The Farm’s tasty new addition
Ten years after opening its doors to the public, The Farm Bed and Breakfast is branching out and extending its services.
In an exciting development for the Tlokweng-based enterprise, the family-run business has secured a liquor licence and will begin trading as a restaurant by the start of May.
For the joint’s owners, husband and wife duo Moetapele and Nonkululeko Lekene, it marks a big step after a challenging year.
“Last year we applied for a liquor restaurant licence which has since been approved. We are just hoping that restrictions will be relaxed a bit to allow for sit-ins in restaurants. But even if that does not happen, we will operate on a take-away basis for liquor as currently stipulated,” revealed Moetapele, a Computer Science graduate from UB.
INSET: Basele
A plethora of taxes and levies introduced at the beginning of this month is expected to erode consumers’ purchasing power, experts have warned.
Speaking to Voice Money, Quantitative Analyst at First National Bank Botswana (FNBB), Gomolemo Basele, said the tax pronouncements for 2021 will undoubtedly erode the purchasing power of local households in the short- to medium-term – especially against a backdrop of low real wage growth and unemployment challenges due to the negative impact of the pandemic on domestic economic activity.
According to recent data from Statistics Botswana (SB), over 15 000 people lost their jobs between the first and fourth quarter of 2020 as employment dropped by 3.1 percent, leading to unemployment rate going up by 1.3 percent, from 23.2 to 24.5 percent during the period.
BDC target June start for a dairy project
Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) has tentatively targeted June as the start date to finally get operations at Milk Afric up and running.
Launched in April 2016 with the aim of revolutionising the local dairy industry, five years later and the Lobatse-based milk venture is yet to take off.
Indeed, the June commencement is far from certain, with BDC Head – Corporate Affairs & Strategy, Boitshwarelo Lebang admitting it is dependent on first identifying a suitable partner.
HEAD OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS STRATEGY: Boitshwarelo Lebang
The Corporation recently floated an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting interested parties to invest in the project in exchange for an equity stake.
Unlikely topping taking Tutume by storm
Phane and pizza: one is a popular local snack, the other a traditional Italian dish eaten by billions.
Put them together and you have Firehouse Pizzeria’s most popular topping.
The unlikely combination has become a massive hit with residents of Tutume, as the takeaway spot takes the Kalanga town by storm.
Established last December, Firehouse Pizzeria is the brainchild of a forward-thinking trio: Paulos Nyeku, 27, Oarabile Serabe Thanye, 25, and 24-year-old Masedi Shabi.
OWNER: Oarabile Serabe Thanye
The eatery has become famous for its now-signature dish, ‘Phane Pizza’.
“Phane pizza, yes phane pizza, very unusual but you won’t be saying that once you taste it! It tastes as yummy, mouthwatering, and delightful as it looks. You barely notice the phane until you can actually taste it in the pizza. Although it is unusual for phane being in pizza the texture is not that any different from other flavors. It is moist, juicy, crusty, a
ABSA MD reflects on two years in office
It is almost two years since Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane made history, becoming the first Motswana woman to lead Absa Bank Botswana (Barclays Bank Botswana at the time of her appointment).
In this interview with Voice Money’s
KABELO ADAMSON, the Absa Botswana Managing Director (MD) – a position Pheko-Moshagane has held since April 2019 – reflects on her past, present and future.
Describing her journey as ‘incredible’, it is one she hopes will inspire young Batswana, especially women, to aim for the stars.
It’s approaching two years since your appointment at Absa Bank Botswana MD. Kindly reflect on the journey so far.