Mazezuru Sect Women and the Discourse on Subsistence Entrepreneurship: The Botswana Panorama.

The article focuses on the entrepreneurial activities of women from the Mapositori sect (also known as the Mazezuru tribe) in Botswana, examining the determinants of their entrepreneurship and their economic roles. Based on qualitative interviews with 20 informal female traders in Naledi Village, the study finds that these women engage in subsistence entrepreneurship primarily driven by poverty, lack of formal employment, family tradition, and religious-cultural influences. Despite their significant contributions to job creation and poverty reduction, Mapositori women face challenges such as limited formal education, lack of access to government financial support, market competition, and social exclusion due to ethnic and gender biases. The study highlights the need for inclusive policies and targeted support to empower these women entrepreneurs, who embody a unique entrepreneurial spirit rooted in their cultural and religious identity, and contribute to Botswana's sustainable development goals.