20 Sep 2020

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is not aware of unfair competition brought about by BotswanaPost in engaging Choppies and leaving other chain stores in disbursement of monthly social grants. This was said by Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele when answering a question in Parliament.

He said BotswanaPost was in the process of developing a criteria model to identify and engage small and medium enterprises to disburse social grants by 2021.

Mr Modukanele further said there was anomaly in the process given that the multichannel access approach enabled BotswanaPost to explore partnerships that were not only beneficial to the company, but primarily to its customers.

“With the extensive footprints of Choppies across the country, beneficiaries travel shorter distances to access services.

Mr Modukanele clarified that with the exception of select Choppies stores where BotswanaPost had kiosks, the staff has been on site to disburse social grants, and that Choppies’ large footprint was taken on board through the Public Private Partnership strategy.

Parliament learnt that beneficiaries were at liberty to use funds where they best saw fit regardless of where they received it, and that BotswaPost was only providing the service,

Furthermore, Parliament was informed  that BotswanaPost never received any formal complaint from beneficiaries regarding the move, and instead have received commendations from beneficiaries for bringing the services to them.

Palapye MP, Mr Onnetse Ramogapi had asked the minister to explain the contract entered into by BotswanaPost and the ministry as well as Choppies regarding disbursement of social grants through Choppies Stores.

He also wanted to know why Choppies was considered on a monopoly basis, and whether it was advertised, if not, why. ENDS