Too often business proposals require one to explain whether one has surveyed the market and the risks within the particular business. This was the same in Segolame Ngwako’s case after being rejected once by the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) in 2017.
Ngwako, who had just moved to Letlhakane from Orapa, said when she got to their residential home in Letsibogo Ward, she was surprised to learn that the area had neither a butchery nor a general dealer store. This was the origin of her idea to approach CEDA but she was rejected when she did. Ngwako is a fashion designer by training and had been running a fashion business for years.
She and her husband were able use their personal resources to build a general dealer and fresh produce store and decided to re-approach CEDA with a different plan. This time they were looking for funds to buy stock and machinery. “Our plan was approved and we have been able to secure what we needed,” she said.
Their butchery and fresh produce, called Tatso, will officially open for the convenience of her fellow villagers, especially in their Letsibogo Ward.
Even though she was turned down the first time, today Ngwako describes her experience with CEDA as a smooth one. Now stronger as an entrepreneur and as a person, she is happy that she has learnt what to do and what not to do in business. Most of all, she encourages people to adhere to be upright in the running of their businesses and to service their CEDA loans within schedule.
