20 May 2020

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bobirwa Mr Taolo Lucas has challenged Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) to chart the course of production of local goods that would help cut the country’s import bill.

He was speaking during a donation of 1500 liquid soaps and 500 bar soaps by BIUST to Bobirwa District Emergency Operation Centre on Wednesday, May 20.

Mr Lucas said that time was ripe for BIUST and other manufacturing catalysts to take advantage of the ‘corona dividend’ and produce local goods that would sweep the local markets even post the pandemic.

He said that products such as the soaps produced by BIUST stood a good chance to replace the imported goods and thereby helping in cutting the import bill.

The Bobirwa legislator suggested that Parliament should come up with legislation to spur production of local goods and ensure their protection in the market so that they could survive the harsh market conditions.

The donated soaps will be distributed to those in dire need of them at the remote settlements of Lepokole and Damuchujenaa by the village leadership comprising Dikgosi, Councilors, Village Development Committee (VDC) chairpersons and social workers.

The soaps are a product of a team of two professors, some postgraduates and undergraduates students at BIUST.

Though BIUST also produces sanitisers, the university’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager Mr Godfrey Kgopana said that the sanitisers were produced particularly for places as hospitals.

He said that in response to COVID-19 pandemic, BIUST partnered with LEA, who provided the institution with two production machines, to produce soaps and sanitisers, which have been deemed key to preventing the spread of the virus.

Mr Kgopana emphasised that the products meet Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) requirements and hence approved.

LEA official in Selibe Phikwe, Mr Christopher Gomotsang said that they had decided to partner with BIUST since the institution was endowed with the technical know-how of producing the soaps.

He also said that the institution also went beyond their call of duty to assist LEA clients with soil tests. ends