Media tour sheds light on CEDA projects

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Monday November 8, 2010 00:00

The tour introduced media practitioners to CEDA-financed businesses which are run by citizen entrepreneurs in the fields of agribusiness, manufacturing, property and services.

According to CEDA communications executive, Wanetsha Mosinyi, CEDA wants to share in formation on varied product lines and its mandate, as well as share the impact of CEDA in facilitating and financing commercially viable businesses.

'We have decided to monitor these businesses on a monthly basis, and that way we will be able to see how to mitigate the challenges that are faced by our clients,' said Mosinyi.

He said their aim is to develop businesses by offering them mentoring and identifying market, which is a big challenge to the local entrepreneurs.

The tour started in Nata where journalists were introduced to Seloma Tiro who is managing director of Ilala Holdings. He said the project was granted a loan in February this year to establish the Engen Filling Station with a Barcelos franchise.

'The business is strategically located in Nata which is on a convergence and a transit for motorists and tourists to Maun and Kasane,' he said.

According to Tiro, the business has been fully established and it is doing very well. It commenced operation in April 2010 and it currently employs 140 workers, most of whom are from Nata.

From Nata, the tour proceeded to Kasane where journalists met with another CEDA client, Maipelo Mmekwe, whose loan was approved in April 2009 to start up a poultry business.

The funds she got were to be utilised for buildings, water connection, poultry equipment, point of lay pullets, a delivery van and working capital.

However, the client got an additional loan in May this year as the first one proved to be inadequate.

'The business started last year in October. I did it because my parents are in the same business,' she said.

She noted that the business is doing well, pointing out that she stocks about 1, 200 layers on average which produce about 1, 000 eggs a day.

Another project in Nata is the Tshenyo's Fruit and Veg Farm which got a loan in September 2009 to finance horticulture start-up project in Kazungula.

The director of the company, Solomon Tshenyo, says he plans to supply Chobe.

Other businesses that were funded by CEDA in the Chobe region include Upengu Tours and Safaris, Ron's Fresh Produce, Sickle Bush Safaris, Water Lily Lodge, Ntopa Investments, Panda Spares-Garage and in Francistown, Thrustbore Botswana, Modern Woodworks, Bate Investments, Kwaedza (Pty) Ltd, Jireh Physiotherapy Clinic, Sharashara Investments, Welltronix Investments and Gondo Gondo.

The media practitioners were generally impressed with the CEDA initiative. The journalists got enlightening first hand testimonies and from the business owners.

CEDA provides funding for capital expenditure, stock or working capital in new and existing business ventures.