29 Nov 2020

Selebi Phikwe Economic Development Unit (SPEDU)’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jazenga Uezesa says the majority of SPEDU-facilitated businesses are gradually recovering from the ripple effects of COVID-19.

Addressing a full council meeting recently, Mr Uezesa said companies such as Alligiant Services, a SPEDU-facilitated local bottled water supplier, were up and running.

He said the company was back in operation after it temporarily suspended its operations to comply with COVID-19 regulations. 

He assured councillors of improved business across all sectors due to the recovering state of commerce in the region, adding that some investors were showing commitment to do business in the region.

He also noted that the SPEDU investment incentives also helped boost businesses facilitated by the organisation. He singled out the minimum 30 per cent government offtake, where the government would procure 30 per cent of goods from companies that invested in the SPEDU region, provided their prices and standards were met, as one such incentive.

He said the Bulb World was a shining example of companies that benefited from the incentives, adding that it had even spread its wings to South Africa and Zambia.

Mr Uezesa said SPEDU was still in talks with the Botswana Power Corporation, which was the largest consumer of transformers and sub-stations, to support Elolam Manufacturing, a local company that specialised in electric power technology.

The company, which manufactures and distributes transformers, he revealed, has also opened an assembly plant in South Africa.

He explained that a few companies in the textile and manufacturing sectors were struggling financially due to COVID-19, citing Better Options textile, which was awarded a tender to make uniforms for the Botswana Police Service.

He said as just like other organisations, the police service was experiencing budgetary constraints, which in turn affected its tender with Better Services Textile.

While the government and SPEDU were still trying to explore other options to support this project, he said, its management took the decision to lay off some employees due to financial constraints.

Mr Uezesa said SPEDU was doing its best to support businesses in the region, as per its mandate of promoting inward investment and trade facilitation, as well as promoting employment creation and revitalisation of the SPEDU region.

On other issues, he said SPEDU and other stakeholders such as the Botswana Tourism Organisation and SPTC, were planning improvements to the Toyota Desert Race.

He said the town hosted the race for the first time last year, and had thus learnt a few lessons, acknowledging that even though it boosted the economy of Selebi Phikwe, the race’s benefit did not reach small businesses as many spectators brought food from elsewhere.

He said small businesses were also crowded at Sam Sono stadium and could not reach many people, as the majority gathered at spectator points.

For his part, the EIA Lead Consultant for TDR, Mr Geoffrey Khwarae urged councillors to inform the community to report damages and losses resulting from the race, including farmers who lost their livestock.

He said participants also complained about the race route, decrying thick bushes and a thin route; compared to the Jwaneng one, saying all these would be looked into in preparation for next year. Ends