The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency was established by the Government of Botswana to provide financial and technical support for citizen businesses.
Mme Tebogo Direng is a 43-year-old well established cattle farmer in western Sandveld. A banker by profession (Head of Consumer Operations at a local commercial bank), with two Masters Degree (MBA and MSc and soon to enrol for PhD)
Meet Dr Gaoitsiwe Saleshando (47), founder and Managing Director of Renal Care Institute (RCI), the first specialized kidney centre in Botswana. This is a proudly CEDA- funded project. Proudly so because this was a start-up project. CEDA financed Dr Saleshando from inception.
We often get asked if we finance filling station businesses? Meet Mme Simisani Makgetho, proud owner of Engen Filling Station in Ramokgwebana. Mme Makgetho (66) approached CEDA in 2016 for a loan to establish this filling station and after she had satisfied all the requirements,
Meet Mr. Abeng Bolokang (33) and his wife, Mrs. Koketso Bolokang (30), the youthful owners of Cappello Letlhakane franchise
#FundedByCEDA
at the Teemane Mall.
When they heard about Teemane Mall, Mr. Abeng suggested running a Cappello there.
Yesterday we visited the youngest CEDA client in Ghanzi, 19 year old Promise Kgari. Promise finished his Form 5 in 2018 at the age of 17. To keep him busy, his parents bought him 80 layers (dikoko tsa mae)and he erected a makeshift chicken coop right in their residential yard.
Meet Rre Gibson Ntibi (62) who owns Motherwell Investments (PTY)Ltd, a company that packages tea, branded REAL TEA, at block 3 industrial in Gaborone.
Rre Ntibi worked at Five Roses from 1988 where he rose through the ranks and became the first Motswana Director until 2013
Meet Ms. Prudence Pule, a young Motswana from Selebi Phikwe and owner of The Inspidocs, Botswana’s first-ever international-standard kids media franchise(cartoon series)
#FundedByCEDA
.
Meet 33 year old Otalenna Mothadiwa from Toromoja. She has been financed by CEDA to build multi residential houses in Letlhakane. Otalenna’s late mother bequeathed her an empty plot in Letlhakane and she had been pondering on what to do with the plot for a while...
Kabelo Mooketsi is 29 & finished his form 5 at Swaneng Hill Secondary School in 2009 and got his degree from University of Botswana in 2015. His love for cattle was instilled in him by his parents from a tender age and after tertiary he knew he was destined for cattle farming
Nomsa Lukashe owns and runs NomLu Nail Bar , situated at Fairgrounds Mall in Gaborone (Dada Mall).
Nomsa is a graduate of Information Systems and has always been passionate about beauty care and nails in particular.
Breaking: CEDA CEO Mr Thabo Thamane has just been elected Chairman of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI). He was elected at the Annual General Assembly ongoing in Malabo, Equitorial Guinea. Mr Thamane takes over from the CEO of DBSA
For many of us, losing a job means the end of the road. It becomes even more devastating when you lose your job abruptly, without a warning. For Mme Kedidimetse Ntwaagae, losing her job turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Here is her story:
Meet 28-year old Oratile Mdojwa. He owns and runs a company called Amazing Industries and he indeed does amazing things. He manufactures plastic bags. He realized how the plastic industry was dominated by foreigners, all of whom operated from Gaborone and one decided to go in.
Mme Emang C Pilane (36), Gilbert Gouwe (44) and his sister Lesego Gouwe (46) have been funded to run the biggest auto brand in Botswana, MOTOVAC. And hey, they don’t own just one franchise.They own two MOTOVAC franchises, one in Mochudi and the other one in Pilane.
Meet Dr. Stalin Bombo & Dr. Etsaone Sekaname the brains behind the newly opened private hospital in Orapa, Meepo Medicentre,
#ProudlyFundedbyCEDA
.
A first of its kind in Boteti, Meepo Medicentre is a state-of-the-art hospital with the latest and modern medical equipment
And the winner is LUDO RUTH NTSHIWA. Ludo is the FIRST female winner of the CEDA/DBSA University Challenge. She has won a cash prize of P350 000, which is inclusive of the P300 00 cash prize and an additional P50 000 because she is female.
Proudly made in Botswana and dutifully financed by CEDA.
Rre Tumelo Sedirwa (37) is the proprietor of Tile Mate, a Lobatse-based company that manufactures and supplies tile adhesive and bonding liquid for both ceramic and porcelain tiles.
We met with
@Mphoeng_M
to finalize the logistics for the LIVE interview with our CEO. Details to be released soon. Follow
#BotsaCEDABW
and
#CEDABWUnpacked
to make sure you don’t miss out on the conversation.
𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐋𝐒 - Meet the young dynamic farmers, Katlego Gobotswang Letebele & his wife Phatsimo Robin Letebele. After getting married in 2017, they acquired a farm at Mokokela Lands, near Paje & embarked on small stock farming
#FundedByCEDA
Thank you very much for tuning in to today’s conversation, le kamoso
@Mphoeng_m
For more information on any of our products and services please contact our Toll Free line on 0800 600 253.
#BotsaCEDABW
#CEDABWUnpacked
And the date is set,on Friday at 0830hrs CEO Thabo Thamane goes Live on Facebook with
@Mphoeng_M
to discuss the Revised Guidelines with insightful questions from you.
Catch the live stream right here on the CEDA page on Friday at 0830hrs.
#BotsaCEDABW
#CEDABWUnpacked
This is Ishmael Koosimile, the owner of Golden Hills Spur in Francistown. Rre Koosimilwe emptied his savings to start this franchise (it’s a long story for another day) but still, he was short of several millions of Pula to get everything up and running.
Bloom Sanitary Pads, an innovative enterprise
#FundedByCEDA
, was founded by Mr. Gogontle Nchemele Basiami. His journey began in 2017 with a compelling proposal submitted to the CEDA/DBSA University Challenge,
We celebrate mogaka wa Mme
Yesterday we visited Mme Basiame Kgakgamatso Katuuo (40), a livestock farmer at Itlhalose cattle post in the outskirts of Hunhukwe, Kgalagadi North.
Meet Mmes Julia Ramanteba and Rolang Mpe, inseparable friends & proud owners of the Engen Filling Station in Lobatse
#FundedByCEDA
.
These besties were formerly employed at Engen/Wimpy Westen Bypass and during their time there,
There are only 3 companies that manufacture brick force in Botswana and only one of them is citizen-owned. It’s called Golden Fremont Group t/a Moratwa Steel and owned by young Batswana based in Phikwe Industrial.
Board Chair of CEDA, Dr. Alfred Tsheboeng says the revised CEDA guidelines will not only make borrowing cheaper but also provided extended loan repayments periods.
Hey Mphoeng, Thank you for taking the time out to revisit the guidelines. How about a one on one conversation with our CEO to address whatever questions you may have. Our CEO is always happy to have a chat and engage with Batswana like yourself.
When Gilbert Peacock was just 5 years old, his father gave and assigned him a calf that had lost its mother. Gilbert and this calf grew up together as best buddies. He took care of this calf and that’s where and how his love for cattle started.
We showed you taxis, buses and trucks that were financed by CEDA and I bet you thought that’s as far as we can go. Well, ladies and gentlemen welcome on board flight A2-UBS courtesy of CEDA and NGAP Flight Academy. We finance all the way from the ground to the skies🛩✈️🛫🚁
More often when we hear about successful farmers in the Pandamatenga area, we think of male white farmers. Let me introduce you to this phenomenal young lady who is doing wonders right among these well established commercial farmers in the Panda Farms.
We traveled to Lorwana village near Digawana to meet Rre Othusitse Justice Mokgele (48), a visually impaired (motlhoka pono) businessman who beat all the odds to become a successful entrepreneur with multiple enterprises under his name.
Rre Bareng Moahi (74) and his wife Dr Serara Moahi (67) own and run Maranatha Academy of Excellence, a Secondary School at Lodubeng in Kanye. This secondary school was financed by CEDA and there is a story to where it all began.
While in Phikwe we visited Rre Kenneth Spencer Dibotelo of Better Stationery in Phikwe. Rre Dibotelo manufactures envelopes, exercise books and hard covers. He currently employs 130 locals at his factory.
No business is too big or small for our support. We are always eager to jump in where we see dedication and 33 year old Tshepiso Sox Nyepetsi; a true ‘hustler’ from Mmathubudukwane & living testimony to the phrase,when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Batswana have spoken and we are proud to announce the top two hashtags for the highly anticipated discussion between our CEO Thabo Thamane and
@Mphoeng_M
this week.
29-year old Leatile Mokgware is a go-getter;very energetic and eager to succeed. When his Agric project failed to take off, he looked for a job at one reputable tyre services company.He had zero experience in the tyre industry and all he needed was a job to put food on the table.
Mme Khumoetsile Kebinatshipi (58) wakes up
at 1:45am every morning and she is now used to it.
The reason she wakes up that early is because she wants to supply her customers with fresh bread every morning.
Those road markings and those reflective things that make disruptive “ghagha” noise when you drive on top of them(we have learned they are called road studs) are the works of two Batswana women, Mme Daisy James (41) and Mme Thato Sengwaketse(45).
It is here, it is happening!
THE REVISED CEDA GUIDELINES LAUNCH.
Something Transformational.
Something Inclusive.
Something Fresh.
Something Versatile.
Something Bold.
#CEDA
It is so pleasing to see the youth taking unemployment head on. 30 year-old Tiny Ditshwene started this business when she was only 23 years old and not only did she create source of income for herself but created employment for her brother Aubrey and another young lady in Ghanzi.
Meet the Master Farmer. One of Botswana’s hope for sustainable food security. Rre Elias Mokwapa Ramusu (73) is a crop farmer (dry land farming) at Phuduhudu Lands and has been with us since he got his first funding in 2008 when we bought him his first Combine Harvester,
Lincon Mogotsi (27) is from Gamodubu and runs a carwash in Gaborone block 6. (Side ya United Lounge and Payless)
With a trading license and a letter from the City Council permitting him to operate a carwash, he approached CEDA for funding and bought carwash equipment and benches
Dr Thato Kgosimotho (36) ke mfana wa Moleps. O tsene sekole ha Kgari Sechele Senior and then UB before going abroad to study Medicine at St. George's University, Grenada, in the Caribbean Islands.
In 2014, when Omphemetse Kenewang was just 26-year-old, the youthful & ambitious woman found herself at a pivotal event where the then Minister of Trade & Industry revealed how high Botswana's import bill was.
THE PRIDE OF KANYE
We are often told Bangwaketse ke batho ba ba dumelang mo kagong. Well, what many of them might not be aware of is that the wire nails (dipekere) used by carpenters to network the timber for roofing are manufactured right here in Kanye by ngwana wa mo Kanye.
RocoMamas started serving at Airport Junction Mall in Gaborone in November 2018 and has fast become one of the trendiest restaurants, garnering a loyal following of burger enthusiasts.
The brand position of “We’re Not Normal” is evident in the funky décor, rock ‘n roll vibe,
AMOGELANG MEDUPE (24) is a Chemical Engineering student at BIUST. Her project is called “pyrolysis of coal dust for production of tar.” The main raw material in this project is coal dust, a by-product of coal mining. She believes project is viable because Bots has abundant coal
Mr. Phalatona Kefhilwe (32) graduated as Software Engineer from Malaysia in 2012. He came back home and worked as IT intern at one local company before being hired as temporary Maths and Computer Science teacher at Letlhakane. He was left in limbo when his contract came to an end
Yesterday we visited Dr Pogiso Letswere of Your Family Dentist-Dental Clinic in Ghanzi, another CEDA funded enterprise.
Dr Letswere graduated from University of West Indies in 2008 and was immediately posted at Marina Hospital in Gaborone.
Rre Jackson Itumeleng (39) owns Hacks Investments,a Molepolole based company that supplies sand and concrete aggregates all over Botswana.A Mechenical Engineer (Bsc Mech)by profession, his services include civil works, supply of river sand, pit sand, concrete and gravel.
Veronica Sebopeho Sebudi studied Optometry at the University of Glasgow in the UK.She then came back home and worked in private practice in Francistown. After 5 years working for someone, she decided to establish her own practice and that’s how Divine Vision Optometrists was born
MONETIZATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WITH MR. LETLHOGONOLO MOREMI.
Letlhogonolo Moremi is a Managing Director and Lead Consultant at ParkGrey Intellectual PropertyConsultancy.
Mr. Moremi is an Intellectual Property Lawyer and Creative Development Practitioner from UB.
POWER COUPLE TRANSFORMS MATHATHANE INTO PARADISE
A real estate magnate, Rre Bale and his wife have established Selepswe Resort in the area, just five kilometers shy of Mathathane village.
Meet Rre Wincott Samaka & his lovely wife, Mme Bana Gaotlhobogwe Samaka, the driving force behind Readira Bricks & The Star Sterope, proudly
#FundedByCEDA
.
Since their inception in 2012, they've evolved from aggregate suppliers to successful brick manufacturers.
KE MOGAKA KA CEDA
These were the words expressed by CEDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thabo Thamane at the launch ceremony of a country wide sensitization campaign by journalist and influencer Sonny Serite
@kuvuki
Meet the Bagwasi siblings, the owners of the Makoro Chickens & Abattoir family business situated south of Palapye founded in 2004 by their parents and
#FundedByCEDA
.
In 2020, faced with challenges, Mme Onkutule Makgatlhe, Wanano Bagwasi, and Chakalisa Bagwasi,
The story of Mme Koone Oosi Chilume (53), a native of Marapong village, rings true to the old adage, every cloud has a silver lining.While still working for Government under the Malaria Control program in Maun, Mme Chilume had a life threatening car accident that left her...
Co-owned by Rre JB Gampone (60) and Mme Ruth Pholo (53), HB Bricks N’ Pavers supplies bricks and pavers for domestic construction works and large commercial projects. They have supplied bricks for large projects such as the BHC 160 flats in Palapye.
Introducing Smart Paper, the sole manufacturer of thermal rolls in Botswana & one of three in Africa. A proudly 100% citizen-owned company, founded by a passionate couple hailing from Mmankgodi
#FundedByCEDA
and based in Francistown.
Meet Rre Mompati Solomon(45) of Masiatilodi Ranch on the outskirts of Selokolela village.The Ranch used to belong to Government and was used as a demonstration ranch for agricultural research until it was put up for public raffle in 2009 and Rre Solomon became the lucky recipient
TileMate stands as a shining example of a 100% citizen-owned company
#FundedByCEDA
, proudly located in the heart of Lobatse.
The brainchild of the visionary owners, Mr. & Mrs. Sedirwa, TileMate specializes in the manufacturing & supply of tiling adhesives
Elvis Kgweba (33) is a small stock farmer at Kopje lands, nestled between Moshaweng and Ditshegwane. Born in Molepolole, Elvis has always been a farmer at heart from an early age. After finishing his secondary education, he never looked any further and relocated to his Kopje.
28-year old Precious Kabo Matlho graduated from UB in 2016 and just like many of our youth who struggle to find employment, she stayed home and ran a tuckshop from her parents’ yard in Mochudi.
“Ke bidiwa Tlhabologang Mmamane CEDA Johnson, ke fana ka CEDA ka gore ke se keleng sone ka CEDA”, that’s how Mma Johnson introduced herself when we visited her at Mosisedi Farm 9 in the Barolong area.
Just like your ordinary Motswana boy-child, Andy Camm (41) grew up going to his grandfather’s cattle post every school holiday to help look after cattle. That is how the love for cattle was instilled in him.
Xaoo Safari Camp, a venture owned by the young & dynamic couple, Mr. Ratanang Tsayang and his wife Onalenna Tsayang, is nestled in the NG35 concession, approximately 50 kilometers from the bustling town of Maun.
Mr Rollen Madikwe is the breadman in the Tswapong area. He owns and runs Go-Moeng Bakery in Ratholo.
One day Rollen’s mother attended a Kgotla meeting addressed by the area Councillor and when she got home, she updated Rollen on what the councilor said at the meeting.
This morning we visited Kefhilwe Ntshoma. She owns and runs Kefhilwe Boutique in Selebi Phikwe. She got funding from CEDA in April 2019 through the Mabogo-Dinku facility.
She used the money to buy stock in China and Turkey and for shipping it down to Botswana.
“I WENT TO CEDA THINKING I KNOW WHAT I WANT, UNTIL THEY SHOWED ME WHAT I REALLY NEED”
After quitting his job as mechanical engineer at Orapa Mine in 2011, Rre Moses Manake (56) pondered on what he could venture into.
We visited Rre Modise Dommy Jeremiah of Family Pride, a milling company in Tsetsebjwe that employs over 70 locals. Yep, over 70 families have food on the table because of this hardworking businessman.
Rre Jeremiah has been in the milling industry for over 20 years.
The stage has been set..CEDA CEO Mr Thabo Thamane sits down for a conversation with
@Mphoeng_m
Be sure to tune in on our Facebook Page for the LIVE Broadcast of the interview at 0830hrs. A link will be shared here so you can follow the conversation
#BotsaCEDABW
#CEDABWUnpacked
This morning, CEDA CEO, Mr Thabo Thamane addressed the nation on BTv and gave an update on the Agency’s efforts during the Covid- 19 pandemic. He also announced the launch of the Agency’s latest product, “Letlhabile” which is an Informal Sector Stimulation Programme.
Rre Tebo Selemela (41) and his wife Mme Thuso Selemela (38) run LLH Coach Tours, a transport company that provides travel and tours transfers within and outside Botswana and have buses that provide public transportation between the Gaborone-Moshupa route.
This evening the CEDA Chief Executive Officer, Rre Thabo Thamane will be live on BTV. Tune into “THE EYE” tonight at 2000hrs
#BuildingBatswanaforBotswana
Meet 29 year old Botsile Tshepo Moreba of Sanctified Delights, a bakery in Bobonong. Botsile started small with funding from Youth Development Fund (YDF) and he got a pleasant shock when he won tenders to supply local schools with bread.
These are the top 10 graduates (who made it from 1978 application), the first batch to benefit from CEDA’s Graduate Development Programme launched in 2019. This week they'll be inducted, before being assigned to their respective departments.
Welcome ladies and gents.
Mme Matshelo Lesole (44) runs a textile shop at the Serowe main mall. She started small at her home until she approached CEDA in 2016.
CEDA bought her four industrial sewing machines (overlocking machine,buttonhole machine and straight machines).
Meet Nametso Tshegofatso, the unstoppable owner of City Active Life & Fitness Gym in Francistown, proudly
#FundedByCEDA
!
Her journey began in 2011, with only a 177m² gym, and by 2017, thanks to CEDA's support, she expanded to a massive 703m² fully equipped gym.
Today we share the story of Ditec Mobile, an electronics company that we have been helping to get its grip for the past 14 years. Thatayaone Dichaba (45) a native of Tamasane, has always been fascinated by gadgets from a young age.
Meet Oratile Mdojwa & Mmoloki Captain Rapoo, long-time friends & co-owners of Amazing Industries, a plastic manufacturing company based in Selibi Phikwe
#FundedByCEDA
.
Recognizing foreign dominance in the industry, they sought CEDA funding during the pandemic
Obert Morgan,founder of Obert Fitness,says his company has grown from zero income in 2011 to an annual income of P2million.The company has 23 employees and has since expanded from providing only corporate fitness services to commercial,& offers services to members of the public.
Meet Rre Joseph Itlhobogeng who together with his friends, Chedza Marobela & Nchidzi Mokobi, seized an opportunity presented by challenges in commodity importation during COVID-19. They established Kalahari Shade Net, a shade net manufacturing company proudly
#FundedByCEDA
.
First up is Mme Tlotlo Banyaditse (26). She is from Moshupa and sells clothes and shoes at the Gaborone Bus Rank. She started with sweets, airtime and cigarettes and then decided to approach CEDA for a loan to introduce clothing and shoes to her trade.
Rre Jabulani Jelly (50) has been doing panel beating for as long as he can remember and he gained a lot of experience along the way. Around 2007 he started his own panel beating company, Cosmex (PTY)Ltd.
@EarlOfGC
is an experienced Data Scientist. Mr. Mpa is currently a partner and Data Scientist at Seriti Insights, responsible for research, solutions development, and technical resources strategy.
#BotsaCEDABW
#CEDABWUnpacked
Meet Mme Khumo Ockhuizen, the owner of The Ock Tree Inn self-catering in Letlhakane, a success story
#FundedByCEDA
.
Mme Ockhuizen's journey began with a tuckshop in Satellite ward, Francistown, later evolving into 'Mmaseapei,' selling roadside delights in front of Sefalana.
Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) is recruiting for suitably qualified individuals for the following positions:
Strategy Manager
Product Development Specialist
Internal Auditor
Collections Officer- Gantsi Branch
Fraud and Physical Security Analyst
This is bro Tshegofatso Martin Modisenyane (41). He is into fashion and apparel. O maswe thata mo African attire. He took Letlhabile loan to expand his business and operates from block 8 in Gaborone.