Reinforcing entrepreneurship learning among young people
“My business is in the news, where is Informative Newspaper?” Oh yes you probably are somewhere thinking what the turnaround is about. The answer is: our content is and has always been about the big words – ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUSINESS, WOMEN, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY BUILDING!
It is about time the young people of our country took responsibility of their future by stepping ahead of their game. Gone is the time when businesses were founded based on hobbies and common interests. Young people are crying the loudest that they are unemployed therefore the new government has done nothing for their communities in the past 100 days.
Question is, what positive significant change have done for yourself lately?
This issue of Informative Newspaper, Young PEOPLE is aimed at reinforcing entrepreneurship learning among youth. We look at various township business owners who they are, what they do are also what they offer. Yes your business may have made it this far or maybe it’s the best, sales maybe are high but oh boy there are several others hungry for the same clients as you and they are rolling their sleeves to get them no matter what!
We also ask – what action are you taking because worldwide young socially responsible entrepreneurs are demanded to fight youth unemployment while giving back to their very own communities. Are you the one? If not, read this issue and take serious action.
It is my hope that after reading, potential is unleashed in you. To all the young people getting ready for the big world, I believe the articles do empower you to learn the dynamics of the entrepreneurial mindset so much you can tackle challenges head on to grow your business more!
This section is for a young boy who lost hope, a young girl looking for survival money, a student at high school in need of pocket money, tertiary, internship or attachment, home studying, wherever you maybe. Whether you are an unemployed graduate, or being challenged by business, or aspiring to be an entrepreneur, or struggling with a side hustle or job hunting, this is your place.
To the young people reading this paper now, you are special and enough! To the rest of the people, support young people and their initiatives to live, it could be their ideas, their side hustle even their business, it’s all they need to stay alive
Meet Kasi Kota king that keeps you busy!
By Itumeleng Lipala
“Kasi Kota started as a fast food shop selling fish, chips, kota, fatcakes and other fast foods,” said Mr Mathe Lethale founder and owner of Kasi Kota in an exclusive interview with Itumeleng Lipala, an intern journalist at Informative Newspaper.
Kasi Kota is located in Maseru district at the heart of Ha Pita, just before the circle in a busy business area.
Today at the mention of the name Kasi Kota we discover much more! Besides offering great customer service, it is popular for the best all night clubbing activities, hosting celebrity events for elite party goers.
“How did the name Kasi Kota come about?” Itumeleng finds out that Kasi is a popular slang term for location in a township therefore, Kasi is Ha Pita. Kota a special type of meal made from a hollowed out ‘quarter’ loaf of bread filled with a selection of meats, eggs and other elective vegetables. That is where the name ‘’Kasi Kota’’ came from and Lethale became popular for making Kotas in Kasi. He is not only known in Lesotho but in South Africa too as he mentions.
“There were no challenges as such when I started this business as I already had a grocery store business. The only challenging issue at the time seemed to be the chosen location for Kasi Kota; not many local residents preferred fast food at the time,” Lethale relates his story.
He adds that Kasi Kota was opened to serve all residents but their regular customers were only certain groups of people during that time.
“I’m a real food lover and food is my priority, that is why I will keep on pushing to be the best in kota making. I was inspired by Mochachos restaurant chicken wings together with Nandos to be the best I could ever be,” he affirms.
At arrival Kasi Kota you realize it is not a fast food kota tuck shop but a full-fledged restaurant. With a kitchen staff complement of eight employees, their menu boasts in-house pizza, specialty kota, tacos, burgers, rotisserie wings and then Mogodu Monday, a tripartite trend by Kasi Kota, Elibo Guesthouse and Cuban Linx.
Lethale has about 47 employees, mostly young people from different locations that he keeps busy day and night at his business. The night club addresses challenges such as reducing the number of unemployed youth, high crime rate, prostitution among youths, as well as other issues that lead young people to roam around streets meaninglessly at night.
Lesotho is a country hard hit mostly by youth unemployment especially among graduates who at times lack required work experience. Despite the economy being stressed, graduates are hopeful that government will soon intervene in their struggle for jobs. Young people are consistently advised to become entrepreneurs, start their own sustainable businesses thereafter create employment opportunities. Lethale’s business has and continues to contribute significantly towards economic development particularly job creation.
He continues “I am not too particular on the kind of people I employ. I hire any individual looking for a job, I even have students and struggling breadwinners as my employees. Some of my workers have educational qualifications for the job required and similarly there are some with no qualifications at all however they are given a chance to work and prove themselves. Having work experience or not, is not an issue.
Lethale is a true social entrepreneur. Whenever there is a big celebrity event, street vendors are given opportunities to set up stalls at the entrance of Kasi Kota from dusk till dawn and that really helps young business owners to raise a lot of money. He has also given certain people an opportunity to collect cans, sell them and feed families while some collect left overs for their animals after every event. The love and support of the society would also contribute a lot in growing Kasi Kota and placing it on the map to represent the country as a whole.
Not a single weekend night is quiet Ha-Pita. From Friday till Sunday socialites from near and far meet at this place known for hosting local and international music celebrity parties. Kasi Kota has hosted Djs like Fresh, Bootz, artists Senior Oat, Knight SA, Lebtronik SA and many others. During these big events it gets so busy an 800 capacity marquee is conjoined to the club structure thus extending attendance to around 1200 people per night. In the coming month’s event they will host amapiano popular DJ Njelic from South Africa. Lethale is not shy to express gratitude for the love and support of his employees and the community provides as a whole.
He voices that “My employees would not be able to receive their salaries if it was not by the support of the society.”
In closing Lethale says he realized that he should keep on improving his business in order for it to grow. Improving the place and making renovations more often, inventing new recipes and improving customer care services. All the good qualities of Kasi Kota in particular the best meals and good music they play, are exactly what keeps it ahead of other night clubs and restaurants.
Enjoy time out at The Butcher restaurant
By : Kekeletso Mochesane
Looking for a fantastic place to spend some quality time with your loved ones? Well, look no further the Butcher restaurant is obviously a phenomenal choice where family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances can dine! One cannot go wrong with this place.
The venue and restaurant is based at Khubetsoana Selakhapane; previously Leseli community school. The place has a relaxed, casual vibe with an unbeatable restaurant atmosphere. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, also offers venue to host various social activities be parties, musical, comedy shows, picnics or baby showers.
From eccentric setting, tasty food and bar services, this restaurant satisfies every craving with mouthwatering gourmet. So why waste money or obsess over some ordinary fast food when appetizing meals are awaiting for just a loti more? Try their grilled steak, fries or bacon and cheese burger known for its smoky flavor. All of these paired with a flavorsome cocktails, cider, wine or you choice of soda.
Make time for the Butcher restaurant and experience the unique scenery; walking through a long paved path to a nice vintage wooden doors and classically decorated surroundings, plus the quick warm service by friendly staff given as you join the party.
The Butcher restaurant caters for people of different lifestyles, personalities, professions and mostly adults from the age of 18, however it is family friendly and advises minors to be accompanied by parents.
Big Gee Chillas, club with a difference
Big Gee Chillas is an entertainment and refreshment business located at lower Thamae, Maseru. It was launched last year December with the aim of making a club but soon after, the owner discovered to turn it into something more than a club.
Though it is a club, Mr. Teboho Rakhomo, the founder of Big Gee Chillas mentioned it to be an entertainment and refreshment club because it offers variety of events such as movie nights, career guidance and fundraising. These series of events happen at different times after we have analyzed trends for events occurring countrywide. Their aim is to host unique trending events.
With back to school events on the rise, their club hosts young people with the aim of creating awareness on the importance of schools and education. The club does not only cater for youth but older people. They do host back to 80s events in appreciation of their longstanding service to the community.
The owner said competition is notable as the village of Ha-Thamae has many clubs, some of which copied his strategy and this makes him big competitor. However he is not worried since so many innovative offerings are planned.
He aims for his business to be positive lifestyle changer for Ha–Thamae community with younger people taking more responsibility in their behaviors when parting and drinking alcohol. It worries him that their lives are at risk hence his club focuses on offering career guidance activities, where professionals are hired to empower youth on personal development.
Top of his business priorities is a fundraising activity which he wants to hosts to support underprivileged children. Above all he aspires to host corporate events whereby business owners could network. Such events are sure to benefit not only entrepreneurs but many people including him.
On a lighter part he still wishes to host popular clubbing and parting events, with line-up of Dj’s and comedians alike to help guests distress while motivational speakers will be there to boost people’s morale.
He concluded that his aim is not to own a club only but to have a place which helps people at all aspects of live. He said he enjoys to see people attending clubs not to drink as such but to socialize and gain some valuable experiences.
Mogodu Monday refreshment
By ‘Muso Nkhasi
Forget Sunday babalaas and think of the African traditional Mogodu served on Mondays and for this you can thank the proprietors of three eateries – Kasi-Kota, Cuban Linx and Elibo Guest House.
After realising how different entrepreneurs failed as businesses were collapsed by Covid-19 lockdown impacts, the triumvirate came up with Mogodu Monday idea with the purpose of reviving their business. The aim was to have people relax and spend time on Monday at their venues from 12pm till late.
Mpho Molefe, the general manager of Elibo, says Mogodu Monday is not only about entertainment but giving back to the community and providing traditional meals which they all don’t want to see fading.
Looking back at how great-grandmothers cooked Mogodu for families, Elibo wants guests not only to remember old times but look up to it as the embodiment of these great cooks while they prepare mogodu for diners.
She continues to say Mogodu Monday aims to keep traditional meals in existence after realising it was insignificant for other restaurants to provide such in the country. For this reason they found an advantage to cook Mogolu on Monday.
Showing that unity is strength, Ms Molefe explains they alternate with Kasi-Kota and Cuban Linx to serve the meal on Mondays consecutively.
“This event has helped us to give a hand to the community and reduce unemployment at Ha-Seoli as most of our employees are villagers here.
Mogodu is one of the favourite meals to many people and requires a lot of work for preparation and people are too busy to that. So when people knock off from work they find Mogodu ready to eat and rest for another day,” she explained.
Who wouldn’t want to enjoy their profits alone? Ask Elibo Guest House how they manage!
Elibo is not selfish to look to itself only. It looks for community surrounding it. Ms Molefe says they have a Give Back Tuesday event where cooked meals are provided to the orphanages and Ha-Seoli community from the proceeds made at prior events.
Ms Molefe says they consider Ha-Seoli villagers before anybody when giving back adding they are aware of the attention they have been giving to the guest house.
“Giving back to the community is a way to say thank you to them. They have been supportive to us in a long time. We are doing this out of love and freely. We prepare food and clothes, sometimes only t-shirts,” said Ms Molefe.
Elibo Guest House also offers beauty spa, accommodation and drinks.
Be aware that on Tuesday Elibo Guest House is open at 12pm as they are adapting from Mogolu Monday. Find Elibo Guest House at Ha-Seoli at the corner near Santon.
NETWORK MARKETING IS BETTER THAN NOT WORKING AT ALL!
By Lefulesele Mahana and Kekeletso Mochesane
Itumeleng Mothobi, graduated from university 9 years ago with a degree in urban and regional planning. A qualified town planner at heart, she like all other graduates hopped from company to company submitting job applications in the formal sector with hope of being employed. Little did she know that her determination to succeed and live large would lead her into marketing – a career she never studied at school.
“I am grateful for the life I have lived up to now, I probably would not be the person I am today, the future millionaire I am aspire to be. If you are a graduate from any field and like me you are not finding formal employment in your field of study, do not be shy to try out different things that may help you put bread on the table, network marketing is better than not working at all!” Mothobi indicated.
Mothobi was born and raised at Lithabaneng, Ha keiso, Maseru. Seeing that no job offers were coming her way, she decided to take seize opportunities presented. So early 2021 when she was invited to become a network marketer for Umgalalelo Africa, she did not hesitate despite having no marketing background. It was a wake up call to change her life and realize her dreams.
The 31 year old says she joined Umgalalelo Africa, an online store which distributes skincare, hair care, health and wellness quality products made in Africa. She did well in product learning and selling became easy for her.
Being the only stockist in Lesotho, being her own boss, she managed her business with care learning on the job more processes. She took orders from customers sent them to the manufacturer, kept track of deliveries coming in her office from the supplier right until customers had collected. She was also recruiting new members to resell too.
Mothobi had since decided to win from the day she joined. Her large success was motivated by winning the sales and recruitment challenges therefore in her team she exceed targets. She first won a trip to South Africa which impressively amazed many. Later same year she won an iPhone.
A Mosotho citizen who joined an African company just as a network marketer back then was happy when her hard work paid off. She came out top in a sales competition where several other marketers from African countries had taken part. Mothobi became Umgalelo Africa distributor, stockist, senior manager and a car winner.
On the 10th of January, she was handed over a brand new car by the company’s CEO. Something she would have never had, if she had decided to wait for government job offers. What followed her afterward was a competition to go on holiday in Dubai of which she claims was the toughest of all however she qualified and her VISA to Dubai was approved.
Mothobi has taken her work seriously as she now holds network marketing classes and up-skill people on money making skills so they too fight poverty.
“Irrespective of educational background, I will help you if you’re serious. Winning is the most special and inspiring part of the job in this type of business also making money in the comfort of my home,” she adds.
Itumeleng started her job two years ago but she has since relied on it for survival. With the products she sells she has helped a number of people solve their skin problems. So far, 40% of her customers have recovered from all kinds of skin problems.
At least 30% of her recruits are making a decent living out from their profits thus contributing 5% decrease of unemployed people. Itumeleng is continuously inspiring others to do more by celebrating her many victories on social media in an effort to be realized and acknowledged for changing her life while being self-employed.