14 Jan 2021

 The scourging predicaments of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses has led government to revise interventions that support home-based businesses. 

As articulated by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in the State-of-the-Nation Address, government intends to make it easier for small businesses to thrive during the pandemic through targeted interventions. 

In an interview recently, senior public relations officer at Gaborone City Council (GCC), Ms Segametsi Kebonang said the council had issued trade licenses to a range of businesses from agent, catering services, cleaning services, florist, general hire services, hair and beauty parlour, Internet café and laundromat. 

Ms Kebonang noted that 487 businesses were registered between May 01, 2020, and December 11, 2020, and that they were mostly youth businesses, something that she deemed commendable. 

Meanwhile, the branch manager of Gaborone’s Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), Ms Magdalene Makolo welcomed developments by government to assist businesses operating from home, and emphasised that they were committed to assisting where possible. 

Ms Makolo said they had previously packaged tailor-made interventions for business expansion, product testing, quality assurance, market access, mentoring and training services. 

She reiterated that in the wake of COVID-19, government, through the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry has introduced the Industry Support Facilitation (ISF) initiative.

She noted that it was a fund facilitated by LEA where the first cohort of registered informal sector businesses were supported with a minimum of P1 000 to assist with daily operations. Ends