04 Mar 2018

In the 2010/11 financial year, the then Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) conducted a regional mapping study whose objective was to identify and map opportunities in all the districts and town councils in Botswana, including in mining towns.

According to the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Vincent Seretse, the study covered amongst others Maun, Jwaneng, Letlhakane, Orapa and Selebi Phikwe.

The minister, who was answering a question in Parliament recently said the study identified several business opportunities including those for small businesses, for uptake by local communities.

He added that LEA conducted a study in 2015 to identify business opportunities across all regions in Botswana, including in the mining towns.

In addition, he pointed out that some of the business opportunities identified in Jwaneng area were accommodation facilities and beef and small stock production.

“Both results of the study and the survey were disseminated to the communities in the districts in an effort to encourage them to consider such areas for possible investment,” he said.

On what steps were being taken by mining companies to involve communities and district leadership in developmental issues, the minister said Debswana was implementing a social performance programme which encompassed management of social risks and impacts, human rights as well as their approach to stakeholder engagement and socio-economic development. 

He stated that the programme involved working with the local communities and district leadership to identify and prioritise development areas which were aligned to the District Development Plans for possible funding. He said the company had, through the programme, been able to create and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with the communities within which it operated.

“This has been achieved through local procurement, infrastructure development, local institutional capacity building, skills development, supplier and enterprise development as well as education and health initiatives,” he observed.

Mr Seretse said periodically, as part of the programme, Debswana had proactively sought feedback from communities for continued improvement and integration into their annual plans.

MP Shawn Ntlhaile of Jwaneng/Mabutsane had asked the minister about assessment undertaken to identify potential business opportunities available for small businesses and local communities around mining towns, as well as the steps that had been taken by mining companies to involve communities and district leadership in developmental issues. ENDS