24 Jan 2019

Some Batswana have resorted to risking their savings to realise their dreams.

One such is 40-year-old woman of Ntloolengwae ward in Molepolole, Ms Omphemetse Tumisang. 

Ms Tumisang, who owns 78 Hair Salon, which she established in 2017, is a former Gaborone High Court driver.

She resigned after serving government for over 10 years to pursue passion, which she developed during her early school days.

“I developed keen interest in hair dressing and beauty parlor business during my school days and that prompted me to save regularly from my monthly salary for this establishment,” she stated.

She said in 2006, she took unpaid leave to do Trade C in hair dressing and beauty course at Madirelo Training and Testing Centre in Gaborone.

Ms Tumisang said she decided to upgrade herself in 2008 to Trade B at the same institution.

“I was later privileged to attend a workshop offering skills on Black Like Me products from South Africa where I was awarded a certificate of attendance,” she said.

She revealed that learning book keeping and business management equipped her with a firm foundation that helps drive the business.

Ms Tumisang said she was optimistic of acquiring a trading licence to legitimise her operations.  

She said she was able to offer employment opportunities to two youths.

‘‘When you tell people that you are leaving your current job and venturing into business, they would tell you the age still allows you to work for more years without noting other challenges that your work cannot cover, ’she said.

She said her dream was to extend her salon to add a beauty parlor room, adding that she was waiting for loan from Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency’s Mabogo-Dinku programme to help grow her business.

She said she used social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to research on trending hairstyles and hair products to satisfy her customers.

When giving advice on starting a business, Ms Tumisang said patience and dedication were key aspects for one to do well in business. 

She cited power cuts as some of the challenges that regularly impacted on her business operations. ENDS