13 Apr 2016

Government departments have been urged to give preference to citizen companies during procurement of goods to promote Citizen Economic Empowerment (CEE) when implementing ESP.

The Permanent Secretary to the President Mr Carter Morupisi said on Monday April 11 in Letlhakane when addressing public officers in Boteti Sub-district.

Mr Morupisi stated that as a move to ensure the success of ESP, it was critical to source services from local companies.

To inculcate the spirit, CEE he said should start from the homesteads, urging people to employ Batswana in their farms.

In addition he stated that social workers should procure school uniforms for destitutes or needy students from citizen companies.

Food rations for students he said should be sourced from businesses in the locality rather than buying from businesses located 200 kilometres away.

Mr Morupisi further  noted that local companies should not inflate prices but charge reasonably  for goods sold to government.

He said land held by the private sector would be utilized to assist businesses owned by citizens.

ESP he said was aimed at stimulating the economy by boosting the private sector, stressing that services of construction companies should be sourced from citizen companies.

He urged government officials to support local contractors by buying materials for them such as by providing mobilization funds for start up.

He suggested that citizen companies should be engaged to build institutional houses, Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) and other related projects.

District tender commitees he said were expected to engage citizen companies saying they should also fast-track the tendering  process. ENDS