It all started out when she regularly visited the Venda tribe in South Africa, after developing some love for their pottery making. Agnes Mothowakgosi, a Serowe resident, took the decision and came up with the same business idea of making and selling pots in Botswana.
“My company is called ‘Aggy and Ory Company’; I started it three months back with my sister Orelebe Ebineng. Though we were not funded by anybody in particular, we started out with our own capital after selling ‘mophane worms’. I am positive that it will come up well. Batswana have been supportive in buying the pots from the word go,” said Mothowakgosi.
She stated that her customers are mainly shops, especially those selling traditional items and the elderly because they still have their culture preserved even during the modern times.
During the just ended 12th National Women’s Exposition held at Ditshupo Hall in Gaborone, Mothowakgosi had her work exhibited in a way that caught the eye of the public in large numbers.
Questioned on how she makes the pots different from those of others in the same business, she stated that she uses mould that was used in the olden days and marks the sizes of the pots on each of them.
“Whoever is interested in the pottery-making business should feel free to come and see us so that we can assist them wherever possible,” she said.
Still at the expo, Dinah Botha, from Kolonkwaneng, 96 kilometres from Tsabong, exhibited her ‘motlopi beverage’, coffee prepared from ‘motlopi’ tree.
“Motlopi coffee is natural and caffeine free. It’s suitable for all ages and selling very well throughout the whole country. Women are my main customers and I hear that it’s very good for period pains and high blood pressure,” said Botha.
Botha explained that the challenge she faces when processing the coffee is the stress and workload that comes with it, more especially when digging the roots. She said that a lot of people do not stay for long when she hires them to assist because it’s exhausting, so she has her seven children assisting at the moment.
The Expo offers women entrepreneurs an opportunity to come under one roof to showcase and market their products as well as to network with other entrepreneurs.
The event is held annually and is coordinated by the Women’s Affairs Department with the support of stakeholders from civil society organisations, private sector, parastatals and other government departments. The theme for this year is “Women Entrepreneurs in the Informal Sector: Pillars in Economic Diversification.”
Kelebogile Kgabi, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs stated that the Women’s Affairs Department under the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs initiated the National Women’s Exposition on realisation that micro enterprises needed some development, especially in market access.
Over 200 exhibitors drawn from all over the country showcased various products ranging from textile, basketry, crafts, agricultural products, herbs, livestock and household goods.
