28 Feb 2013

The MP for Mahalapye West has cautioned the ministry of trade to avoid running budget proposals which Batswana could not relate with.

Mr Bernard Bolele said this when debating the trade ministry’s budget proposals in Parliament on Wednesday. He said fines that the ministry was levying through the Registrar of Companies would leave Batswana impoverished.

The MP called on the minister of trade to give tax rebates to local businesses so that they do not become indebted to the state. He commended the minister for coming up with a thorough budget that was well crafted but warned that it ran the risk of failing Batswana business people.

On Brand Botswana, he noted that at an intellectual level, the idea was good but noted that many Batswana in his constituency could not relate to it. On other issues, he cautioned against the many mergers that government had embarked on in the last five years, highlighting that it  could give the impression that when the corporations were formed the country was over ambitious.

He maintained that mergers were negating the ideals that the country had when it came up with corporations that were being combined. He also mentioned that special economic zones should be tied to import substitutions and horticulture promotion in areas where this was viable.

MP for Serowe South, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi applauded the trade ministry for the regulation of traditional brews noting that children who lived in homes where beer was sold would now get the opportunity to study without being disturbed.

On the Economic Diversification Drive programme, she said that her ministry had mandated schools to buy from local businesses to boost local economic industries when procuring bread and uniforms.

She also encouraged the trade ministry to come up with a training plan for local investors so that they could expand their businesses to become large scale enterprises.

On other issues, she said that the Chinese should be prevented from competing with Batswana in retailing and be allowed to operate wholesales. She also called on the ministry to work hand in hand with the agriculture ministry to search for new beef markets.

The MP for Gaborone West South, Mr Botsalo Ntuane complained that Batswana go through so much bureaucracy when registering businesses which was counterproductive. He pointed out the fact that businesses were required to have offices before trading was too restrictive especially on the youth.

Mr Ntuane said the proliferation of parastatals was worrisome and raised a concern that Batswana were being marginalised in the retail and restaurant industries because of people who own franchise rights throughout the country.

He also called on the Competition Authority to look into the issue. Kanye North MP, Kentse Rammidi called on the ministry to promote joint ventures in order to grow local business people.

He also said that he had expected to hear the latest on Palapye Glass manufacturing company and urged the Botswana Development Corporation to invest offshore. ENDS