer data in real-time, enabling them to make more informed decisions regarding their businesses.

Through forming these partnerships, the team were made aware of ways in which Sharearide could further be developed to provide solutions to some of the challenges that transport operators communicated to the team, including GPS tracking and on-board camera systems.

When taking the platform to market, the team faced various challenges, including educating partners and passengers about the new platform. As internet connectivity and smartphone usage can be uncommon amongst some communities, adoption rate of

Sharearide poses as a challenge which the team are currently working on overcoming. Upon partnering with Sharearide, bus operators and their staff are taken through an onboarding session where a Sharearide team member will give an in-depth tutorial on how to use Sharearide and all its functions.

Various activities have taken place in efforts to take the product to market. The team have worked on increasing brand visibility by engaging with Batswana through physical brand activations at bus ranks, as well as online social media marketing. The reception of the service and general excitement for Sharearide has been rewarding and motivating for the team thus far.

Employment creation in Botswana is a key objective for Corrugated Minds. The Sharearide team currently comprises of five (5) young individuals, and will continue to grow as the company grows.

Sharearide can be accessed at www.sharearide. co.bw or on GooglePlay and Apple’s AppStore. Visit the Sharearide social media accounts (@SharearideBW) on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cell: +267 74 544 888 / +267 71 398 072

Email: info@sharearide.co.bw @SharearideBW

Sharearide.co.bw

We are strongly driven by our passion for aviation and innovation in the aerospace industry and this is evidenced by our multiple award winning products in various exhibitions. Our technology is tailor made to solve real live problems while catering for the aviation enthusiast.

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION

Our expert hydro-geological consultants offer professional, prudent guidance on drilling, repair and refurbishment of boreholes for the domestic, geotechnical, civil and mining industries with a core focus on safety, sustainability and the environment. Through collaborative efforts our experienced Drillonic experts with global insights, offer turnkey services for drilling, installation and commissioning.

We are committed to providing an unrivalled level of service in a precise and proficient manner as is seen in our track-record for professional trouble-shooting and efficiency in execution. Agility and continuous improvement underpin our operational performance as we strive towards minimal environmental impact and heightened levels of safety aligned to global practice.

Our Mission

To offer 360° borehole engineering services to clients in a professional and pragmatic manner employing innovative and cost-effective measures. We aim to be an industry-leading and boundary-breaking establishment.

Our Vision

To provide expert, exemplary service that has environmental and human safety at the fore in the execution of all borehole engineering contractual outputs.

Quality, Environmental, Safety & Training

Drillonic is dedicated to the protection of people and the environment, and the mitigation of risk in all of our operations. The senior leadership team are committed to meeting all relevant legislative and compliance requirements associated with the business and align to all progressive international standards. Tel: +267 73 003 939 Email: dumela@drillonic.com drillonic.com

LITTER KINGS

AND A GREEN ECONOMY

With a staff complement of close to 10 employees on a full-time basis, Litter Kings is a pronounced example of a local business that started from the bottom and relentlessly worked hard to ensure growth and sustainability of the company over the years.

The company started running in 2013 when its founders, two struggling 22-year-old Batswana men decided to get their “hands dirty” by going into the waste business. The two had completed their University studies and were struggling to find employment. At the time youth unemployment rates in Botswana were reported to be close to 40%.

The initial concept for Litter Kings was simply collection of waste material and where and how to dispose of it for a fee. When Litter Kings entered the Waste industry, Gaborone city council was struggling with consistent and reliable waste collection from domestic households. The barriers of entry into the industry at the time were very minimal.

At inception stage, the founders: Bonani Busani (33 years old) and Ogorogile Bahuma (34 years old) decided to take a risk by leasing a small truck even though they

had zero capital. At the time, they couldn’t afford to employ anyone so they started off by actually carrying out the hard labour of private residential collection themselves. The hard labour was strenuous for the pair but the experience of being hands-on opened their eyes to discovering and exploring new and innovative methods that they could apply in the waste value chain.

Most of the collections at that stage were garden waste, we then came up with the idea to recycle the waste to create compost, which we would then sell to local nurseries and our clients. We would take branches that couldn’t be composted and donate them as firewood in the slums of the city for people to cook with or generate warmth during the winter season,” said Busani.

Due to the high transportation cost to the local landfill, recycling became part of our daily thinking activities. We enticed our clientele to separate waste at home and at their establishments. We would then collect the waste and sell to the large recyclers,” said Bahuma.

Due to the tenacity of the founders and their quest to keep on discovering innovative methods to create employment for other Batswana while saving the environment, Litter Kings experienced impressive growth and then decided to expand their services to include garden maintenance, tree pruning, landscaping and recycling.

We are currently in the process of expanding our operation to complete the value chain through manufacturing using waste material. We are also happy that the company is supporting 10 or more families by creating employment opportunities to unemployed breadwinners,” said Busani.

MOBI LOO

“YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS”

Mobi Loo is a company that provides professional and reliable services in mobile toilet hire. Its mission is to restore dignity back to the people by setting a foundation of quality and excellence which is the heart of the company. Since inception, its expectation has been to WOW! Its clients by providing them with services beyond their expectations through innovative and environmentally sustainable sanitary solutions. We achieve this by continually reinventing our products and ensuring that we achieve the best with the least damage to the environment.

Charlotte T. Mmolawa, Founder and Managing Director

2012 I graduated from the University of Botswana with BA Degree in Social Sciences, Double Major in Economics and Psychology. With the saturated job market in my country I chose to leave the hustle and bustle that came with the pressures of living in the capital city, and moved back home to clear my head and start life afresh as an entrepreneur. Little did I know that the climb to success as a business owner was going to be a steep one. Seven years of trying different business ventures and failing… perseverance and faith became the catalyst to all my rewards - I had to dig deeper, otherwise I would become a failed entrepreneur. 2018 I had an “aha!” Moment… “Toilets”… this was perfect, the product is inelastic plus toilets and sanitary products are needed every day. 2019 Mobi Loo was born and my baby has been growing ever since.

Our product range is made up of Executive toilets, Portable toilets and Luxury toilets. Our Luxury toilets come with a full time toilet attendant who maintains the cleanliness of the toilet and provides various consumables to the users such as hand lotion, sanitary pad and breath mints. All our toilets are fitted with advertising space both inside the units and outside. Mobi Loo’s toilets are used for weddings, funerals, corporate events, festivals and construction sites and other social gatherings. Our units have exceptional operational time without the need for constant servicing because of our drive for environmentally sustainable and innovative systems.

Each of our units houses a solar panel to take advantage of the Botswana sun. We use the solar energy to operate our pumping and lighting systems. Each of the units also use recyclable water as an effort to conserve water. The water used in the flushing system is treated with environmentallyfriendly chemicals such as biocides which inhibit the growth of odourcausing bacteria; and sink the solid waste to the bottom of the tank. The water is then continually reused in the flushing system. A separate fresh water tank is also fitted for the hand wash basin.

Future Prospects

As upstart innovators we aim at improving our products by being trend setters. In the future, Mobi Loo intends to introduce digital mobile restrooms, mobile public restrooms as well as mobile toilets fitted with lifting hooks to cater for high rise construction building sites. The journey has just begun and it is exciting.

Tel: + 267 78062187 or +267 78062188

mobiloobw@gmail.com

CHAPTER TWELVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

PROJECT124

BUILDING THE ECONOMY, ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME

Project124 is an innovation enabler designed to revolutionize youth entrepreneurship and facilitate effective creation of sustainable jobs for young people around the country, brought to you by Launchit International in partnership with Hollard Life Botswana.

Established in 2016, Project124 stands to be the leading private and citizen owned youth entrepreneurship development program in Botswana, building the economy one business at a time. The Project124 has been strategically formulated to develop globally competitive entrepreneurs with investable and scalable

businesses in Botswana. Over the past three (3) years, the program has been committed to reaching out to 200 entrepreneurs annually with trainings, mentorship and funding opportunities which has seen more than 25 businesses established in the process, creating over 50 jobs for young people across the country. In 2020, Project124’s total reach since inception grew to 1’387 entrepreneurs countrywide. With more than 85% of youth businesses failing in Botswana, it is our hope and goal to increase the 15% of those that are doing better through our commitment towards growing the reach of this program around the country, one business at a time.

The program has since grown from Botswana to become one of SADC Entrepreneurship Programs, reaching entrepreneurs in Botswana, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia and Zambia.

The program reaches young entrepreneurs in Botswana’s areas including Palapye, Maun, Gantsi, Francistown and Selebi Phikwe. With the seven (7) stages of the program which includes a series of 18 events, 30 meetings, 19 trainings, fortnight monitoring and evaluation around all these places the program is scheduled to run for a period of one (1) Month two (2) Weeks and four (4) Days. With seven (7) stages of the program, Project124 commits to providing top of the range practical training to entrepreneurs which will improve their thinking abilities, zeal to pursue, knowledge in improving the business models, systems, processes, design thinking, the product and the people in their businesses: positioning them for a better role in managing successful startups. Project124 has enrolled more than 300 entrepreneurs from the participating countries and will graduate the international top 24 who

will all stand a chance to get funding from venture capital investors at the Project124 Africa Finals.

With the current unemployment rate ranging at an average of 17.6% and a total import bill well over BWP52 billion, with over 170’000 unemployed skilled graduates, in the world challenged by Covid-19, rampant job losses, and countries looking within to capacitate their entrepreneurs to sustain their economies, we believe that a platform like Project124 that can develop entrepreneurs and enterprises with focus on global competitiveness as well as sustainable business management will contribute immensely towards improving entrepreneurship in Botswana as well as create sustainable jobs for young people in the country and grow the economy through the SME growth.

The main Project124 Events & Activities include:

1. The Annual Project124 Entrepreneurship Program: The conference brings together seasoned entrepreneurs and speakers from different backgrounds from Botswana and internationally. The conference speaks on dedicated topics designed to carry participants in conversation about

becoming better entrepreneurs with impact. The conferences are held virtually and in person. As proof of the support the project has been receiving from the Botswana government over the years, the conferences are officiated by the relevant Government Minister of the year’s cohort.

2. The Project124 Country Tour: One of Project124’s flagship and highly impactful activity is the Project124 Country Tour. These are 54 hour long events which brings the participants together into one room to go through the Venture Creation Process, Business Modelling and Pitch Training. Project124 travels the country in places like Gaborone, Palapye, Selebi Phikwe, Francistown, Maun and Gantsi to give young entrepreneurs a chance to build their start-ups on this high growth and high innovation platform.

3. The Project124 Africa Finals: after undergoing all the requisite training & development steps of the program, Project124 will choose Finalists who will

be given the opportunity to showcase what they have built through the program, others will be given the chance to present their businesses in competition to gain seed capital from both Project124, partners and the investors.

4. Project124 Intervarsity Competitions: The Project124 InterVarsity Competitions is a platform designed to bring the country’s best university minds under one roof to both birth innovative solutions to the nation’s greatest challenges, as well as showcase the brilliance of Botswana’s innovative students within the Business, Entrepreneurship & Innovation space.

Tel: +267 77 045 403

Email: project124@launchitinternational.com launchitinternational.com/project124

Goitsemang J. Khutsafalo, CEO

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

HELLO ADSALES BOTSWANA

BOLSTERING NEW FRONTIERS OF MEDIA SALES & ADVERTISING

Hello AdSales Botswana is a Television and digital sales organization. They manage advertising and sponsorship for some of the leading television channels in SubSaharan Africa such as Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Arabic, The English, Spanish, Italian Football Premier League, StarLife TV, and CBC Television Zambia amongst others.

This focused team of excellence is led by the Managing Director Mr. Gerald Mzwinila, a skilled professional who has over 10 years working experience. He has also worked for DSTV Media Sales as Lead account Manager, and by doing so, contributed a solid foundation for the future of TV and digital Marketing in Botswana. He has been recently appointed as Head of their SADC Markets for this exceptional media sales organization as per the resolutions passed by the board of Directors.

The Botswana Company comprises of two key sales personnel, an administrative liaison as well as a Finance Director. They have plans to provide further employment opportunities for fellow Botswana Citizens.

Hello AdSales Botswana aim to continue to curate innovative and bespoke media solutions for the African Market. While the idea of advertising, and brand communications, is far from new, the campaigns are becoming increasingly sophisticated with elements that elevate products from a utility point of view, to a purpose driven cycle, i.e. the impact of a campaign or strategic marketing plan and how it resonates across classes, regardless of that very same utility.

As integration has become more and more important for advertising firms to keep raising the bar on what solutions they can offer to their clientele and how to

change the stereotype that 99% of marketing is purely manipulative. There’s a lot to do, and this company is leading the conversations. We have identified the Top 3 problems in the Advertising Industry:

1. Cluttered Media Environments: There are too many adverts clustered in one or two common inter-web spaces, this puts your Ad at serious risk of avoidance or being lost in translation;

2. Lack of Verified Ad Recall in the Digital Age: Specific Post Campaign Reports are a few & far between, confusing generic insights of where your ad was placed, and the impact of placing that ad in the first place; and

3. High & Impulsive Expenditures for Ad Placement: Currently, companies in Africa suffer from the facade that an aggressive marketing campaign means many activations around the same product line. Whereas it actually means using one Ad for multiple platform exposure.

Hello AdSales solves the above three (3) key problems and many more with our smart advertising. Spend once for maximum Brand equity.

HYBRID MARKETING

Gerald Mzwinila, Managing Director

Tel: +267 72616909

Email: gerald@helloadsales.com

Gerald Mzwinila, Managing Director

Vivian Brooks, Finance Director

Tulani Tau, Sales Analyst

Pearl Thage, Admin Liason

THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE REDEFINED

Vantage Properties is a PropTech company focused on real estate data analytics and automated property valuations, based in Gaborone Botswana. It was founded in 2008 as a real estate research and consultancy firm by entrepreneur and innovator Sethebe Manake with the mission to drive informed decision making in real estate.

The company transitioned into proptech in 2017. Since its inception in 2008, Vantage Properties continues to be a leading local real estate data analytics firm. Their reports continue to be the reference point for leading media houses and other real estate stakeholders and participants in their various activities including real estate decision making, locally and internationally.

SERVICES OFFERED

The Company operates an online research and automated valuation platform offering:

Automated property valuations

A marketplace that connects qualified and registered valuers to customers Market reports that simplify market information and make it easier for users to make informed investment or financing decisions For larger projects, the company provides bespoke research and consulting services

www.gosmartvalue.com PLATFORM

In 2017, the company transitioned into technology thereby developing technology based solutions that ease provision of real estate services in this digital era. It is the first real estate company to tap into Proptech and launched a platform called www.gosmartvalue.com which offers online automated property valuations. The platform allows users to carry out their property valuations from the comfort and safety of their own homes, offices or even their favourite restaurants.

Through the platform, one is able to carry out an instant valuation which provides a brief estimate of their property value or a detailed valuation which takes into account a wide range of considerations such as the property features and comparable transactions of similar properties in the area. The platform also gives market insights through the different reports found on it, sales trends, construction costs and rental rates in different locations.

ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS

Vantage Properties has over the years won different awards among others the Most Innovative Real Estate Data Analytics Specialists-Africa at the 2020 Artificial Intelligence Awards. Being a female led entity, Vantage has also scooped an award at the Botswana Women in Business Awards under the category of Women in a male dominated industry.

The firm has over time delivered exceptional services to different real estate stakeholders, various Government entities and big corporates in Botswana. The clients use the research and services to make informed decision making for development, investment and portfolio management. Some of the firms include among others:

Botswana Telecommunication Corporation (BTC)

ABSA Bank Botswana Mascom CEDA Bank of Botswana Prime Time More Properties Home Safe Properties Eccles Properties

WHATS NEXT?

Vantage aims to become the leading PropTech firm that provides real estate information and solutions to people thus driving informed decision making in real estate. The www.gosmartvalue.com platform will present an innovative and cost effective way of providing access to real estate information and improved way of carrying out valuations ultimately limiting human error and bias in property valuations.

The platform can be accessed through visiting the site on www.gosmartvalue.com anywhere at a user’s convenience.

Mrs. Sethebe Manake, CEO, Vantage Properties

Among the supplies is the supply of computer hardware, software & accessories i.e., CPU’s, computers, printers, mouse pads, computer parts, fax machines, floppy disks, kettles, VDU, etc.

We believe in supplying that which we specialise in. However, Petrova Empire also supplies mobile and web software solutions.

We figured, since we understand computers better, we would be the best fit to supply companies with technological equipment suited for the company. Who better to supply and install computers than people who have studied computers? Most companies are going mobile, individuals always have their mobile devices and Petrova Empire delivers mobile solutions.

Petrova Empire is not just a supplies company, it is a company with a great vision and supplies is just a steppingstone to help finance the great technological future ahead. A lot of computing students struggle to find jobs after graduation, staying at home a lot has proven to be very depressing and so graduates tend to try get any job just so they can get out of the house, and that is four years of study down the drain.

The vision is to build a development centre where any programmer with a vision, but no equipment can come and share their expertise at the centre. Some are designers, frontend developers, backend developers, database experts and them coming together is what I believe will make Botswana a great country in a few years.

Petrova Empire (pty) ltd is a 100% Motswana owned company. The company was founded in January 2020, founded, and directed by Karabo Toddy Mogorosi. The director of this company founded the company in her final semester, with a sole purpose of one day employing the youth and empowering women in science.

After her attachment at Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation and meeting wonderful women in the field she found inspiration to start her company

to provide a place for women in science and inspire the upcoming ladies to take adventure in the field of science.

We supply companies with equipment that keeps the office running.

OUR SERVICES include:

• Supplies of computer hardware, software, and accessories

• Farming equipment and spares

• Cleaning equipment and chemicals

• Mobile and Web Development system design

• Maintenance and Support of software

• Stationery, office equipment and furniture

• Hardware and building materials

• Protective clothing

• Lubricants and spares

• Food commodities

At Petrova Empire we pride ourselves with:

• Providing Cost-Effective Solutions

• Satisfactory services

• Top notch mobile and web software solution

• Provision of computers by people who know computers in and out

• Within the first two months of computer equipment installation, the company can call us for free should any difficulties arise

• Having a team comprising of young women with great minds eager to make a change in the technology world

Vision for the future

To become a company employed with as much youth as it can accommodate and lead in the provision of the best mobile and web solutions, but with the company growing and accommodating young people in technology, and to be the best in all technological aspects.

A development center for those who have not found jobs to come and develop their ideas and make our country great.

Director: Karabo Toddy Mogorosi

Mobile And Web Technologies Degree Holder Tel: +267 72501767

Email: karabotoddymogorosi@gmail.com

Email: petrovaempire@gmail.com

ECOHUB (PTY) LTD

#WASTE TO ECO-HOUSING #WASTE TO ECO-BUILDINGS

July 2017 I left my 9-5 job of being a full time Lecturer, and founded Ecohub (Pty) Ltd, a startup that innovatively uses plastic waste combined with other additives to produce affordable, architect designed flat pack ecobricks to build ecohouses. As the only Founder, I took a risk and sold my house, I sold my house on a vision to “build houses” and chase my dream, my dream of being a disruptor, an innovator and an award winner social Entrepreneur driven by purpose and fueled by passion with solutions to world

housing problems. By profession, I am a Registered Architect with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, a Bachelor of Architecture with Honours and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Architecture with a local and international work career spanning over 15years.

Ecohub is inspired by a local squatter settlement of note, Old Naledi, Gaborone, Botswana. (Naledi, a Setswana word meaning a Star and to Ecohub (Pty) Ltd, it means a ray of hope for decent affordable housing for all. Old Naledi highlights the toll of social pressures associated with rapid urbanization and the struggles with decent affordable housing, poverty and challenges by the urban poor. Old Naledi residents are not isolated and are part of the billions globally living in slums, in poverty and in shacks -“inadequate shelter”.

“ONE MAN’S WASTE, ANOTHER MAN’S SUSTAINABLE ECO BUILDING”

Letsogile Kennedy, Founder and CEO, @ Ecohub

Launch

By 2030, UN-HABITAT estimates an additional 3 billion people, about 40 percent of the world’s population, will need access to housing. As the population grows, so does the environmental pollution. Landfills are overflowing with plastic waste that is harming the environment and contributing to global warming and climate change. An epidemic that has become threatening to human life and according to Austin Habitat 2018 , about one in four people live in conditions that harm their health, safety, prosperity and opportunities.

During this difficult time of social, climate change and economic challenges, the despair is within the poor living in shacks, unemployed and/or homeless. In the wake of COVID19, we have appreciated the imperativeness of a HOME, staying at HOME and social distancing but what if there is no HOME? A basic human need. It is during this time our innovation becomes pertinent. Our innovation is premised on an inclusive direct triple impactenvironmental, social and economic impact within the low income communities. Enthused by Old Naledi residents and their ingenious makeshift architecture, our mission is to house humanity, create economic employment

opportunities, restore HUMAN DIGNITY and end “shacks” while protecting the environment from plastic waste pollution. From a shack to a decent affordable house. #No more shacks

We have innovately engineered Ecobricks made from composite of recycled plastic with various additives. The ecobricks are non-load bearing, flat-pack, strong, fire resistant and versatile. The ecobricks interlock with no need for adhesives and stack up braced with structural framing. The innovation is designed to ENGAGE US, EDUCATE US, INSPIRE US AND ENABLE OPPORTUNITIES throughout its value chain to help our country aggressively reduce its carbon foot print as it goes green and strives to deliver the UN sustainable goals 1,9,11,13 (SDG’S.)

COVID-19 virus, has not only affected Old Naledi, this fatal, unforgiving VICIOUS VIRUS has ADVERSELY CHANGED our way of life, our way of living and way of learning. With stringent measures having to be introduced and adhered to curb its spread, this has overwhelmed the government, stretched its facilities as it succumbs to the effects of the pandemic.

FEBRUARY 2021 Ecohub (Pty) Ltd was officially launched together with the piloting of Botswana’s 1st Eco-classroom to answer our government’s call for additional classrooms that are more COVID-19 friendly and PAVE THE WAY to the start of Botswana’s future green buildings. MAY 2021 we delivered our 2nd pilot being our first ecohouse. We demolished two (2) shacks and replaced them with one (1) eco house with two (2) rooms, assembled in five (5) full days.

Although our innovation is primarily oriented towards the low income communities living in “shacks” we are also open to the general public.

Lot 6498, Mmamashia Gaborone, Botswana

Tel: +267 74613903

Email: info@ecohub.co.bw

Email:ecohubbw@gmail.com @ecohubbw ecohubbw

Boravast Trust

KGALAGADI SOUTH-BASED HAS EMBARKED ON THE PRODUCTION OF CHARCOAL AND LIVESTOCK FEED USING SEXANANA TREE (PROSOPIS MESQUITE)

Boravast is a community trust made up of the four villages of Bokspits, Rappelspan, Vaalhoek and Struizendam. The Sexanana tree is an invasive species that has been blamed for high groundwater uptake and also causes severe allergies in humans.

Boravast charcoal and fodder business ventures were launched last year to uplift the lives of the communities living in the four villages. The communities were trained by Lake Ngami Conservation in collaboration with Kgalagadi and Gantsi Drylands Ecosystems Project as well as the Department of Forestry and Range Resources on how to produce charcoal using Sexanana. The Lake Ngami Trust is well known for producing quality charcoal.

Recently, the assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Molebatsi Molebatsi launched the Boravast Trust and handed over P1 million worth of equipment for their projects. The equipment was bought by the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA).

The equipment includes two trailers, a heavyduty fodder processor, four chain saws, a trailer, a mounted log cutter and office furniture. LEA has also been instrumental in offering the trust members coaching, business management training and branding skills.

Commenting on the developments, LEA CEO Racious Moatshe, pointed out that the organisation always aims to partner with community structures, to help with governance models, operational framework, setting up proper committee structures and effective use of allocated community development budgets.

“LEA in furtherance of its mandate identifies community projects that have potential to scale up, increase production, create employment, and diversify the economy under its ‘community development through commercialisation initiative’. “This is the case with the Boravast Trust,” he said.

According to Moatshe, community-based projects for sustainable management of natural resources remain a government priority. He said community development and commercialisation efforts can be an effective approach to employment creation and economic diversification, adding that the strength of the national economy is highly dependent on the strength of local economic activities, hence LEA’s pursuit of community development through commercialisation.

“It is only when our communities are alive with profitable and sustainable business activity, that we can say we have realised economic inclusion,” Moatshe said.

Currently, Boravast’s charcoal can be found in some Choppies stores and filling stations across the country. Individuals also buy in bulk to resell.

#BORAVAST Charcoal was launched in Bokspits

As part of the collaborative partnership between the #BWGovernment and UNDP we are implementing an environmental project in the Dryland Ecosystem, entitled “Managing the Human-Wildlife Interface to Sustain the flow of Agro-ecosystem services and Combat Illegal Wildlife Trafficking in the Kgalagadi and Ghanzi Drylands” popularly known as the “Kgalagadi and Ghanzi Drylands Ecosystems Project (KGDEP)”. The project addresses amongst others; managing the trade-off between income generation and environmental sustainability and it is through this project that a number of livelihood improvement initiatives will be supported. One such initiative is the BORAVAST Charcoal Production Initiative which was launched yesterday.

Since prosopis (Sexanana) is an invasive species, it was deemed necessary to clear the species; but link such an activity to income generating activities. Prosopis clearance would therefore achieve the two (2) objectives of bush clearance whilst also ensuring rehabilitation of the landscape to increase continued flow of ecosystem goods and services, simultaneously promoting of livelihoods.

As a pre-requisite to the production process, it was essential that communities be given skills (skills development) to effectively engage in the proposed venture. The KGDEP therefore in collaboration with Department of Forestry and Range Resources engaged the Lake Ngami Trust to train charcoal producers whilst LEA was engaged to provide entrepreneur and management training of the communities as this would usher in creating skills to gain linkages to markets and further investment capital.

Operationalization of the venture would help in delivery of significant benefits to a sizable population within the BORAVAST area.

The venture will also activate other chain businesses such as transport of the product to market, retail businesses, provide employment and income.

Tel: +267 74

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

HEALTH & PHARMA

V.I FITNESS: YOUR HEALTH PARTNER

V.I FITNESS IS A HOLISTIC FITNESS COMPANY FOUNDED BY COUSINS COLO TLHONG & LEBOGANG MOIPOAI, AS TEENS THEY BOTH HAD A STRONG DRIVE TO STAY ACTIVE AND CHALLENGE THEIR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS ALBEIT IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS.

Lebogang was a multi-sport athlete who would try any and every sport; basketball, football, rugby , tennis you name it he was doing it. He is a natural athlete but more importantly he was a hard worker who strived to learn and improve. Colo Tlhong on the other hand focused his attention on a more non-conventional sport , competitive powerlifting.

Competing as part of the North Gauteng Powerlifting team Colo competed in numerous strength competitions and even made it to Botswanan powerlifting champs twice

Lebogang Moipolai, V.I Fitness Co-Founder

getting a bronze medal in his division on one occasion.The complete opposite of Lebo when it came to natural athleticism but similar drive and passion to excel .

It was this similar drive and passion that brought V.I Fitness together, the V.I in V.I Fitness means “ Versus I” , to develop ourselves and become the best versions of ourselves we have to be brave enough to challenge ourselves. It is this belief that drives us as a company and pushes us to innovate beyond your conventional fitness company. Along with being certified trainers Colo holds a degree in Bcom Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Witwatersrand and Lebogang has experience as a junior architect, these skills at first glance may seem like the furthest thing from fitness however they play a vital role in our business offerings and how we understand health and wellness. As a holistic fitness company meaning our services extend beyond simply making people sweat. Health and fitness is more than just the physical, it’s the mental and spiritual as well; we aim to bring all these together to enhance people’s quality of life.

The current development of the V.I Fitness app is giving people a cheaper and safer alternative to getting a personal trainer and being at the gym, you can still get custom workouts and communicate directly with your trainer anywhere you are. Meal plans and diet information is also available on the app, customized to your specific needs by licensed dieticians.

V.I Fitness works with medical doctors and therapists in creating health content with Instagram live conversations and monthly webinars, we want people to understand being healthy isn’t just one thing and bringing together these various professionals who all work within the health industry we aim to give people insight and answers towards their own wellbeing that they may have never known or were too shy to ask. Anything and everything to do with your wellbeing we want to be part of.

V.I Fitness is your lifelong health partner and we want that life to be a happy and healthy one internally and externally.

Tel: +267 75 505 806

Email: vifitnessgroup@gmail.com Vifitnessblog.Wordpress.com

Colo Tlhong, V.I Fitness Co-Founder

Lebo and Colo training with the V.I Fitness resistance bands

The V.I Fitness training app and training bands

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING

A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

I always say to my team, “Digitisation has become a necessity in a world consumed by mobile devices”. Our digital mental health platforms aim to promote mental wellness by being up close and personal in your mobile device. - Kesego Mosime, CEO and Co-Founder, First-Aid Counselling

In a country with a population less than 2.5 million people, approximately 296,650 people fail to access counselling services on a monthly basis. Under normal circumstances, those that are able to access counselling services take one (1) to 14 days (the quickest being private counsellors). Launching in a nation dominated by many mental and social health issues, we were inspired to create digital platforms that allow people to get professional help instantly.

Simply defined, First-Aid Counselling is an award-winning digital platform that helps people to access Mental Health services instantly and conveniently, with 100% anonymity. This is inspired by our vision to provide access to mental health services in just one click and our mission which is to create convenience, instant gratification and affordability in the access of mental health services.

How it began?

A tech enthusiast met a mental health practitioner who together discovered the huge potential in providing instant mental health services leveraging on digital solutions. My business partner had been running her counselling centre for four (4) years when we met and the evidence was there – the mental health industry was at its brick and mortar

Kesego Mosime, CEO and Co-Founder

stage and we believed that through disruptive technology, we could bring an element of convenience, accessibility and affordability to an industry in dire need. What better way to achieve this than targeting solutions accessible via mobile devices.

Fast forward two (2) years later, we have won the Botswana Innovation Fund which provided us the seed capital to develop our digital platforms (USSD application and mobile application) and develop mental health content in both our native language (Setswana) and English.

In addition to our mental health content, our platforms also offer mental health assessments for those interested in identifying their mental health status, mental health challenges for those that aim to boost their mental health, a diary feature that enables one to journal their feelings and an anonymous chatting platform that allows peer-to-peer counselling encouraging users to share experiences, advices and moments together.

We have also won the Southern African Innovation Summit (SAIS) BoostUp National Pitch Competition and have gone on to

participate in the Alibaba eFellowship Programme. Our significant achievements also include our partnership with Orange Botswana, a subsidiary of Orange, a multinational telecommunications company. Through this partnership, we aim to provide accessible and convenient mental health services to Orange users across Botswana.

Our goal is to grow beyond our country’s borders and into other African states before penetrating global markets. We believe through an inclusive approach such as the development of sign-language mental health content that we recently commenced, we shall leave no stone unturned in ensuring that mental health is accessible to all. Localisation is also a key aspect of our growth hence we strive to translate our mental health content to various local languages in order to penetrate communities across the world.

Plot 51, Unit 7 Gaborone International Commerce Park, Gaborone, Botswana

Tel: +267 77 306 669

Email: admin@facounselling.com

First-Aid Counselling

First-Aid Counselling

DOCTORS E-CONSULT

TAKING DIGITAL HEALTH IN BOTSWANA UP A NOTCH!!!

It is without a doubt that the Corona Virus has hampered many businesses, but like they say, “every problem contains in it the seeds of a solution.” From all across the world solutions have been created to mitigate the effects of the virus and here in Botswana the lockdown period presented a big problem to those seeking medical help as we were confined to our homes.

Prior to the Corona virus our health facilities are usually very congested and this inturn becomes a breeding ground for the virus to thrive. Additionally patients usually incur heavy travel costs just to access specialist doctors as they are concentrated in the capital city. Moreover our health facilities have inadequate medical record keeping systems. All these problems identified helped birth Doctors E-Consult and we are helping changing the face of health in Botswana, we are the Ultimate Game Changers!

Doctors E-Consult is an online platform that brings together doctors, pharmacies, laboratories and patients under one roof! Think of it as having your doctor in your pocket everywhere you go, convenience at your fingertips. Available on a mobile phone or electronic device, the platform houses a wide variety of doctors ranging from General Practitioners to Gynaecologists and everything in between.

Patients are able to book an appointment with their preferred doctor and then proceed to consult either via live video chat or live messenger chat. After consultation the doctor is able to send a prescription to the patient who will then upload it on to our pharmacy database that has an array of pharmacies. They can then order their medication online and have it delivered to anywhere they are. Additionally we have laboratories which send medical test results directly to the patient.

Doctors E-Consult also has an Electronic Medical Record keeping system which is aligned to the world health standards like the International Classification of Diseases

(ICD10) as well as prospects of linkages to the DHIS2 which is commonly used in Africa. We also have an emergency tab that has doctors and pharmacies on call 24/7 ready to assist patients. Doctors are also able to write articles on different medical topics and inform patients about diseases, precautionary measures and so much more through the Health Tips tab, take it as Google but specifically for medical topics.

It’s true what they say, “Team work makes the dream work.” Made up of six (6) young innovators who are passionate about

entrepreneurship and are diligent in their respective fields as we have a lawyer, software developer, financial expert, multimedia expert, international business expert and a medical laboratory scientist, we have been breaking barriers since inception. Through persistence and endurance we led the government to tap into Digital Health.

We are recipients of the Botswana Innovation Fund 3rd Call for proposals, the national winners of the 2020 Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) Boost Up

competition and overall one of the best startups in Southern Africa. We have international recognition and interviews from BBC’s Focus on Africa program, eNCA’s #Africa program, the Dire online health magazine from Italy, online articles from Zambia, Ghana and Botswana.

Having SDG3 as our focal point we are ready to take not only Botswana but the whole continent closer to getting healthcare access to everyone, anywhere! Convenience Amplified!

Ms. Loatile S. Nkala

Mr. Malcholm Matlapeng

Ms. Maduo Disele

Mr. Keletso Thophego

Mr. Tuelo Monageng

Vision Sense Optometrists

OPTOMETRY HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS TO ACCOMMODATE NEW HIGH-TECH TECHNOLOGIES, INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND ADVANCED TREATMENTS.

As a result, practices have to present unique ways of incorporating these changes into their workspaces. Vision Sense Optometrists has taken the initiative to upgrade to new innovative diagnostic equipment to enhance the patient experience.

Established in 2015, we have strived to provide our community with the convenience to live a better life through better sight. We are a close-knit team that is committed to meet all optometry needs. Our patients experience eye examinations that involve the latest innovative eye tests. These guarantee a unique patient journey during consultations.

The practice offers key services such as:

• Routine eye examinations, dry eye evaluations, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy screenings. Our current innovation allows us to detect early signs of eye pathology and make well informed referrals.

• Contact lens consultations. We offer contact lens fitting on a case-by-case basis.

• School eye tests. We strive to help every child reach their full potential by performing tailored comprehensive eye examinations for learning related vision disorders.

• Corporate solutions. We offer advisory services for occupational performance and provide on-field eye screenings where necessary.

Innovation

The practice has invested in the latest diagnostic equipment which allows us to do the following:

• Slit lamp: Enables us to increase our competency skills and carry out more diagnostic evaluations than before.

• Fundus camera: Aids us to improve our pathology assessments. This is important as it helps with the early detection of various pathological problems.

• Essilor Wave Analyzer: Provides comprehensive screening of the eye in less than two (2) minutes for accurately identifying a wide range of conditions such as cataracts. This allows us to save time whilst delivering additional advice to our patients.

On-Site workshop

To improve our services, we provide an on-site optical workshop which consists of a cutting and fitting section. This allows us to offer in-house services to re-align your spectacle frames as well as carry out minor repairs. It also helps to reduce the waiting time between consultation and collection.

In conclusion

Over the years, we have remained open to new ideas and services which have advanced our practice. Despite trends and technology in optometry constantly changing, laying a solid foundation based on striving for excellent patient experience will stand the test of time.

The core principle behind Mobility Hire, is to bring about a different approach to assisting physically challenged patients in their rehabilitation phase. The kind of services offered are aimed at enabling patients to access medical assistance at the most convenient ways and to break the barrier between patient and the medical facilities or medical aids necessary for the patient’s rehabilitation programme.

Mobilty Hire Proprietary Limited was established in March 2017 as a company that provides a service mainly based on providing rehabilitation aids and transportation to medical facilities. The need for this kind of service is very apparent amongst patients as there is always a challenge of finding the right equipment necessary for rehabilitation.

Furthermore, the logistics of transporting physically challenged or disabled patients continues to deny patients accessibility to health facilities and medical treatment.

The company was founded by Mrs Malebogo Nono Kgomotso, a professional physiotherapist with an abundance of knowledge in the area of rehabilitation and human movement science.

SERVICES OFFERED

• Wheel chair rentals

• Wheel chair purchasing and supply

• Needs assessment and evaluation of patients dependent on wheel chairs for mobility

• Van rental for wheel chair bound patients

• Walking aids

• Bedroom aids

• Bathroom aids

• Pressure care

• Spares and accessories

• Ramps

• Ergonomic chairs

She studied for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physiotherapy from the prestigious University of Cape Town Medical School in South Africa. She then joined the public service and worked at Princess Marina Hospital for a period spanning over five years. There after she joined the private practice sector and established Urban Lifestyle Physiotherapy Clinic in the year 2013.

From patient feedback and research, an observation was realized that, patients living with disabilities face a great predicament when it comes to accessing medical services due to lack of mobility aids eg crutches, walking frames and access to wheel chairs as well as transport in and around town. The eventuality of such situations would obviously translate to the fact that patients are denied access to basic and necessary medical assistance by the simple fact of lack of accessibility. This becomes a very precarious situation because it not only confines some patients to their homes without medical assistance but also robs those who have a good chance of full recovery to realize that eventuality.

It is through such a needs analysis that Mobility Hire was founded so as to bridge the gap between proper rehabilitation and the patient. The predominant part of the solution being to offer patients living with disability an improvement to their quality of life through rental and sales of mobility aids, rehabilitation equipment and provision of transport to and from health care facilities.

The range of services offered includes, but are not limited to offering assistance;

• To stable patients, who may be wheel chair bound but cannot utilize normal transport mode.

• Transport for patients who need to collect medications and but use crutches, walking frames or wheel chairs.

• Non-urgent patients referred to other health care facilities.

• Transportation of patients to their homes upon discharge.

Plot 33695 - Gaborone West Molapo crossing unit I 03 P.O. Box 500054, Gaborone Tel: +267 39 33 918

Email: mobilityhire20I 7@gmail.com

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

BEAUTY

Renewal Aesthetics

Renewal Aesthetics provides personalized aesthetic treatments for skin, body and health renewal through evidence-based practices and products. Our aim is to help people enhance, restore, unmask their best self and achieve optimal quality of life.

Our wide range of aesthetic treatments and medical grade products are designed to treat conditions such as, but not limited to; scars, acne, dark marks, wrinkles, warts, pigmentation, skin tags, excess fat, cellulite, sun damage and so much more for women and men - giving you that newfound confidence.

Service Offering

We provide a wide range of treatments which includes:

• Chemical Peels

• Microneedling

• Lipolysis Injections

• Skin Tag, Wart & Mole Removal

• Botulinum Injections

• Thread Lifting

• Dermal Filler

• Medical Grade Products

• IV Drip Therapy

Renewal provides personalized aesthetic treatments for skin, body & health renewal through evidence based practices. Our aim is to help you achieve optimal quality of life. Look good, feel good and become your best self with Renewal Aesthetics

Tel: +267 73 275 990 +267 39 069 44

Plot 319, Extension 5 Ikaneng Road, Gaborone

NUBIAN SEED (PTY) LTD

BEAUTY ROOTED IN NATURE AND INDIGENOUSLY INSPIRED BY AFRICA

Established in 2016, Nubian Seed (PTY) Ltd is a green beauty manufacturer of natural and organic personal care products, made using raw plant based ingredients which are indigenous to the African continent. The Nubian Seed product range is a reflection of Africa’s bio diversity, as well as global growing interest in the use of natural, eco-friendly and sustainably sourced personal care products.

Nubian Seed is an eco-friendly green beauty brand. We therefore take care to leave as small a footprint as possible by sourcing sustainably, using natural & organic raw ingredients; using minimal packaging of recycled and recyclable materials wherever possible. We also source our products responsibly, in an effort to support the local communities from which our raw materials originate.

Nubian Seed (Pty) Ltd is a 100% female citizen owned company which was founded by two sisters with a shared enthusiasm that is the motivating force behind the company’s mission to provide authentic, quality and

uniquely formulated natural and organic personal care range. Being purist in nature, Nubian Seed strives to impart knowledge on the wonders Africa has to offer and share the age old knowledge of the uses and benefits of indigenous natural ingredients for healthy personal care.

What’s in a Name?

The name Nubian Seed is a metaphor used as an expression of Africa’s wealth in heritage and resources. Historically, Nubia was the region along the Nile River in what is today modern-day Sudan and southern Egypt, which dates back to as early as 5000BC. Nubia was the birthplace of Africa’s earliest and most powerful kingdoms, and its significance in the history of ancient civilization cannot be understated. The ‘Seed’’ in Nubian Seed communicates the origins of our product offering, communicating authenticity and creating a conscious comparison in the mind between Nubian Seed product offerings and seeds of which all life is derived from.

Authentically African & Positive Impact

We seek to positively impact the global natural cosmetics industry; by tapping into Africa’s bio diversity to create our range of personal care products using only indigenous African, plant based ingredients. Nubian Seed range is unique, authentically African and firmly positioned in its Botswana Roots.

Our Products

Every product in the Nubian Seed range is free from synthetic chemical ingredients, parabens and mineral oils. Our range comprises of natural butter body creams, balms, foot balms, butters, carrier oils, essential oils, floral waters, natural clays and much more. Each product from our range is a natural personal care solution, which has been specially formulated with love, using raw plant based ingredients known to be beneficial for personal care.

Plot 4313 Gasiko Ward, Gabane

Tel: +267 77098440

@nubianseed Nubian Seed

Tuduetso. K. Tebape, Managing Director

LE AFRIKA

DISCOVER THE HEALING POWER THAT IS CHANGING THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS AROUND THE WORLD!

Lisa Kasale, Managing Director

The world is woke... going back to our roots. The new buzzword is #gogreen in terms of health and wellness.

And we’ve been fortunate and blessed with the opportunity of being a part of this new era, introducing and promoting Le Afrika sustainably sourced 100% natural products with their many remarkable health benefits.

A Botswana family owned Company, Le Afrika when directly translated means “an African” the name is inspired by celebrating the beauty and rich culture of Africa. It captures the essence of what it means to be “an African” by appreciating the love for natural products which Nature has richly endowed us with, and sharing them with the rest of the world.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Le Afrika 100% Organic Products were cleared and approved by Botswana Medicines Authorities (BOMRA) July 2nd 2019, giving us the green light to launch, market and promote our Grade A quality products in Botswana.

• Scooped 1st Prize Golden Award at the Botswana International Consumer Fair under Category – Local Manufactures.

• Had the privilege of appearing in local leading media houses, aiming to educate the beauty industry and creating awareness through Le Afrika organic living approach. We received extensive coverage in the Mmegi, Gazette, The Voice Newspaper, The Guardian, Sunday Standard/The Telegraph, Yarona FM, and RB2.

• We hold a Pride Mark Certificate under Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) for purposes of packaging, promotions and branding materials etc.

• Through the #PushaBW initiative by the Government, we have since employed over 25 Sales Agents around the Country.

• We are partners with the biggest selling newspaper in the country - The Voice Newspaper and YaronaFM, whereby we receive media coverage weekly, on Print and on Air. Plus double exposure of weekly Live Giveaways on both YaronaFM & The Voice online platforms.

• Ongoing partnership with Fashion Without Borders Africa: FWBJHB (Botswana) & FWBBW (Botswana) in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

• Among International Beauty Brands sponsoring FWBAFRICA: Black Like Me, Justin, Avon.

• Opened outlets around the country in few retail Stores and most Pharmacies countrywide.

• And recently partnered with Mediland Healthcare Distributors, one of the leading Pharmaceutical distributors in the country.

• Launched Le Afrika Online Store & Website, on the 20th August 2021 www. leafrika.com. Whereby our customers locally and globally can now experience a safe and hassle free online shopping at their finger-tips and at the comfort of their homes.

Le Afrika IS TWO YEARS

Le Afrika is two years old and is changing the beauty industry, one organic skin at a time.

Golden Award Winning Le Afrika turned two years on the 2nd July 2021. Since our establishment we’ve had positive feedback and reviews across the country, customers sharing beautiful stories of how these wholesome products have changed and continue to change their lives. Generally overall an awesome energy, with customers celebrating and supporting a BW brand.

OUR AIM

Le Afrika’s goal is to hope to see a world of pure and natural personal care products become mainstream so that chemical cosmetics will no longer be a part of anyone’s daily routine.

We are passionate about what we do, committed to serving you only the freshest Grade A quality of sustainably and ethically sourced products which are not only healthy for the environment, but needed by your skin and great for your body with their many remarkable health benefits.

Experience the magic of freshly handmade natural products with their nourishing and conditioning properties. 100% Vegan, 100% Organic, Cruelty free, Chemical free, and Eco-friendly.

The mark of a truly great product is the ingredient list. Like food, your skin should be formulated with ingredients that are wholesome and nutritious, free of unnecessary additives and fillers.

Thus offering you an opportunity to make a green choice when it comes to your daily-care routine with Le Afrika organic products endowed with nutrient-rich vitamins for glowing skin and healthy hair.

Suitable for all skin types & ages.

P.O. Box 81894

Gaborone, Botswana

Southern Africa

Tel: +267 392 5669

@leafrika @afrika_le Le Afrika

FRESHLY HAND CRAFTED: Le Afrika’s wide range of their 100% Sustainably Sourced beauty-care

BEAUTY SECRETS: Le Afrika Moisturising Antibacterial Organic Soaps for all skin types & ages

DISCOVER & OWN YOUR TRUE SCENT

White Label Fragrances is a 100% Botswana citizen-owned company. We are an African luxury Niche-Fragrance brand that curates and blends bespoke fragrances, with specially selected raw materials to suit various tastes. We strive to consistently create fragrances and fragranced products that are elegant, luxurious and timeless. All White Label fragrances products are made in Botswana by our dedicated team. Our brand is based on the premise that smelling good should be effortless and be taken as a necessary regiment in daily personal grooming routines.

Our Fragrances cater to both men & women across the age range and we offer a wide variety of scents. Our products also provide aromatherapy solutions for the home and office. We believe in continuously evolving our offering to you to reflect global perfumery trends while maintaining a distinct African flavor and spirit to our scents.

Our business includes four (4) different production segments. These include personal fragrances, Tones of Wena (our body care range), The Le Lapa X Botswana Collection (aroma solutions for your home) and Scented Signature Marketing (signature scents for your office).

Le Lapa X Botswana - When Scent meets Culture

Our name is derived from the Setswana word for home; “Le-Lwa-Pa”.

Home. A happy place. Where one lives, laughs, rests and loves. A place where safety, peace and joy thrive. The place where unforgettable memories are made with our nearest and dearest. We’ve created a variety of stunning products to contribute to the personality and warmth of your home including scented candles and diffusers.

Empowering Creatives in our Community

At White Label Fragrances we pride ourselves in meaningful collaborations and empowerment of creatives in communities across Botswana. For the Lelapa X Botswana collection, we collaborated with Batswana women from Gabane Pottery who hand-made our exquisite candles and diffuser jars. Within the same project we also collaborated with Ludo Manisa; a local fine artist whose artistic touch and delicate brush strokes are illustrated on our candle-holders and diffuser jars.

White Label Fragrances has uplifted our community and instilled a great sense of artistic pride in us. We see the art from our hands in action, every time we see the products that we have contributed to! The proceeds from our relationship with White Label Fragrances have directly contributed to the economic empowerment of several female lead households in Gabane and we remain immensely grateful to them!” — Gabane Pottery

I’ve always been inspired by life, music and the environment. Working on the artistic tones of “Lelapa” from the White label fragrance line has been invigorating. I leaned on Botswana’s wide array of wildlife and vegetation for inspiration. The intention was to add an exquisite fusion of animal print and Okavango flora to evoke a sense of homeliness. Every piece is timeless, rooted in heritage and encapsulates the richness of Botswana’s natural backdrop. I hope that everyone feels these descriptions when the artwork is in their hands.”

— Ludo Manisa, Motswana Fine

Artist

Tones of Wena - Deliciousness for your Skin

Our Body Care Range presents a collection of goodies that have been created to nourish your skin and leave you feeling good and smelling delightful. We pride in infusing African indigenous ingredients in our formulations such as Morula, and Baobab oil just to name a few.

Office: Shop 16, Riverwalk Mall Gaborone

Warehouse: Unit 12 Craft Market, Broadhurst Gaborone, Botswana Tel: +267 714 819129

Email: thamani@whitelabelfragrances.com

CHAPTER FIFTEEN LIFESTYLE

Sheroo Beverages

SOURCE OF NATURAL ENERGY

Tree

Sheroo Beverages is a locally produced 100% natural beverage made from pounded roots of the Motlopi tree (Shepherd Tree).

The product is produced by a Kolonkwaneng based company called Dina Motlopi Beverages Pty Ltd. The beverage is caffeine free and is suitable for all ages. National Food Technology Research Centre (NFTRC) has already done research on Motlopi coffee and positively established its nutritional value and shelf life. The research has established that 150g of Motlopi coffee contains 11.6 grams of protein, 23.5 grams of crude fibre, 56.8 grams carbohydrates, and 1199.8 grams of energy. The coffee has very low fat content of one gram and, moreover, it is caffeine free.

XANDYE

THE QUINTESSENTIAL, MODERN COVER TABLE, CONTEMPORARY CLASSICS AND LIFESTYLE BRAND THAT PRIDES ITSELF IN EXCELLENT QUALITY THAT IS ON PAR WITH ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY PIECES.

According to its founder and current Creative Director, Sandra Tebogo Kenanao, “Xandye is another name for ‘luxury’. We don’t compromise when it comes to quality. We design our products from scratch, taking time on detail and simple – yet elegant – aesthetics. We select the material and hardware to be used on our products, and work closely with our manufacturer to ensure the best outcome [on the products]. It is worth noting that all our products are design locally and manufactured overseas.”

Following the brand’s launch in October of 2020, its maiden product – the Seriti handbag – hit the market at a retail price of BWP 1, 599. For a pure leather, sleek black range – the price was very much justified. The handbag flew off the shelves, with 25 bags sold within the first month of its release.

“I was inspired by the response the bag got, more so that very minimal advertising was done on our end. Most of the marketing we got was organic, through referrals our customers made. It was very encouraging and I figured it was time to expand on the brand’s range,” commented Kenanao.

Expansion came in the form of the Lefika cardholder, which was released June of 2021. The cardholder caters more for the gentlemen, currently retailing for BWP499. It has been well-received as well. Kenanao remarked that Lefika is for, “the modern man, who is constantly on the move but needs all his business accessories in one place. It provides just that for banks cards, business cards and anything else that one might need to easily reach. Its wide range of colors, combined with its reasonable size, allows for an easy blend with whatever the Lefika gentleman might be wearing on any given day.”

To offer maximum exclusivity on their range of products, Xandye does not restock on soldout products – which are usually limited to a certain release number. This is done to give customers a sense of pride over their ownership

of the products. Unlike most locally made leather products which follow the traditional brown leather ‘old style/vintage’ look, Xandye prides itself with the luxurious, modern leather finish currently on offer.

Xandye has ambitions to one day own a manufacturing plant here at home and employ local magnitudes. Kenanao expresses that, in order to achieve this, they will in future embark on an investor-drive to source funds. With all this, and many other plans on the books, Kenanao has only one focus: Get Xandye out there.

“Anything else, I believe, will follow with time. Perfection takes time, and as per Xandye’s and my own personal mission – rushing anything leads to a lot of compromise.”

Sandra Tebogo Kenanao was born 1987 in Serowe, Botswana. She would later relocate to Gaborone in 1994, where she has been living since. She developed her current drive for business as early as high school, where she had small entrepreneurial ventures. The love for fashion had always been in her as well. From sewing dresses from scratch, and modifying clothes she already owned, her inspiration came from existing fashion brands like Coco Chanel, Michael Kors, Dior – among others. She had always known that someday she would own her own fashion house, more so after realizing that existing brands she could afford locally were usually not durable.

Kenanao holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, and an Associate Degree in Retail Management -- and currently juggles her time between Xandye and being a small stocks farmer.

Tel: + 27 72871050 / 3934946 Email: admin@xandye.co.bw

(Xandye’s Online Boutique) (@XANDYE) (@XANDYE3)

Sandra Tebogo Kenanao, Creative Director

NAKO TIMEPIECES

A LUXURY WATCH DESIGNER BRAND WITH HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Born and designed in Gaborone, Botswana Nako Timepieces are merging innovation and luxury watchmaking that is proudly rooted in Botswana.

BRAND PERSONALITY

An embodiment of Afrocentrism, Tswana origins, selfdiscovery, character and endurance. Having stepped over the line of classic iconic style and into the realm of simplicity — Nako Timepieces identifies itself with minimalistic and modern designs, with a touch of subtle yet vibrant sophistication, and effortlessly merging Botswana’s heritage with modern horology.

BRAND KEYWORDS Heritage + Horology

Brand Nako bears Botswana’s heritage on a wrist and is founded on the belief that state-of-the-art watchmaking innovation can be synonymous with the cultural and historical significance of Botswana, where time bridges the old and new.

OUR PRODUCTS

The Nako Timepieces Three Dikgosi Edition Timepieces: The ‘Classics’ and the ‘Slimlines’

The Classic: designed the timepiece to be bold, sleek, and classic with a touch of timeless elegance. The Slimline was designed for affordability and durability. The heart and brains of our timepieces utilize the Miyota/Citizen LTD quartz watch movements: a Japanese made quartz movements made to fit Citizen, Bulova, Wittnauer, and Invicta, watches. The Slimline BWP 1,500.00 for women | BWP 1,700.00 for men.

The Classics: BWP 2,700.00 for men | BWP 2,200.00 for Women, Lay By Accepted. Please call/WhatsApp +267 7508 9673 to buy — we will deliver it to your doorstep.

Mr. Gabriel Motshidisi Mothibedi — PhD Cand. (Design Innovation Policy: Brunel, UK) Msc (Communications Design: Pratt NY, USA), Bsc (Industrial Design: UB, Botswana). Founder, Chief Executive, Chief Designer and Product-Engineer

Shobo Tsau & Xhabe Xharaga of Chobokwane Settlement Ghanzi District, Botswana

Head

Botswana:

OUR BRAND PHILOSOPHY

To merge Botswana’s heritage with modern horology — with an avid focus on design-driven innovation and its significance on (i) business performance, (ii) industrial development and (iii) global competitiveness. Our adoption of Design Innovation at the heart of business culture and management is linked to many global business success stories such as Apple, Burberry, Dyson, Google and Sony. As both a framework and an artefact design innovation contributes enormous strategies, services, systems and products to gain competitive advantage. This notion was confirmed by the former chair of IBM, Thomas Watson’s that, “Good design is good business” (Blaich, 1988). Our approach, via design innovation, is to highlight that to increase Botswana’s global competitiveness and to develop her product and service industries through the support of SMEs; design innovation stands as an alternative strategy.

OUR BRAND PURPOSE

To promote Botswana’s heritage through storytelling — and to build capacity into her innovative, ingenious and creative potential by enhancing the quality parameters of her products and services, and to promote authentic product design inspired by the country’s cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge. To foster engagement and government-led participatory activities in creating awareness and building understanding of design innovation as a prospect of business growth and higher value jobs that can transform the economy across Botswana.

OUR MANUFACTURING STRATEGY

Our Design Innovation process; applied research, strategy, ideation, conceptualization, rapid prototyping and optimization for manufacturing is performed in Botswana and manufacturing in Switzerland. As such, our products are 100% designed in Botswana and therefore 100% Botswana products. As a common practice in the manufacturing industry — various components pass through different countries during production. For instance, a Land Rover Discovery will receive power steering and fuel injection from Germany, coolant hoses and exhaust manifolds from Hungary, front lighting from France and shock absorbers from Poland. In the same vein, we source our Miyota/Citizen watch movements from Japan and send general assembly (GA) drawings of finished designs and rapid prototypes to Switzerland for mass production.

We envision sourcing raw materials from Botswana, especially leather, glass and diamonds and to bring manufacturing and service labs to Botswana. Our production strategy in Botswana will range from Mass Production, Mass Customization and adoption of various Product Service Systems (PSS).

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

TRAVEL, TOURISM, ARTS & CRAFTS

Innovation Tourism

THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND A COMPETITIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND INNOVATIVE TOURISM INDUSTRY BOTSWANA-WIDE HAS BECOME VERY CLEAR IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

This is because we need to position ourselves to take advantage of emerging trends in tourism. Tourism is a long-term business and requires strategic thinking that looks years ahead into the future. Botswana Tourism industry has not been left behind as we have witnessed the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in coordinating tourism marketing activities and services, leading to connected, better informed, and engaged travelers through multimedia marketing campaigns, virtual events like the 2021 Botswana Travel and Tourism Virtual Expo (BTTVE) a virtual business–to-business platform where global wholesalers and retailers met with local tourism operators; and destination Virtual Tours like the Botswana Live Virtual Tour platform, which digitally showcased the Botswana product globally to travelers before visiting the destination.

The use of big data has allowed the introduction of accessible and economical satellite technology that offers the tourism sector a chance to level the digital divide. With so much data available these days, travel aggregator sites allow smart recommendations to travelers. This covers services like flight deals, car rentals, best accommodation prices, and sharing of experiences and testimonials online. Contactless travel has also become a major trend in the industry since the start of the pandemic. This includes processes like contactless flight and hotel check-ins and contactless payments.

Our future of the tourist sector is based on new technologies to facilitate access of visitors to Botswana tourist attractions. The mobility of the tourists together with the access infrastructure to the tourist objectives is important in the coordination of the tourist flows. Virtual tours accessed through smartphones are becoming a global trend and our research will be aimed at finding new ways to continue growth into becoming a smart tourism destination. Gadgets, smartphones, and virtual reality are a common notion in developed tourist areas. We are at the beginning of the road but with special forces and with industry initiatives like intelligent

The pandemic has also shown the tourism industry how all the sectors of this industry are interlinked and interdependent. Developing shared knowledge about the circumstances in which tourism operates and the need to adapt to a changing world has helped to foster social, economic, and environmental sustainability; with the industry coming up with innovative initiatives helping to reduce climate impact and developing circular business models along links in the Botswana Tourism value chain. Facilities have reinvested in modern renewable energy like the

waste collection projects, electric cars, electric charging pumps, virtual tours, greening, harmony between locals and tourists; our dream for a smart destination will be realized.

Thermodynamic Geysers, also known as Heat Pumps Thermodynamic Geysers works used by Wilderness Safaris, the Grand Palm hotel in Gaborone and other Camps and Lodges. Thermodynamic geysers include the latest technology in extremely efficient heat-pumps (with a tiny compressor requiring very little power, using 400w) that extracts warmth from the air and uses it to heat the water.

Other facilities have also introduced Breeze Cooling Systems used by camps and lodges to substitute use of Air Conditioners which require more energy to operate.

The industry has also taken up to Tesla Solar Plants, a technology which is better suited to hot environments and has a much longer life span and batteries that allows for better usage cycles than their lead acid predecessors. The use of solar energy does not only reduce energy cost but also protects the environment from noise pollution and chemical spills from fuel, and oil from generators using fossil fuel.

The Chobe Game Lodge in Kasane was among the first of Botswana’s properties to be rated fully ecotourism-certified; the vision of being the first electricpowered safari operator became a reality when the lodge launched an electric safari fleet. The facility currently has four electric-powered safari boats (three of which are fully solar powered) and four electric vehicles. The Chobe National Park is an untouched and highly sensitive natural area that needs to be protected and, besides the benefits to the environment of clean, tranquil, quiet safaris, they make for a far more enjoyable experience in the wilderness for our guests. The guest feedback on the experience has been phenomenal and it is exciting to see and hear conversations and interest from new safari operators.

Image source Chobe Holdings subsidiary Desert & Delta

Using waste materials to create furniture for the spaces, a fusion of art and creative business to bring life to open spaces, and all this was sparked by the fact that in my city, Gaborone, open spaces are mostly used for a carwash, driving schools, second hand clothing sales or food trucks.

A city with over 300 000 people, what other ideas are there to help transform spaces to places? In 2016, the pop-up park initiative kicked off in the main mall we named the park Diamond Square, tagline #ifspacescouldatalk.

VISION: To create and support the growth and development of the creative entrepreneurship community/industry and activities in Botswana with Africa and the world.

Mission: We strive to develop open spaces into creative and innovative places. Enabling creative social businesses to ‘achieve greater social impact through making connections, becoming better informed, sharing experiences and influencing a stronger collective creative economic voice’.

“Everyone has the right to live in a great place, and most importantly every one has the right to contribute to making the place where they already live great” - words shared by Fred Kent.

Creating creative pop-up parks in the city Centre, in the old mall in the city is our contribution to making the place we live in great, a project inspired by the smart city concept. We exist for urban creative culture networks with the aim to support and connect the city with its residents using creative design thinking processes.

The heart of our story comes from the need for the city to connect with its people at a creative, economic and innovative personal level. The world is talking about smart cities and it is our objective to push Gaborone to catch up with the global village and start working smart towards the city smart concept - building a city that builds itself around its people demographics. The creation of our first ever pop-up park was to create a platform to integrate/connect innovation, creative design and social impact.

Why does creative design connectivity matter? In the world that we live in, your network is your net worth, connectivity creates opportunities, which in turn creates success. Our city is not very connected and hence the need for the project we are bringing forth.

The creation of the Diamond Square which is crafted in the heart of the dilapidating old mall is the first ever in the city. The space has transformed to a place built on a network of offering value to open-spaces and asking nothing much in return. By offering without expectation has cultivated trust on the projects intentions, making room for the residents and the city council to take part in the growth and sustainability of the project.

To measure this initiative we have organized and supported events; art shows, video shoots, cleaning campaigns, celebrations, commemorations, talk shows, pop-up markets, dance competitions, youth empowerment seminars, music and poetry events and much more.

It’s a creative tribe ecosystem, which we hope to grow into a village. As the tribe grows, we continue to reassess the connections, thinking more what to expect as we continue to give. With a strong connected community we

would be able to grow together and not leaving one industry in the city behind.

We hope the city council partners with us and adopts this strategy as the policy that could guide this disruptive and creative future thinking of our city.

Since the creation of the pop-up park the residents have been excited and are taking part to grow the community. The place is operating five (5) businesses being Coffee kiosk, burger and chips café, lemonade stall, open space gallery, a street library and a photo studio. The place also has a gaming area which hosts a chess table. The common area has managed to host the pop-up event we call the DiamondHuddle, a poetry and music and art event for the upcoming creative generation who are looking for a platform to play and grow their craft. Bringing to life a fresh development concept that will be a self–sustaining open space economic diversification ecosystem in the city centre, a tribe of innovators, creators, businesses, creatives, entrepreneurs, corporates, educators, and social impact activists.

I heart gabs city is a different breed of community connect, a new and unified approach that looks into the challenges we are facing, and through a creative and social impact lens we bring solutions on how we create, live, work, play and learn together.

Mobile: +267 71857019

Email: iheartgabscity@gmail.com iheartgabscity i heart gabs city

ART BY GOABAONE MOGWE

ART BY ITSELF IS AN INTERESTING PHENOMENON WHICH HAS THE POWER TO INFLUENCE THE WORLD, AND AS SUCH, WE ARE EXCITED TO MAKE OUR MARK ON SUCH POSITIVITY.

VISION

To put Africa on the map through art, and therefore showing the world that we are also capable of greatness.

WHY ART

Art is an incredible phenomena which helps bring stories to life. Our initial apporach to art is to show African stories to the world. Your support is paramount to our success.

WHY US

We understand anatomy and form at the highest level, where we are able to draw anything the way we want it. From realism to drawing from imagination to form manipulation and to even caricatures of caricatures

OUR SERVICES

Animation, Character Design, Cartoons, Realism, Caricatures, World Building, Manga/Comic Books, Art Book, Corporate Mascots

OUR ANIME PROJECT

Mamaland is a fictional story that centers around a young boy who is bestowed with the powers of Matsieng and uses them to free Africa from slavery and oppression.

SENTIMENTAL VALUE ARTS AND CRAFTS

All of us have that something that we hold on dearly to. For some people it’s a family heirloom, handwritten post letters and to others a broken kettle they keep saying they will fix and never get around to doing it. I get it all.

At Sentimental Value we allow people to tell stories through the things that matter to them. Some of the stories require they learn how to make a new handiwork while others require they recycle “the broken kettle” and turn it into something better and useful somehow.

How it all began

I was going through my boxes and when I saw all the construction papers, and my different types of pairs of scissors, I thought to myself maybe I can turn this dormant passion of mine into a business. At that moment, a memory came flooding in of when I was about six (6) or seven (7) when my mother said to me “you are a good artist”. She made this exclamation after I drew her in her nursing regalia and my neighbor who just had a baby. I totally disregarded her comment because all I wanted to be was a nurse just like her or a teacher when I grew up. Years later, here I am.

When I was doing my Masters in Communication, my dissertation title was “the impact of cartoons on children’s behavior”. How kids mimic cartoon characters plus the various content they consume. Upon completion, the results really bothered me a lot. Don’t get me wrong, there are good cartoons, but generally TV and cartoons are predominantly used for babysitting. Now imagine a world where kids’ time and content is reversed and harnessed properly into arts and crafts. If they learn to knit, crochet, or make handicrafts their world is opened wide, as crafting offers various styles and patterns they can use to explore their minds. I provide handicraft skills in the areas of paper craft, crocheting, knitting, handmade trinkets,

“IF IT’S DEAR TO YOU, ITS DEAR TO US TOO.”

Miss Wabo Shabani

amongst others. I teach or offer the value of handmade crafts to kids and adults with what is already dear to them.

Who am I?

Sentimental Value Arts and Crafts is a space, a place and extramural activity for kids owned and operated by myself, Miss Wabo Shabani. The activities include DIY artifacts for kids as I teach them how to make them and take them home as trophies after completion. Arts and crafts as an activity in most households is typically taken for granted as a must for children and young kids due to technology and busy schedules for parents.

Why arts and crafts?

There is no doubt that arts and crafts are fun activities for kids. Be it coloring with crayons or making miniature toys from wool, plastic, folding paper or designing handmade birthday cards. There are several arts and crafts activities, which can enhance the interest of the children and exploit their artistic potential.

By introducing arts and crafts to the kids and involving them in such activities at Sentimental Value, I invest in building their cognitive, physical, and social development. They develop motor skills, as these usually require kids to use both hands in a certain manner. When drawing

dots and lines, cutting with scissors, and even simply tearing a piece of paper are all quite demanding tasks in terms of dexterity – and kids enjoy doing them.

Above communication and mathematical skills, kids develop self-esteem. Art and craft activities give kids a sense of achievement and allow them to take pride in their work which builds confidence.

Why now?

The art and craft industry is not showing signs of slowing down. There are a couple of popmarkets around town and people are always in awe of the exquisite handmade stuff they see; something done from scratch or recycled material.

Art and craft is a creative industry and as a crafter I want to make this fun for kids so they can learn to create beautiful crafts for themselves. Furthermore, they will gain knowledge to make amazing things to give to people who are close to them.

Sydney Gurewitz Clemens said “Art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else.”

For me I live by this code ‘be available to those above me and relevant to those below me.’

Owned by Wabo Shabani

Established in 2021 P.O. Box 21806, Bontleng, Gaborone Tel: +267 74 503 231

Email: sentimentalvaluebw@gmail.com sentimentalvaluebw

THE GIFT PLACE

THE TRUE VALUE OF A GIFT IS THE SENTIMENT BEHIND THE GIFTING

Motingwa, Founder

NOTE FROM FOUNDER

A few years ago, I realized how strenuous it is to some, to come up with or present a thoughtful gift for any occasion. The idea of The Gift Place grew from my passion to create a gift by simply sourcing various items from different outlets to create one impactful gift. The idea is to bring about the importance of gifting in fostering meaningful relationships.

We are proud to be a youth led woman-owned personal gifting business.

Our gifts are tailor-made from scratch according to age, gender and occasion. We want to bring a smile to our customers’ faces. Sometimes it’s the simple act of showing appreciation to your employee, an exciting announcement or a get well soon gesture. We aim to have our customers’ feel like they are important to another person on that particular day.

ABOUT US

• We started operations in the year 2015.

• We run a small work from home station that allows us to be comfortable and creative in our own space.

• Each gift is packaged differently from previous packages, therefore making it special and unique in its own way.

• The business operates in Francistown but we are not limited to making packages for Francistown only. We courier nationwide.

HOW HAS THE GIFTING BUSINESS BEEN LIKE DURING THE PANDEMIC?

There have been ups and downs during this period, but the truth is: Because people are not gathering as often as they would have loved to, there is a great regret about missing traditional holiday gatherings and social events. This in fact has been the real reason why we continue to drive sales this year. Opportunities for growth lie in the innovative options that help consumers create the holiday/occasion cheer they are craving.

Masego

WHAT ARE YOU PROUD OF AS A SMALL BUSINESS?

We are proud of being able to bring unique gifting solutions to our customers and at an affordable cost. We are also proud of being able to rope in other young people to teach and help assist us during the time we feel overwhelmed with orders for that particular week, especially seasonal orders like Valentine’s Day.

CLOSING NOTE FROM FOUNDER

Find your passion and roll with it. The post-pandemic era, has given us all impetus to think outside the box. As a young entrepreneur mother I have found a balance in being able to engage in what I really want and I juggle that with raising young children. Find what it is you love doing or creating, and then offer that to us as your service.

OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The simplicity of our service is that we do everything for you. Right from discussing the budget and the amenities to include in the gift as well as the type of delivery. We compile and package beautiful, themed gifts for the occasion presented to us.

We package the gift in a basket, box, gift bag or even a wooden gift crate all according to the customer’s specification.

We can also engrave and personalize the gift for individuals or groups.

Our gifts are tailor-made for children as young as two (2) years old and adults.

Tel: +267 74375004

Email: thegiftplacebw@gmail.com

MAUNGO CRAFT

RE-INTEGRATING ORPHAN CROPS BACK INTO THE FOOD SYSTEM, ONE FLAVOR AT A TIME

Morula also known as Marula is one such Orphan Crop. We are a food manufacturer that has formed symbiotic relationships with Morula oil companies and local farmers. We upcycle the fruit pulp that is typically underutilized, the processors press the seed to get seed oil and then they sell the oil to cosmetic companies, and thus Green jobs are created in rural communities.

We help to complete a value chain for two budding industries by upcycling the fruit pulp that would ordinarily be underutilized into Award-Winning, Handcrafted, Nutritious preserves and sauces that have Unique flavor profiles. We are more than a jam or sauce. We are a food company that makes real food. We are a brand that is participating in the birth of an industry. Our culture is represented in our flavors as well as our packaging where we drape our bottles in letaise (traditional print cloth). As we always say, Maungo Craft puts Culture in a Bottle!

Our story begins with a stolen pot and a giant wooden spoon. It was Morula Season and the fruit was rotting everywhere because it was being underutilized. The community viewed the fruit as a nuisance that attracted baboons (they love the fruit) and rodents. This inspired us to make our very first Morula Jam for our very first Farmer’s Market in 2017.

We “liberated” a pot and spoon from Olayemi’s father and began our journey of discovery. It was on this journey that we learned that it takes approximately 300 tonnes of Morula fruit pulp to get 12 tonnes of Morula Cosmetic oil. With no major user of the fruit by-product in Botswana we asked ourselves, “What happens to all that fruit?” This question alone set the founders on an adventure of a lifetime!

Started by a group of friends, Ms. Bonolo Monthe is the Managing Director/ Co-founder and Mr. Olayemi Aganga is the Head of Production/Co-founder. We started the company because we saw an opportunity around upcycling the fruit and we believed we could turn it into something magical. We believe that the natural and indigenous sector has the potential to become a major industry that will create jobs and diversify the economy of Botswana.

We make Artisinal, Award-Winning, Reduced Sugar Preserves and Sauce that are Natural and Handcrafted. We only use natural preservatives (thank goodness!) and use indigenous foods such as Morula and Baobab then we pair

them with contemporary flavors giving you the most unique flavor profiles. Some of our awardwinning, unique flavor profiles include:

• Smoked Morula, Chilli & Ginger Jam

• Beetroot, Onion and Baobab Jam

• Roasted Chilli Garlic & Morula Hot Sauce

• Morula, Lemon & Vanilla Jam

We like pushing the boundaries with food innovation. We play and fuse culture and food together and are really good at it! We are the only company with our flavors and they take you on a culinary joyride! We also love that we get to work with suppliers that extract Morula oil and Maungo Craft helps to SAVE THE FRUIT and upcycles the underutilized fruits. By working with seed oil producers we are helping them to create over 1000 harvester jobs down the value chain that are mainly women. Our business model is as much about climate adaptation as it is about making high-quality foods. For our participation in the industry we have been recognized as UN Food systems Champions.

ACCOLADES

Maungo Craft is Fairtrade Certified and we have Won 13 Awards both locally, regionally, and internationally, some of which include winning the Youth Expo (2017), being shortlisted to

the Top 7 and being awarded a Gold at the World Marmalades Award (UK) (2018). At The Global Expo we were Awarded Two Gold Exhibitor Awards. The first was the Botswana Pride Award and the second was the BoFINET SMME Innovation Award (2018). In both, the judges stressed our creativity and how we embody Botswana as a Brand. In 2019 we won the Pan-African GoGettaz Agri-preneurship competition. Finals were held in Accra, Ghana and Maungo Craft won the prize after competing against 3,000 African businesses.

In 2020 we received (2) Two Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Foods in the UK (2020). The Great Taste Awards are like the “Oscars of food” and very highly esteemed and we were the first company in Botswana to bring them home.

Maungo Craft has been featured in several local newspapers and radio segments over the years. We were also on the Front Cover of Botswana Investor Magazine (2017), featured on CNBC Africa (2018), Voice of America (2018), shortlisted and featured by Specialty Food Magazine in the United Kingdom for the New Producer Awards! Specialty Food Magazine is the UK’s largest circulated fine food trade magazine. We have also been profiled on “In Business Africa” on the BBC where our business was celebrated and showcased for its creativity and for youth in business.

We have been endorsed by Martha Stewart, an Iconic, Household Food Celebrity. Maungo Craft has also curated and supplied major companies in Botswana with lovely corporate gifts.

When we were awarded a Gold by The Great Taste Awards for one of the products, one of the judges made this comment:

“We were intrigued by this product and we had not come across it before. The wonderful aroma was enticing and the consistency was perfect for spreading. We wondered what the strands were and were delighted to discover thinly sliced peel. What a delicious jam - hints of citrus and sweet fruit merged in the mouth to make a brilliant flavour.”

Ms. Bonolo Monthe (Co-founder & Managing Director) and Mr. Olayemi Aganga (Co-founder & Head of Production)

Vision for the future

To support the growth of two industries – Food and Cosmetics through the use of indigenous foods. To create jobs and participate in the diversification of the economy of Botswana. We are currently expanding our foot print in Botswana and are already available in large retailers such as Trans Africa, FOURS, Payless, Square Mart, Pick n Pay and Sefalana. We supply hotels and restaurants as well and are currently working on our export strategy. Watch this space we will be exporting to the USA and will be available on Amazon in the last quarter of 2021. We are excited and look forward to expanding and taking our brand to the rest of the world. World here we come!

Tel: +267 766 24292 / +267 318 6810

Email: maungocraft@gmail.com maungocraftjam maungocraftjam MaungoCraft

M A U N G O C R A F T M A K E S G O U R M E T , R N N N S R M

Maungo Craft for Beetroot Onion and Baobab Jam

Maungo Craft for Morula, Lemon and Vanilla Jam

INDEX

Acclaim Express 128

Aeroneutical Solutions 152

Aminaami Access 63

Boravast Trust 176

Botswana Accountancy College (BAC) 98

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) IFC, 36, 108

Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH) 2, 42, 58

Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) 38, 92, IBC

Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) 64

Botswana is Awesome 22

Botswana OIL 50, 142

Botswana Post 118

Botswana Tourism 6, 46, 208, 228

Brastorne Enterprises 130

Business Rites Investments (BSSR) 138

Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) 1, 40, 80

Classmate Online 60

Creative Insights 136

Dichaba Group (ditec) 114

Digital Natives 140

Doctors E-Consult 184

Drillonic 156

Ecohub (Pty) Ltd 174

First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) 74

First-Aid Counselling 182

Global Village Publishing, Inc 51

Hello Adsales Botswana 168

I heart Gabs City 216

iFirsh 116

JB-Tech 112

Le Afrika 196

Letshego Holdings 48, 84

Lion Tutoring 104

Litter Kings 160

Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) 4, 44, 52 Maungo Craft 224 Mobi Loo 162

Mobility Hire 188 Mohiri 61 Nako Timepieces 206 Nineteen21 106 Nubian Seed 61, 194 Paulman Holdings 148

PCG Software 134

Petrova Empire 172 Precious & Partners 70 Project124 166 QFlo 136 RedPepper 122

Renewal Aesthetics 192 Resources that exist in Botswana to help innovators succeed 26

Sentimental Value Arts & Crafts 220 Sharearide 150

Sheroo Beverages 202 Spectrum Analytics 132

TECBOE-Art by Goabaone Mogwe 218 The Gift Place 222

Vantage Properties 170 VI Fitness 180

Vision Sense Optometrists 186

Vunani Fund Managers 90

Warona Law Office 72

White Label Fragrances 198

Why Botswana is great for Startups 16 Xandye 204

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