01 Aug 2013

Members of Parliament have thrown their weight behind the Co-operatives Societies Bill of 2013.

They said the resuscitation of cooperatives would give communities a chance to establish viable structures that would help to raise capital and improve their livelihoods.

Debating the bill, the MP for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele said the bill came at a critical time when people were looking for alternatives to the conventional big businesses. Mr Makgalemele also said the bill completed a further modernisation of the law governing co-operatives, adding that cooperation between local and international co-operatives should be encouraged.

“Cooperation between co-operatives should not only be limited to Botswana, we should one day see cooperation between a co-operative in Serowe and a co-operative in Nigeria,” he said. Mr Makgalemele applauded the minister for realising the importance of cooperatives in society, saying this showed commitment on the part of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

“Although co-operatives popularity waned at some point we all know that co-operatives improved the livelihoods of many people back then, but resuscitating them is a good move and I commend the minister and her staff for realising that,” he said. Mr Makgaleme also called on the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture to embrace the co-operatives concept by increasing youth funding to entice the youth.

The MP for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said co-operatives could also help small farmers to gain benefits from agricultural cooperatives including bargaining power and resource sharing. Mr Mmolotsi said, empowered by being a part of a larger group, small farmers can negotiate better terms in contract farming and lower prices for agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizer and equipment.

Palapye MP, Mr Moiseraele Goya said co-operatives would offer a decent alternative for low income groups from loan sharks who charge extortionate interest rates that stalk those in deprived communities.

He said the proposed bill would create an enabling environment for the development and growth of various types of co-operative business enterprises among other things. ENDS