13 Sep 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama on Monday (September 12), received a donation of P1 million for the families of Matsha students  who were involved in a fatal accident last year.

President Khama who received the donation from the representative of the  Bankers Association  of Botswana Mr Steven Bogatsu said he was  proud  to have witnessed during his term in office the fulfillment of a compassionate, just and  caring nation  pillar. The donation was made during the ongoing Business Botswana biennial conference in Francistown.

Meanwhile,  Business Botswana president, Mr Lekwalo Mosienyane has called for cooperation between government and the private sector in the implementation of Special Economic Zones (SEZ).

Speaking during the conference which is held under the theme ‘Botswana at fifty, celebrating success and strengthening the Public-Private sector partnership for sustained prosperity’, Mr Mosienyane said the country should  diversify the economy from diamonds dependence.
He said the country should  emulate Mauritius because despite its small population, it has managed to implement the SEZ concept and formed 500 companies that employ 100 000 people.

Mr Mosienyane noted that the role of the private sector was imperative and called for the change of attitudes and mindset in order to forge ahead with the SEZs.  

For his part, a member of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce, Mr James Jessamine encouraged the private sector to network with the government in coming up with solutions to the development of the economy.
Mr Jessamine said  government should only provide framework while the private sector provided funding and infrastructure.

He further said developing the economy was about integrated progress on the investment of human capital, trade policies and other resources.
Mr Jessamine said Mauritius had managed to attract 20 foreign universities as a way of transforming into an educational hub despite its small population.

He reminded the conference that economic growth was not an overnight issue adding that it took 20 years for his country to start realising benefits.
ENDS