10 Dec 2017

Parliament has been informed that there are 28 businesses approved and funded at a total of over  P4.9million through the Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme in South-East District.

Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Mr  Edwin Batshu said some of the businesses included horticulture, hair salon, poultry, cleaning detergent production, bakery, ice making, small stock, landscaping and gardening, amusement park and beauty spa.

Other businesses, Mr Batshu said were cleaning services, restaurant, brick moulding, leather products, tuition centre, roofing sheets manufacturing, candle manufacturing, poultry-broiler and textile.  

Minister Batshu however said a total of 90 proposals were declined; six being rejected as the proposed businesses were assessed and deemed not viable, whilst the rest  were declined due to financial constraints.

Meanwhile, he said the ministry prioritises the economic empowerment of women to compete across all sectors, that is nationally, regionally or internationally, based on their business capabilities.

He therefore said aspiring women entrepreneurs were encouraged to register their businesses with Company Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) to protect their trade.

That, he said would also afford them the opportunity to trade locally through initiatives such as Economic Diversification Drive Local Procurement Scheme, and Local Entrepreneurship Development adding that they could  also benefit from preferential treatment alongside People With Disabilities and youth.

In addition, Minister Batshu said the ministry took the Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme seriously as it was one of the important programmes of government that had been conceived for the upliftment and betterment of the lives of the Batswana, especially  women.

Following the review and expansion of the programme to include individuals as well as reduction of group membership from five to two, he said the ministry received an overwhelming response from the public.

“This is against the limited budget of P55million,” he said.

However, he said the fund was depleted hence the suspension of  receipt of new applications.  

Member of Parliament for Ramotswa, Mr Samuel Rantuana had asked the minister to state how many projects had been approved in the South East District under the Gender Affairs Programme and state the names of the companies.

He also wanted the minister to state how many were declined and reasons thereof and why women were encouraged to form companies when it was known that their projects were not going to be funded due to financial constraints. ENDS