In my usual pursuit of tracking down historical business insights to predict the future, I bumped into the Hotel-Motel-Patel phenomenon.
This led to the discovery of the Gujarat tribe. A highly enterprising, savvy people from India with a drive to find unheralded success.
Everywhere Gujaratis are to be found running businesses, from corner shops to hotels, textile to motor industry, from tech start-ups to some of the world’s largest conglomerates. Before going any further, the Hotel-Motel-Patel phenomenon emanated from the realization that the Gujaratis by the Patel surname dominated the hospitality industry in the United States. They owned 60 % of the then $85.6 Billion lodging industry in the US by late 90’s.
Everywhere Gujaratis are to be found running businesses, from corner shops to hotels, textile to motor industry, from tech start-ups to some of the world’s largest conglomerates. Before going any further, the Hotel-Motel-Patel phenomenon emanated from the realization that the Gujaratis by the Patel surname dominated the hospitality industry in the United States. They owned 60 % of the then $85.6 Billion lodging industry in the US by late 90’s.
Africa was not left behind too, it is believed the first Gujaratis Allidina Visram from Kutch, in what is now the Gujarat state in India came in our shores in 1863, aged 12. He arrived penniless in Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) on the east African coast. Fourteen years later Visram opened his first shop and soon afterward spotted a great opportunity; opening stores at every large railway station along the 933.4 kilometers of railway track being laid down through Kenya to Uganda in the early 1900s. He continued opening additional stores at Jinja on Lake Victoria.
What is evident is that Botswana is a great launching pad for building multinational companies…Martin De Klerk Moatshe (Entrepreneur & Writer)
In Botswana, it is believed the Gujaratis came over a century ago from South Africa due to the then hostile apartheid rule. One other local prominent successful Gujaratis is Manhar Mooney. He arrived in Botswana around 1979/80 from Zimbabwe, where he was involved in the freedom struggle against Ian Smith’s white-minority rule with “political leader, Joshua Nkomo” of the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU).
Without wasting time, he set up Overseas Development Enterprises (Pty) Ltd in 1980 and took over management of the then 400sqm Trans African Wholesalers which now boost a 10,500sqm space. Fourteen more stores have been opened across the country. As Trans is synonymous with wholesale, he launched JUMBO to specialize in the retail segment. ODE is now more diversified and operates under 4 verticals; Trading (Fast-Moving-Consumable-Goods), Property Development, Property Investments and Hospitality.
In Property Development ODE has completed 2 of the country’s tallest buildings- iTowers. The 21 storey North Tower houses retail outlets, medical facilities, restaurants, offices and penthouse accommodation. The South Tower is a 29 storey building providing upmarket residential apartments, with a contemporary restaurant and bar on the 28th floor to give a scenic dining experience. Other known developments include the Bus Stop Shopping Centre, the sought after LouiVille residential gated communities and the Be Mobile head office in the Main Mall. Part of the group’s Hospitality investments are Travelodge Gaborone, Travelodge Kasane, Room50Two, Kalahari Arms, Mokoro Lodge in Maun and the recently acquired Oasis Motel in Tlokweng. Mooney has almost 65 years business experience and interests across Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, USA and India. He has now dedicated his time in imparting knowledge and mentoring young Batswana aspiring entrepreneurs.
One other Gujaratis, is Harshad Patel, the founder and group chairman of the Motovac Group with operations in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, South Africa and many parts of the UK. The Gaborone headquartered Group enjoys over P1 billion revenue p.a and has spread its investment portfolio which comprises of Delta Pharmaceuticals (distributes pharmaceuticals to Pharmacies, Doctors, Department stores, Pharmaceutical wholesalers, Hospitals and the Central Medical Stores (Govt. of Botswana) plus Various Mines.), Flo-Tek (Pipes, tanks & irrigation), Golden Motor Supplies (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Parts Panel Group, Dunlop Zone Botswana, and Vintage Travel and Tours.
Abdul Satar Dada, a man of many hats. It is arguable that he is the richest man in Botswana. In my growing up I had always drawn inspiration and fascinated by anything that I come across bearing his name. The man exudes unparalleled business shrewdness with a huge diversified investment portfolio.
Dada dominates the Motor Industry from the much-loved Toyota to enjoying exclusive rights to BMWs, Jeep, Hyundai, Fiat, Mercedes Benz, Land Rover and Jaguars. His investments expand to Telecommunications, Property Investments, Finance, Printing and Publishing, and AgriBusiness (Equipment, Feeds, Poultry businesses). He also ploughs back to the marginalized communities through the A S Dada Foundation and has by far built four (4) public clinics. The Billionaire is a Board Chairman of Orange Botswana and of Botswana Railways. His investment spans across the world and all operated from Gaborone, Botswana.
What is evident is that Botswana is a great launching pad for building multinational companies. They all made billions of pula starting with nothing, same market conditions and circumstances, worse enough technology wasn’t there to make their job easier. There was no LinkedIn to poach international contacts or cold emailing, no google or skype to cut traveling cost, no government reliance or tenders, it was pure brilliance and hard work. They went for consumer centric industries that you would depend on daily.
These three powerful businessmen in their own right and many others that I have not included in this article are proof enough that Botswana is ripe enough to realize and nurture your dreams, don’t hold back, just Launch It!
In the next article we will explore how Gujaratis succeed in scaling their businesses. Don’t forget to leave your comment…..
Article By: Martin De Klerk Moatshe (Guest Writer)