22 Mar 2018

Members of informal sector in Letlhakane have expressed discontent with a lot of red tapes that have become a barrier in doing business.

This emerged during the informal sector meeting addressed by the Member of Parliament for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatitswe on Monday.

Members expressed a grievous concern that regulations were strangling business and have shattered their dreams to upgrade their businesses to a higher level.

Ms Ikanyeng Manyika, a street vendor at Letlhakane bus rank, said government had given Batswana an opportunity to make a living by selling on every street corner, including government offices, but regulations have hindered their endeavour to pursue business.

Another vendor, Ms Rebecca Nkhisang reiterated that bye-laws were a cost to their businesses and have left them hopeless.

Ms Nkhisang complained that they have been prohibited from preparing food at their working spaces and were expected to sell ready-made food from home in a kitchen that is also liable for inspection.

She was of the view that food prepared at a working place attracted more customers than at home as it was sold while still hot and fresh.

Ms Nkhisang also expressed concern that they were not allowed to leave behind their equipment and furniture that they use during their daily operation of business.

Ms Wadinga Kahino, also a street vendor, said she had applied for Poverty Eradication Programme to sell hot dogs, complaining that bye-laws were going to frustrate her business ambitions, as she could not prepare hot dogs from home desirable to customers.

Ms Kahino said sluggish business growth was due to regulations and called for regulatory reforms that could be lenient to the informal sector giving consideration to their low economic status.

Members dismissed the regulations as unrelenting and unfair, saying some were denied space to sell in front of schools with pretext that they might sell drugs to students or expose them to road accidents.

The chairperson of taxi association, Mr Mmoni Kelekwang complained about lack of internal roads and poor sandy roads that prevented them from transporting their passengers to their desired destinations.

He expressed concern about poor drainage system at the bus rank, which led to flooding during heavy rains.

Mr Kelekwang decried low taxi fares, saying it had been years since the last increment in 2013.

In response, Ms Bonnye Selemogo, chief bye-law enforcement technician said hawkers and street vending bye-laws prohibited preparation of food in public spaces or streets.

Ms Selemogo said the law stated that food sold in public spaces or streets should be prepared from home, and the place should also be inspected.

Small business guidelines, she said did so to avoid disease outbreaks since the food would be prepared for members of the public.

The guidelines, she said, stipulated that they should do a temporary structure that could be removed after business.

Roads inspector, Mr Kereilemang Rantshadi said permits would be processed from Letlhakane in the next financial year.

Mr Rantshadi explained that passengers were free to decide on the type of transport that they could use.

When commenting, MP Lelatisitswe cautioned parents who sell drugs to students against doing so, adding that as small businesses they should grow to pave way for other start-up businesses to utilise stalls provided for by government.

He stated that internal roads were discussed at district development plan meetings, noting that development of internal roads in Letlhakane were not catered for in  the District Development Plan 8. Ends