12 Sep 2016

Director of trade and consumer affairs, Ms Seipato Olweny, says communities have responsibility to guard against unfair business practices in the market place to ensure fair and competitive market deals.
Ms Olsweny said during her ministry’s community outreach programme in Letlhakane on Friday (September 9), that the purpose of the programme was to sensitise community members about services her department offered.
She said the core mandate of their ministry was to create a conducive business environment for promotion of investment and development of sustainable industries and trade.
“The view is to diversify and grow the economy, create wealth and employment so that there is prosperity for all,” she said.
She also noted it was imperative for the ministry to also reach out to their valuable customers being the business community and the public to get feedback and give an update on their services.
“We also have also decentralised the issuance of business licenses and the inspection and monitoring of businesses to the local authorities since 2008 in order to bring services closer to people and create a conducive environment,” she pointed out.
Ms Olweny emphasised the importance of compliance to all statutes that regulate trade in Botswana such as tax laws and labour laws, among others, because it was in the best interest of the business community, consumers, and other stakeholders.
She further her department was concerned that violation and non-compliance of trade laws was rife and presented a disturbing situation on the business environment across the country.
However, she commended the Boteti Sub District for good compliance levels saying it was imperative to advocate for strong collaboration with consumers.
She said during the inspection of businesses inspection teams uncovered the employment of unqualified personnel in businesses which limit the provision of information. The teams also found out that the use of the same employee in different shops; hence providing misleading information as regard the creation and level of employment.
She reiterated that the inspection teams would continue to take stringent and deterrent actions on the businesses that commit offences. ENDS