29 May 2013

Farmers in the Central District have bemoaned the downfall of BMC and suggested they be allowed to have a representative in the board to cater for their interests.

Speaking during a Parliamentary Select Committee kgotla meeting in Serowe recently, farmers said through the representative, their interests would be forwarded to the board.

One farmer, Mr Solomon Dikgang said “the current Botswana Meat Commission board does not communicate with us farmers even though we are the main source of beef production.”

Mr Dikgang said the election of  the spokesperson was crucial, and suggested that it should be done in a transparent manner with all farmers across Botswana represented.

Another farmer, Mr Bathusi Letlhare, who shared the same sentiments, questioned the procedure of appointing BMC board members, saying there was no transparency in the exercise.  

Mr Letlhare said another factor that led to the collapse of the commission was financial mismanagement, noting that “bonuses are now non-existence but farmers were not informed.”

For his part, Mr Basena Buswane said the government should engage private companies to audit BMC accounts in order to establish what led to the downfall of the commission.

He said private auditing companies would not hesitate to investigate all officers. 

The meeting also called on the Minister of Agriculture to resign from his position pending completion of the investigations. ENDS