30 Nov 2015

Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Vincent Seretse says the opening of NAMEMCO Quarries will help government to deliver quality infrastructure and services to communities, including building of roads and other associated facilities.

Officially opening the facility in Palapye, Mr Seretse said the quarry would help support the construction of infrastructure, buildings, road construction and the construction industry within the Central District by supplying concrete stones of all types.

That, he said could not have come at the right time considering all key developments taking place in and around Palapye and government’s initiative for acceleration of economic growth and employment creation, the Economic Stimulus Programme.

To achieve its objectives, he said NAMEMCO must commit to achieve all this through provision of high quality products at competitive prices, adding that customer service should be at the core of their service delivery.

He called upon government departments, parastatals and private sector as well as fellow Batswana to adhere to the Presidential Directive of Economic Diversification Drive that requires all central government, local authorities and parastatal organisations to purchase locally produced products from local manufacturers, service providers provided the products were of good quality, priced competitively and readily available.

He said government through his ministry would ensure and support the success of such industries and businesses by creating a conducive and sustainable business environment that facilitates investments and improves trade.

Mr Seretse who is also MP for Lentsweletau said he was optimistic that the opening of the quarry would contribute to employment generation within the locality.
The company currently has a staff compliment of 23 employees.

“We have no doubt that further direct and indirect employment opportunities will be availed to the local community through development of small businesses by sourcing supplies locally,” he said.
For his part, MP for Palapye and also Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Moiseraele Goya said this quarry would facilitate stimulation of all construction that would take place in

Palapye, adding that the project would in turn stimulate the economy of Palapye. Mr Goya urged the company to adhere to policies in place with regard to mining.

He said the country grappled with mushrooming of illegal quarries and sand mining activities, which had a serious impact on the environment and the community.
He said abandoned borrow pits were not only an eye sore, but also destroy the wellbeing and heritage of Batswana.

NAMEMCO Quarries, which is a majority citizen owned company is a subsidiary company of NAMEMCO Energy, who were in partnership with Inyatsi Construction of Swaziland. NAMEMCO quarries also have a granite quarry used by Botswana Power Corporation for the building of the current power plant.

It deals in providing aggregate and construction related products, including concrete, road stone, crusher dust and crusher run. The company which expects to operate the quarry for the next 20 years is situated less than three kilometres away from the expansion site of Morupule. Ends