Botswana family open third Barcelos joint

Rail Park Mall’s Food Court got a boost on Saturday as Bobonong couple owned Barcelos opened doors to the third outlet. Taking guests on a journey that led to the opening of the third store Gaothobogwe Radikwata, Managing Director and mother of two said it wasn’t an easy road. “You may see us smiling but you don’t know what we went through,” she said and encouraged Batswana to start their own businesses. Barcelos representative Shaun Stoltz said in 1998 they embarked on an adventure which resulted in 103 outlets in 14 countries serving one million meals a month. Before cutting the ribbon to let invited guests feast on the flame grilled Portuguese menu Vice President , Honorable Ponatshego Kedikilwe said the opening of the shop was a testimony to growing participation by citizens in the country’s economy . In 2009 two Batswana couples formed a company, LEX Investments (PTY) LTD to purchase from their savings, and run Barcelos African Mall and Mogoditshane, but last year the other family was bought out of the business leaving the Managing Director and her husband Loeto Paul Radikwata as the only owners. “I note with appreciation the vigor, courage, perseverance, strength and negotiating skills employed to convince the bank that the project satisfied viability criteria. “I’m impressed that this company has employed 43 Batswana with 19 in Rail Park branch only. In addition, the company spends over P300 000 on a monthly basis purchasing products and services from local suppliers. These efforts are in support of government’s initiative of job creation and poverty eradication,” Kedikilwe said. MP Botsalo Ntuane said it was encouraging to see Batswana youth making it in business and questioned why franchises in Botswana were not in the hands of native. “Government should consider such things,” he said and promised; “We intend to take franchises to task for denying Batswana the chance. We can’t just be buyers only.”

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Bathoen Statue Unveiled

The statue of the great Kgosi Bathoen II was unveiled prematurely recently due to lack of funds to complete a planned project at the site. According to the curator of Kgosi Bathoen II (BKII) Museum, Mika Morima, the unveiling of the statue had to be done because it was 'high timee'. “We wanted to give the community the opportunity to see him,” he said. Morima said they had experienced difficulties obtaining money and that they still owed the creator of the statue, Masilonyana Radinoga. He however said that they were calling for sponsors to come forth through the 'Adopt a Monument' strategy, whereby companies could advertise themselves at the site and in turn take care of of the site and develop it. “We also encourage the community to help. We can complete the site and transform it into a landmark with a lot of significance. We also plan to build a shopping complex with a curio shop, library and even bedding,” Morima said and added that the project was community...

Red Cross donate as Ramaphatle celebrates village status and new chief

Botswana Red Cross volunteers are here in Ramaphatle to donate second hand clothes they collected from Gaborone West Phase 4 residents to the poor. The villagers, however have two more reasons to celebrate; Ramaphatle was recently declared a village and for the first time in the history of the settlement, they will have their own chief, one of their own. “This is the beginning,” says Kgosi Letlole Thobega of Mmankgodi. He is giving a welcome speech at the village’s kgotla. “The government now recognizes Ramaphatle as a village and that means we will have developments. Red Cross is part of development and we should have it here to show that indeed we have grown. Let’s clap and be happy.” Applause! Apart from the road side liquor restaurant that sells delicious chicken pieces, many people don’t know much about this settlement which has just been declared a village. It lies between Mmankgodi and Thamaga villages. Leaning on his walking stick to support his sizeable frame, Thobega co...

ABM awards first Anglia Ruskin University Degrees

ABM University College held a graduation ceremony last Saturday at their campus in Gaborone Block 6 and awarded degrees to the first products of their partnership with UK based Anglia Ruskin University. The event was themed ‘Enhancing Entrepreneurship through appropriate Human Resource Development and guest of Honour, Tebogo Matome, CEO of Local Enterprise Authority said it called for introspection, specifically on the role of educational institutions in fostering creativity and innovation among students. He said to the students and their well-wishers; “There is consensus and common understanding that as a country we cannot make progress in our development, unless our human resource development is in consonance with our developmental needs. “It is also a fact that we cannot boast of first class entrepreneurs unless our universities become more entrepreneurial by doing more to foster an entrepreneurial culture within their students.” The five degree courses in business, accounting, fina...

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