07 Nov 2016

Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Mr Carter Morupisi visited Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) in Lobatse last week to appreciate its operations.

In an interview after the tour, Mr Morupisi said the government has taken a decision to privatise certain organisations including  BMC to relieve the government from injecting a lot of money to keep them in business so that they could as well help to grow the country’s economy.

Mr Morupisi said currently BMC has not been performing well, due to the fact that Lobatse abattoir maintains Francistown and Maun abattoirs and therefore BMC ends up running at a loss. He said that alone calls for restructuring of the organisation by separating the two loss making abattoirs from the one in Lobatse.

On other issues, Mr Morupisi appreciated their efforts in maintaining world class quality standards by maintaining cleanliness of the plant despite operating from old facilities. He also  appreciated employees for showing great commitment in their daily operations.

For his part, BMC chief executive officer, Dr Akolang Tombale acknowledged the fact that, BMC is making less returns and said restructuring was a corporate action taken to enable business to become more integrated and profitable.

He said the result of restructuring at BMC is solely on alterations such as separating Francistown and Maun abattoirs from Lobatse branch.

He anticipated that the restructuring might result in a smoother, business operation that would allow them to achieve their goals through greater efficiency in production.

Dr Tombale further said they have engaged different stakeholders including President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Ian Khama and his vice, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, Minister of Finance and  Economic Development, Mr Kenneth Matambo, and leaders of opposition (Mr Duma Boko and Mr Ndaba Gaolathe).

He also said they have engaged farmers associations in different areas as well as holding pitso meetings to inform farmers about the status of the abattoirs and to map the way forward to grow the meat production business.

In order to maintain continuity of the BMC business, he said they are striving to reach niche markets such as China, but due to the fact that, the country produces less, he encouraged the farmers to up their game in order for BMC to meet the required standards by such markets.

He said they have already had Israelites and Russians who have come to inspect their facilities to check whether they could meet their standards, which could  result in BMC exporting meat to their markets.

As for the red zones areas, he said they are also working around the clock to secure markets for them at countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Angola.

He said they have sent a container to Middle East for inspection and are awaiting response.

Meanwhile, he said the deal to send a container to Albania flopped due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). ENDS
 He encouraged farmers in the red zone to join hands with other relevant stakeholders to control FMD so that their meat can also be sold to more markets to make profits to sustain their abattoirs. ENDS