05 Aug 2015

More jobs will be created in rural areas through the proposed Special Economic Zones Bill.

When debating on the bill, Nata-Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga, said special economic zones would see more job creation in rural areas.

He said the economic zones would create conducive environment for business people and at the same time helping the economy grow.

Mr Majaga cited areas such as Ngamiland, as a special economic zone, where economic activities, such as fishing could be lucrative and benefit Batswana in that area.

Shoshong MP, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele also supported the proposed bill.

He said, since the bill suggested setting up of the special economic zones authority, the authority should focus more in rural areas, adding that it should strategically look at rural areas and also profile those areas.

He also suggested that the authority should look at the areas, which were hard hit with poverty, as that would see more jobs created in those places.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi also supported the proposal, noting that the country had in recent years moved backwards in terms of diversifying the economy.

He said the bill was delayed, arguing that had the idea been looked into and explored back in the years, when the country’s economy was stable, Botswana could be a rich country through those special economic zones.

Mr Mmolotsi also cited Ngamiland, as an area that could be a special zone and Batswana benefiting from it in terms of tourism, as the authority would make sure that Batswana were not exploited.

Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, echoed Mr Mmolotso’s sentiments that the proposed bill came late.

He said a long list of countries worldwide with best economies, citing China as the most leading in economic growth, had gone through the special economic zones route.He, however, said special economic zones could only work, when other issues were looked into, such as clear targets of the bill in terms of measurable deliverables. 

In his presentation last week, Minister Seretse said employment creation, infrastructure development and funding of mega projects, were heavily reliant on government and state-owned enterprises.

He, however, noted that those challenges, could be addressed through the establishment of special economic zones. Ends