SMD imparts SMEs management skills to Kao community

’MAKERESEMESE LETUKA

MASERU – Small business traders within the Kao region in Botha-Bothe have been advised to ensure they register their businesses and acquire trading licenses in order to reap maximum benefits and to help them grow. Mining company, Storm Mountain Diamonds (SMD), on yesterday held a business forum for the Kao area business community as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.

The forum was intended to provide guidance on key issues and skills which are required for small businesses to operate in a profitable and sustainable manner. The forum was also meant to present an opportunity for the businesses to network with other entrepreneurs and share experiences and lessons learned.

Businesses were presented with opportunities of growth, investments, saving and budgeting from Standard Lesotho Bank. Lebohang Mafela said he has learned that small business owners lack knowledge of running their business, they just establish them for means of survival, “as BEDCO we are going to model their business plans until they are now up and running but in order to do that we advise them to register their businesses and have trading licenses,” he said.

On behalf of the Kao community business owners Mpho Ratia, who is in the business of selling clothes, said she has acquired a lot of skills and ideas on how to market and help her business grow, also learned the importance of registering a business and book keeping. The forum was held at Moroeroe Lodge, in Botha-Bothe, and graced by the presence of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Small Business Development, Cooperatives and Marketing and Standard Lesotho Bank.

“The mine held this forum to help the Kao community businesses to grow and equip them with skills and knowledge so that they can be able to compete with bigger businesses,” said ’Malehlohonolo Mojaki, SMD Sustainability manager. SMD operates a diamond mine in the Kao area of the country’s Botha-Bothe district. The company is jointly owned by Namakwa Diamonds and the government of Lesotho. The mine has an active CSR programme aimed at improving the livelihoods of the communities surrounding our operations.