03 Apr 2020

Following the announcement of a state of emergency by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi recently, government introduced a number of relief measure to cushion Batswana and the economy from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

Announcing some of the measures during a media briefing April 02, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Ms Peggy Serame stated that business development institutions would have repayments break for their clients.

She said the National Development Bank) would extend repayment period and waive interest for its clients.

On the other hand, Citizen Entrepreneurship Agency (CEDA) has set aside P40m as a start, to assist SMMEs with short term financing working capital.

Ms Serame said CEDA would also engage with clients and restructure loans to determine terms and further waive interest payments for up to 12 months.

On ease of doing business, Ms Serame said all government institutions would pay purchase orders within five days, while parastatals would pay within 24 hours.

She said current outstanding invoices, which were at P530m, with different government ministries for works already undertaken would be paid in two weeks.

She also noted that all outstanding GPOs that were with government would be extended a validity period.

Further, she said VAT refunds would be accelerated to assist businesses in terms of cash flows and would be completed in 21 days.

On the communication sector, Ms Serame said all mobile networks would assist government in disseminating emergency information.

She added that there would be access to online portal on COVID-19 and e-learning packages at no cost.

She said BOFINET had already offered a discount of 50 per cent more bandwidth to all Internet providers. ENDS