07 Aug 2024

Moshana community project that seeks to commercially exploit the silky soils found in the village has emerged tops in the Kanye District business idea pitch sessions and will be among those that will feature at the mindset change campaign one year anniversary celebrations billed for Seronga on August 14.

One of the adjudicators, Dr Minah Mosele, said in an interview on Wednesday that the Moshana project concept was well thought-out and had convinced the panel of judges that the project carried commercial value that could benefit the wider economy and not just that of the village.

Dr Mosele said in its presentation, the group had shown that the soils, which come in a diverse spectrum of colours could be used to produce goods such as bricks and roofing tiles.

Regarding the possibility of the project dying due to the soils getting depleted in the future, she said, the presenters had assured the panel that that risk was minimal as the soils replenished naturally during rainy seasons, therefore making the project sustainable in terms of raw material availability.

She said what also came across as interesting in the presentation was the issue of the conservation of the environment, especially in light of the group’s report that people who were aware of the presence of the special soils exploited them with no benefit to the community, in the process degrading the environment as they sourced the soils with no due care.

She said the group had indicated that in taking charge of the sites where the soils were found, they would put in place measures to protect such areas thereby helping to ensure that even their aesthetic value was maintained.

“These are our natural resources that need to be protected and properly managed and what could be better than having the locals themselves doing that! They are the ones that know the environment, they are the ones that know the worth of these resources,” she said.

Dr Mosele noted however that the group was yet to address some pertinent issues regarding the project’s implementation such as identifying the type of equipment that they would require as well as where they would source it.

Also, she said, they were not in a position to state the total cost of getting the project off the ground and the extent to which the project was anticipated to contribute to job creation.

Also in an interview, a representative of the group Mr Ditiro Rakgomo said the soils presented themselves in 12 different colours and could be used for different purposes including colouring floor and roof tiles.

 Plastering and decorating traditional mud huts as well as the production of cosmetic powders were also identified as some potential uses of the soils, he said.

Mr Rakgomo added that their business idea was aligned to the national Vision 2036 which seeks to drive Botswana towards achieving an inclusive economy. He said through the project, Moshana residents would enjoy better access to jobs as they anticipated that the business would employ a sizeable number of locals once in operation.

The impact of the jobs, he said, would not be limited only to employees as their families, local businesses and the general economy of the village would also benefit in some way.

“Our economy as a country will also feel the impact of this project since we intend to produce goods that can also be exported to foreign markets,” he said.  Ends