19 Feb 2018

Government has undertaken a socio- economic assessment impact study through the employ of KPMG Botswana and KPMG services (Pty) Ltd as part of the BCL liquidation process.

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Advocate Sadique Kebonang said this in response to a question by Selebi Phikwe West Member of Parliament, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse.

Advocate Kebonang said the assessment study entailed a number of factors such as gross domestic growth (economic growth and welfare), labour and entrepreneurship (job losses), public finances (taxes), poverty alleviation (especially low income households) and taking into their consideration the direct or indirect and induced impact on the economy of Selebi Phikwe region.

Further, he said government remained focused on creating jobs and resuscitating the economy of Selebi Phikwe area, as evidenced by the setting up of the SPEDU and economic revitalisation programme for Selebi Phikwe and the progressing of other related initiatives.

In addition, he said Business Botswana with the support of ILO was also undertaking an assessment of the possibilities open to the private sector to play a role in reviving the economic situation in Selebi Phikwe.

MP Keorapetse had asked the minister whether government was carrying out a socio-economic impact assessment to establish how many people had been affected by the liquidation of the BCL mine in Selebi Phikwe.

He also wanted to know what the assessment entailed and what informed public policy in respect of government intervention. Ends