Bank Gaborone Kgwebo Connect Series drives SME conversations on funding, growth

Staff Writer | Monday March 30, 2026 06:00

In the latest episode, the bank facilitated a conversation with Bespoke Real Estate Advisory (BREAD), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dabilo Mokoni and Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) acting Head of Corporate Affairs, Boipuso Nyatshane, focusing on entrepreneurship, access to funding and building sustainable businesses.

Mokoni shared insights into building her real estate firm, highlighting that breaking into the established industry as a woman can be difficult and requires great resilience and strategic positioning.

“I had to be intentional about building the right team and putting systems in place to ensure the business runs efficiently,” she said.

On sustaining the business, Mokoni emphasised structure and discipline.

“One of the mistakes people make is assuming that because you are an entrepreneur, you understand finances. “Most of us don’t, and I had to separate my personal account from the business account,” she said.

For LEA, Nyatshane underscored the institution’s role in preparing businesses to take advantage of opportunities in the market. “We capacitate both the entrepreneur and the business,” she said. “We identify gaps and implement development plans to take the business where it needs to be.” Nyatshane pointed out that access to finance remains a challenge to businesses in Botswana.

“The main issue for most SMEs is funding for startups. “It is about the capital to begin, and for existing businesses, it is about working capital,” she said.

She further stressed that the market in Botswana remains a challenge due to the small economy.

“You find that enterprises are competing for the same buyer, which is often the government, whilst also facing competition from cheaper imports,” Nyatshane said.

Bobo Samuel of Bank Gaborone underscored the bank’s commitment to supporting SMEs through tailored financial solutions. He emphasised Bank Gaborone’s case-by-case approach to financing, which he said acknowledges that businesses across the sectors have different needs and cannot be subjected to a one-size-fits-all model.

“We are very intentional about supporting SMEs, and we look at each case differently because businesses are not the same,” he said, noting that sector-specific solutions are key to unlocking growth.

Mokoni and Nyatshane encouraged entrepreneurs to take advantage of commercial banks such as Bank Gaborone.

“As an entrepreneur, you can never give up. Knock on every door,” they both said.

Through Kgwebo Connect, Bank Gaborone continues to position itself as more than just a financier but a partner in building resilient and competitive local enterprises. Ends...