Dr Delivery At Your Doorstep

Oageng Batenegi | Monday June 20, 2016 18:00

 

In an interview, Malejane narrates how while running another business the idea of forming Dr Delivery came about. Malejane and his partner at Lillycake Boutique had a challenge to deliver products to their clients.

To close the gap, Malejane had to start a delivery company. But it was difficult to convince the general public and potential clients about the idea. As new players in the industry, their credibility was questioned. People wondered whether they could trust them with their goods.

It was difficult, Malejane says. There has not been any specific form of regulation or law that could protect them or their clients. They had to move fast to guide the mindset of people to accept their trade. Their clients needed to trust that their goods are delivered safely and in good condition.

To this day, Dr Delivery has quite a number of clients. Lawyers are some of their reliable clients. They help deliver a lot of their documents to required destinations including the courts. Medical doctors rely on their services too. That is to make medical aids submissions and the likes. They can also be sent to deliver medicines.

Common goods such as gifs, small packages, newspapers, flowers and food are some of the regular products they deliver. They can even take one’s laundry for washing.

Malejane says one can send them to pay bills, school fees, and to renew vehicle licences. One can also relax at home and assign, Dr Delivery for shopping, says Malejane. He adds that they are helpful to other businesses too. They can be sent to banks, to submit invoices, buy or submit tender documents.

They are simply ‘messengers’ to businesses who do not want to hire messengers within their company. Interestingly, they can queue for their clients, in case it is a service that requires the client to be there in person. “People are asking us, where have you been,” says a delighted Malejane about the response from clients.

Malejane narrates that when he started the business, he did not have much resources. He used one of the cars at home, he said. He approached CEDA but the financial institution turned him down. Their message was clear. He should first run the business for some time before they can jump in. That is for the venture to prove its worth and sustainability, says Malejane.

However he did not fold arms. Malejane turned to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for the rescue. They turned him down too but he went back again. It was last year when the ministry awarded him P100,000 under the Youth Development Fund. He bought motorbikes and office equipment.

Malejane, who had a stall at this year’s Youth Business Expo, has a message for other young people. He said they should accept the reality of unemployment in this country. Malejane, a graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture Mechanism) from the Botswana College of Agriculture said he also found it difficult to find employment.

He said at end of the day one needs to eat. And encourages other youth to take “a legitimate risk” and start their own businesses.

Malejane sees his business growing nationally in five years. The 27-year-old lad from Thamaga prides himself as running a business that other businesses can rely on. Malejane also wants to see his business employing a lot more people especially the youth.