Women warned against counterfeit metshelo
Many Batswana are quick to jump into communal funding groups (metshelo) at the start of the year without doing background checks on people they are partnering with or knowing exactly what they are investing in.
At the end of the year, many gullible investors walk home empty-handed and stories of people disappearing with their cash begin to emerge.
Boemo Ivy Sibanda (43) of Lotlhakane West and a teacher by profession, says it is important for Batswana, more especially women who are into metshelo, to put their money where they will be able to reap at the end of the year.
She shared that women get scammed in the name of metshelo and the situation worsens year in and year out.
As the founder and chairperson of Basadi Bomme Society which is based in Mmatseta village, she has brought together over 500 women since 2017 in an effort to showcase how motshelo can benefit an ordinary Motswana when done with honesty.
Her heart breaks at the thousands of Pulas that women lose annually while the victims land in hospital beds or in the worst case scenario, die.
Sibanda and team have been doing great things together for the past seven years. They have helped pull each other out of poverty through their crowd funding projects.
“The main aim of the society is to bring together women so that we stand together in times of need. We are a legally registered society, and what we do is have different projects of raising funds for buying household items, toiletry, food, outdoor three-legged pots, and livestock.
“When a member joins us, they choose a project they are interested in, if they are interested in livestock, the contribution is P1 000 each month, three legged pots project is P500 per month, while toiletry and food projects, one contributes P100 and P300 respectively,” Sibanda explained.
Because they are a large group, items and groceries bought each year end are usually so many that the items are delivered in big trucks. When it comes to food, participants usually go home with groceries that last them an entire year.
Sibanda is the coordinator and treasurer of the projects. She is in charge because she does not want to deal with instances where participants’ monies go missing.
“I did this to help Batswana, we have been doing so well, there are no complaints. This is why membership numbers are growing each year and the intention is to have a big group of more than 10 000 people.
“We accept all even those from as far as Maun. We are a team that has women of different professions, doctors, teachers, lecturers, Chief Executive Officers and even those employed in Ipelegeng. However, we are very particular about who we include in the team, we do not wish to attract criminals,' she said.
Sibanda said they have been doing so well that Member of Parliament for Mmopane-Lentsweletau constituency, Nnaniki Wilhemina Makwinja will be joining them at Basadi Bomme.
'Yes I know them, they are doing so well and they have my full support. On the 26th February they will be donating to the less privileged learners of Mmatseta Primary School and I can confirm that I will be with them,' Makwinja said.