Media tours LEA incubators

Frederick Kebadiretse
Staff Writer | Monday December 13, 2010 00:00

This was revealed by most of SMME owners during a media tour organised by LEA last week Thursday.

The first stop was at the Pilane multiple-sector business incubator. The facility, which was the first to be opened in November last year, is already hosting 12 clients involved in various SMME businesses.

Project Manager at the incubator, Ambrose Makgonatsotlhe, said all the clients housed at the Pilane project have shown high levels of determination and hard work, hence they hope success on their businesses is not far-fetched.

The businesses include Information Technology (IT), cleaning services and food packaging. One of the business owners, Mokobi Collen of Mystique Blinds which specialises in custom-made sun guard products, said their business is starting to realise some growth. The company that started in Selebi-Phikwe currently employs three people, but Collen said they are planning to increase their staff as their client base increases.

Another business that hopes to benefit from the incubators is Phala Holdings, which specialises in soap and detergent manufacturing.

One of the owners, Nnoi Seoke, said they are currently trying to expand their client base to include government departments and private businesses like hotels. She said they are working hard to brand their products well before going into the market in full swing.

Another business at the Pilane incubator is Worldwide Technologies, an IT company specialising in cutting edge technology of biometric solutions and security systems.

A new product of the company, Alcolock, is expected to help curb drunken driving by means of preventing a driver who has drunk beyond the allowed limit from starting a vehicle.

In Gaborone, the tour was at the Leather Industries Incubator near the train station. Despite being optimistic of succeeding, the clients decried high costs of leather manufacturing machinery that they said hindered progress.

However, they are working as a team to help one another whenever the need arises.

The clients make different products ranging from shoes, jewellery, handbags to clothing. Project Manager Lesitamang Paya said their clients still face challenges like accessing funding and shortage of raw materials because the leather industry is still at a low stage in Botswana. The leather industry is hindered by unavailability of reliable buyers and processors of hides and skins as well as unavailability of good quality hides and skins.

The business incubators were set up by LEA as a way of reducing the rate of failure by new and upcoming businesses.

The businesses are housed under LEA premises for three years but may graduate earlier, depending on the performance of the business.