24 Jan 2016

The Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Sadique Kebonang, says co-operatives help drive the country’s economy.

Mr Kebonang, who visited departments and organisations under his ministry in Francistown on Thursday January 21, urged the youth to venture into co-operatives.  

He said the departments and organisations existed to assist businesses to thrive. He said of the 14 registered co-operatives in Francistown, only one was operating.

He called for the re-branding of co-operatives so that they could appeal to the youth.

Mr Kebonang said for co-operatives to survive competition in the market those who run them must employ qualified people.

He further advised co-operatives to buy affordable office equipment and use technology to smoothly run their businesses.

Francistown Consumer Co-operative Society Limited representative, Ms Daphne Motlhabi, revealed that they had rented out their building for income generating.

She said they planned to refurbish the building and make it a double storey.  

The plan was compromised by the fact that they have tax arrears amounting to P734 000.

She appealed to the ministry to consider advocating for a lesser tax tariff for co-operatives. 

She also requested the assistant minister to help them clear the arrears.

For his part, Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) branch manager, Mr Isaac Raphutshi, decried lack of office space. 

He said they did not have enough information and technology equipment which affects service delivery at the authority.

 Principal co-operative auditor Ms Tlhapiso Mmopelwa said co-operatives in Botswana are suffering because they are not properly branded. 

She said not much was done to promote co-operatives. 

She said most Batswana lack education about co-operatives. He observed that even those who are educated are reluctant to take to co-operatives. Ends