The Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB), through its Social Performance Programme, recently held a graduation ceremony for women basket weavers from the villages of Shakawe and Samochima in the Okavango District.
The graduation marked not only a celebration of craftsmanship and creativity but also a step forward in empowering local artisans for sustainable livelihoods. The DTCB has pledged to assist the basket weavers by providing a shelter where they can store their materials and display their baskets for sale.
Over the past four months, the women underwent specialised training in product development and quality control, aimed at improving the quality and market readiness of their baskets. The initiative seeks to transform traditional craft practices into sustainable sources of income while positioning the products for regional and international markets.
DTCB Corporate Affairs Manager, MacDonald Motsele said the basket weaving programme forms part of the company’s broader Social Performance Strategy, which focuses on creating sustainable livelihoods across Botswana. He noted that the training was a milestone under a P2.6 million project dedicated to constructing a basket weaving workshop and exhibition centre in Samochima. Once completed, the facility will provide artisans with greater access to larger markets, including tourists visiting the Okavango Region.
Kgosi Osenotse Koloi of Samochima Village spoke of the cultural importance of basket weaving, describing it as a heritage craft that women have successfully turned into profitable ventures. He commended DTCB for recognising the craft’s commercial potential and for empowering women, many of whom are the main providers for their families.
He added that by learning to produce high-quality baskets that can compete on an international scale, the artisans uplift themselves and strengthen their community.
Kgosi Gonetame Moetse of Shakawe also applauded DTCB’s continued investment in women’s empowerment initiatives. He urged the graduates to take pride in their craft and maintain the standards they acquired during training.
One of the graduates, Moshova Moshonya, expressed gratitude to DTCB for the opportunity and appealed for the programme to be extended to others who were not part of the group, including the youth and the visually impaired.
Through initiatives such as this, DTCB continues to promote cultural preservation, community empowerment, and the creation of sustainable economic opportunities for women in Botswana. With new skills and a new shelter on the horizon, the women of Shakawe and Samochima are ready to weave a brighter future, one basket at a time.
