03 Jun 2020

Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) in partnership with Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) donated 1000 liquid hand soaps and 500 bar soaps to Ghanzi  East Sub-district.

Handing over the donation, BIUST communications and public affairs director, Mr Keoagile Rafifing said the university aimed  to reach all areas in Botswana, adding that they had so far donated total of 23 000 liquid soaps and 11 000 bar soaps.

Mr Rafifing said the products were researched and developed by BIUST and their dream was to identify local Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMMES) so that the products could be on store shelves.

“Our role is to research, develop a product and engage the industry for commercialisation,” he noted.

He said that they had been producing soap for the past three years on a small scale and they had partnered with LEA to use their machines to increase capacity.

Mr Rafifing mentioned that LEA study of 2015, suggested that import bill of soap was 520 million per year.

Thus, he said spin off companies could reduce import bill and provide job creation.

He explained that bar soap is manufactured from tallow and used cooking oil, thus said ‘it has environmental and economic benefit.’

These products, he said are certified by Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BoMRA).

Also, he said collaboration with University of Witwatersrand and iThembe LABS, BIUST had developed data dashboard dedicated to capturing and analysing the demographic spread of the novel coronavirus.

In the pipeline, Mr Rafifing said, was  the development of a drone that would be used to deliver medicine using coordinates. He  said the project was impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19.

Ghanzi District Commissioner, Mr Mooketsi Lesetedi promised that the timely  donation would be put into good use, saying some would be distributed to the distressed households and some would benefit public schools.

Later, the team herded to Charleshill to donate another 1000 liquid hand soaps and 500 bar soaps to Charleshill sub-district. ENDS