Cooperative Model Needs Rejuvenation - Minister

Cooperative societies, which date back to 1964, are usually focused on product retail, arts and crafts, savings and credit, cleaning and cattle sales. The basic model for cooperatives in Botswana is a voluntary organisation of community members who jointly finance an activity, whose proceeds they share or loan themselves. Other cooperatives are set up primarily to provide employment for members.

Speaking at the Cooperative Pitso on Saturday, Makgato-Malesu urged cooperatives to shrug off the decades-old approach to business and embrace the opportunities offered by modern commerce.