13 May 2021

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says it is critical to reset the Tsabong Multispecies Abattoir value chain to ensure it does not only slaughter animals, but processes their by-products to generate more employment opportunities.

Speaking during a tour of the abattoir phase one construction on Tuesday, President Masisi said it was pertinent to exploit every opportunity and maximise on the value proposition. 

He said while construction was ongoing, a targeted business approach must be mapped out simultaneously and deliberate action taken to ensure that communities were adequately empowered to start projects that would use animal byproducts. 

President Masisi said skins and hides, horns, bones and all other animal byproducts should be used to make quality usable products, adding that Batswana should be sufficiently facilitated to venture into such businesses. 

He stated that a robust marketing strategy must be put in place now to maximise on the comparative advantages of the region, such as the quality and uniqueness of the livestock, small stock and wildlife received.

He noted that Kgalagadi District had the best range resources, free of chemicals and toxic substances and produced quality livestock, which he said should be pronounced in the marketing aspect to bring about good returns for Batswana. 

He thus called for high value production from farmers, to ensure that the abattoir delivered. 

Dr Masisi said it was also important to engage business development partners such as the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) and financiers, who could finance projects that dealt with processing of animal products.

For his part, Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Karabo Gare called on farmers to ensure that there was sufficient production to draw from to sustain the abattoir. 

He said government had played its role of putting development infrastructure in place and therefore it was critical for all to prepare to harness the benefits through maximum use of such facilities.

Minister Gare said it was incumbent upon farmers to ensure that there was enough produce to sustain the abattoir, lest it becomes a white elephant. 

He urged farmers to be in a position to have numbers ready for slaughter three months before project completion, for the abattoir to kick start operations.

He promised that farmers would continue to receive animal care skills, to ensure effective production and delivery of high quality stock for the export market. 

He assured President Masisi that a strategic operational framework was being put in place to ensure inclusiveness of all stakeholders for sustainable running of the abattoir. 

The framework, he said, would be availed soon, to ensure that it would be immediately effected, once construction was completed.

The sub-contracted company, Aggre Holdings construction site manager, Mr Dipuso Makgatle said the Tsabong Multispecies Abattoir project was well within schedule and so far they had not encountered any major huddles. 

Mr Makgatle said the community had accorded them the necessary support, hence the progress on the ground.

He said so far, two guard houses, a livestock receiving area, an administration block, were all at window level, while a canteen and change rooms were at foundation level, with completed brick work on the sub-structure. 

He said they expect to complete the livestock receiving building by August.

Kgalagadi South Member of Parliament, Mr Sam Brooks appreciated the development and the President’s visit, saying it would keep up the momentum and encourage contractors to complete the project on time. 

He said the ball was now in the farmers and the community’s court to plan to effectively use the facilities and benefit from the value chain.

Mr Brooks appreciated the contractor for striving to ensure that the project was well within schedule, although it started late, resulting from delayed Environmental Impact Assessment report, due to change of scope. Ends