14 Sep 2020

As they always say; experience is indeed the best teacher.

This is evidenced by Mr Freddy Zwebangwe, who runs a milling business in Tonota.

He tells the story of having been ‘stupid’ to go into a partnership in a business that he started alone under difficult circumstances in 2009.

He explained that after agreeing to go into business with a friend, they applied for a CEDA loan of P100 000, which was approved.

When they fell out, it became difficult to service the loan and they parted ways.

Mr Zwebangwe said the business was now back on its feet and he hoped for success.

He said his clientele came from as far as Francistown and surrounding villages and on a good day, he could make up to P2 000 both from milling and selling packages of sorghum meal.

He said he bought grain from the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board and mills  to supply both big and small retail shops as well as tuckshops in Tonota.

Mr Zwebangwe said the COVID-19 pandemic resurrected his business because he supplied government with sorghum meal for the relief food basket.

He said impressive returns helped since he managed to fix some of the challenges that busines encountered.

The 33-year-old Sebina-born businessman said he cut his teeth in milling while working for Mosweu Milling Company in Sebina between 2001 and 2006.

After quitting the job, he applied for a P50 000 grant from Youth Development Fund (YDF), which he used to purchase milling machines.

To show seriousness and commitment to his passion, he did not just stop there, he looked for a place to rent and was lucky to find one, even though the rent was a little bit high.

He said despite challenges such as high electricity bills, his aim was to operate from his own place, in the next two years.  

“The only thing that I see can be a challenge is a business plot because I have long applied for one, but I have not been allocated,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr Zwebangwe also appealed to CEDA to consider assisting its clients with marketing strategies to help them to pay back their loans on time.

He advised the youth in business to not despair when they faced challenges such as the one he faced, adding that being successful meant learning from mistakes as well as from those who achieved their goals.

He said having a mentor could always come handy though not everyone could find one.

Mr Zwebangwe said he shared his story to inspire others who could fall into a similar trap. ENDS