26 Jul 2020

The Member of Parliament for Kanye South has challenged his constituents to venture into manufacturing to create employment.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Betesankwe last week, Dr Lemogang Kwape said the advantages of manufacturing were manifold, as it helped in employment creation, boosting food production as well as helping the country to attain self-sufficiency in all spheres of life.

He also challenged them to explore the agricultural value chain and set up industries in their localities.

Dr Kwape, who is also Minister of Health and Wellness, said COVID-19 was a learning curve for the country to be self-sufficient and thus challenged all to partake in ensuring that self-sufficiency became a reality.

He said when goods had less distance to travel, they could be delivered quicker to the customer, accelerating the sales process, enabling more agile forecast responses and getting money in the pocket sooner.

He said having a shorter lead time was also a surefire way to increase customer satisfaction, noting that customers had come to expect products to arrive within very short time frames.

The MP said manufacturing in localities would keep distribution costs low, allowing clientele to enjoy the benefits of lower costs.

He said setting up industries in rural areas would also decongest cities and towns, adding that the government was doing everything in its power to create a conducive environment for sustainable enterprises.

He noted that a favourable environment for sustainable enterprises, combined with the legitimate quest for profit and development that respects human dignity and decent work, provided an opportunity for investment, entrepreneurship, workers’ rights and the growth of enterprises balanced the needs and interests of enterprises with the aspirations of society.

Dr Kwape cited the revised Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) guidelines as government’s commitment and responsiveness in ensuring solid citizen economic empowerment programmes that would respond to increasingly dynamic and unpredictable national and global economic environments.

He said reduced interest rates and increased repayment periods should challenge Batswana to venture into entrepreneurship.  ENDS