14 Aug 2013

The problems besetting the country’s business community platform, Botswana Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM), should not affect operations, BOCCIM chief executive officer (CEO), Ms Maria Machailo-Ellis has said.

Speaking at the BOCCIM Golf Day Prize Giving Dinner at the Gaborone Sun on August 9, Ms Machailo-Ellis said that the organisation was still led by capable cadres, and as such would weather the storm of alleged infighting within leadership, publicised in the press recently.

“BOCCIM recognises and acknowledges the recent internal challenges facing the organisation which are now visible through media publicity.  We would like to assure our valued members and stakeholders that BOCCIM as an organisation is still intact and united to serve its members,” she said.

She said that for over 40 years, BOCCIM has been the main voice of business, an advocacy group for private sector interests and had performed its tasks admirably as to ensure a good business climate prevails in the country, and would continue to do so in spite of the said challenges.

“We inform members that the challenges facing the organisation should not in any way interfere with their operations in seeking guidance from BOCCIM as we are still approachable, accessible and efficient.  We commit ourselves fully to maintain a high level of expertise in our specialty area of practice, both as advocates and advisors,” she said.

Ms Machailo-Ellis said that BOCCIM had managed to win over the confidence of the government and other stakeholders through what she termed its “philosophy of constructive policy dialogue” which she said they had used to protect the economic interests of the business community over the years.

The golf day, intended to bring together premier businesses in the country and neighbouring states so they could network and market their products over a game of golf, held under the theme “enhancing competitive products” which was won by the pair of Modiri Phuthego and Bonolo Ditirwa who had 46 points representing Green Africa.

The runners-up were Julie Farr and Tumo Pule with 44 points while Newman Motsepe and Nimpack Shankar of MTN got third place on 43 points.

Hosted for the seventh time, the first having been held in 2007, the BOCCIM Golf Day had several sponsors, the ‘platinum sponsor’ being the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) which contributed an amount of P100 000;  while Mascom and MTN Business contyributed P10 000 each, and Kwena Rocla contributed P5 000. ENDS