09 Jun 2020

Maun Administration Authority has manged to secure space for some small business owners trading at Maun Old Mall.

This follows the council’s move to secure trading space at the Central Business District (CBD) to relocate small businesses that have been trading at open spaces, pathways and road reserves.

The council also wanted to ensure that they followed COVID-19 protocols and also kept the surroundings clean.

Chairperson of Maun Emang Association, Mr Jacob Modimooteng confirmed in an interview that out of 66 spaces, 23 were not yet occupied.

He said they agreed with the council to give priority to those operating along pathways, road reserves and those who had been operating at the said space.

He noted that the space was occupied by a small number of traders selling traditional herbs,  clothing and fruits and vegetables.

He said they were waiting for the council’s response on the way forward, adding that a majority of small businesses had not been allocated operating space. As such, Mr Modimooteng said they had agreed to allow them to operate at their initial areas in order to make a living while awaiting the council’s response.

He said they continued to receive complaints from business owners who were lockdowned in other areas and found their spaces occupied when they returned.

Mr Modimooteng said he wished the council could speed up efforts to secure more space for small businesses as they were also affected by the COVID-19 lockdown like other sectors of the economy.

Some small business owners trading at Maun’s Old Mall had expressed disappointment at the council’s decision to relocate them to a new place following the lifting of the lockdown.

They argued that the new space could not accommodate all small businesses. They also expressed the wish that the council could let them operate at their initial spaces since they had valid licences, adding that they would ensure compliance to COVID-19 protocols.

They said the council should appreciate that they had been struggling to survive, as they had been on lockdown for two months without operating, and that life had become unbearable for them.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview, senior assistant council secretary, Ms Mogomotsi Seemule revealed that the issue of relocation was not new as they had been engaging the small business owners through their association to discuss how best they could organise themselves and do business better.

Ms Seemule said they were implementing what had long been discussed and agreed with the association.

She said small business owners should understand that the state of emergency had not changed on how they should operate coupled with COVID-19 precautionary measures.

She explained that designation of the secured space meant ensuring they maintained social distancing.

She added that small businesses were expected to maintain a register of all their customers, wear masks all the time, wash hands with water and soap regularly or use hand sanitisers and disposable utensils. Ends