Kweneng Summit Sparks Call to Rethink Peri-Urban Entrepreneurship

Kweneng Summit Sparks Call to Rethink Peri-Urban Entrepreneurship. A renewed focus on Botswana’s peri-urban economies took centre stage yesterday at the Kweneng Economic Summit, where Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Honourable Baratiwa Mathoothe, called for a comprehensive review of entrepreneurship strategies in regions like Kweneng.

Held at Ntsweng Museum in Molepolole, the summit was hosted by the Office of the Member of Parliament for Molepolole South in collaboration with Market Players. Under the theme “Advancing Economic Development for a Sustainable Future,” the gathering convened local policymakers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and development partners for discussions aimed at strengthening district-level economies.

Minister Mathoothe urged stakeholders to recognize the untapped value of peri-urban areas, citing Kweneng’s strategic location, youthful population, and sectoral potential in agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy as key pillars for growth.

He also highlighted local success stories as examples of transformation in action — including a Molepolole-based small-scale farmer expanding into agro-processing and a young entrepreneur in Hatsalatladi delivering solar lighting to off-grid communities.

For entrepreneurs in Botswana, especially those operating outside of major urban centres, the summit signals a growing recognition of their role in shaping the country’s future economy — and a call for frameworks that support their growth at the grassroots level.