08 Jul 2021

Batawana Beef Abattoir director, Mr Gavin Godfrey, has appealed for support to keep the business afloat following the effects of COVID-19.

He made the appeal to the Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake, who recently toured the facility. 

Mr Godfrey explained that the abattoir mainly slaughtered for the local market, especially tourism operators, adding that the pandemic had reduced the market share. 

He also stated that the abattoir had also not been running at full capacity, producing 50-75 tonnes of meat a month.

The abattoir, situated 10km from Toteng, also exported meat to Mozambique, Kuwait, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), among other countries.

He pointed out that the international market was lucrative, but the red tape was a hindrance and appealed to the assistant minister to assist, citing that it was difficult to send meat outside the country. 

Mr Godfrey also stated that exporting meat to Mozambique had become a challenge due to the political unrest in that country, saying they were now eyeing the southern part of Botswana. 

He appreciated that they had been given the green light to slaughter cattle from green zones, saying that would help sell meat to the southern parts.

In addition, he said they would buy quarantined animals, debone the meat and sell to the southern part as well. 

Mr Godfrey was hopeful that once the pandemic stabilised, they would bounce back and secure other alternative markets.

In response, Ms Manake said some organisations could help reduce the red tape and make the business environment easier.

She said government was committed to building resilient markets and a strong beef industry so that farmers could sell at better prices. 

An official from SEZA, Mr Jayson Sechele, explained that the organisation aimed at promoting investment and attract foreign direct investment for export markets. 

Their mandate, he said, was to establish, develop and manage Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to deliver investor friendly services and incentives aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of investors.

He said SEZA also helped in providing a supportive operating SEZ environment through delivery of a one-stop shop service to enhance investor efficiency. 

Mr Sechele stated that since the abattoir was part of the big area of Ngamiland beef zone, they would like to see its byproducts such as leather, finding its way to the Lobatse special economic zone, where there were processes to establish a leather city.

He explained that economic zones were set up to expedite economic growth and development, adding that there were processes to be followed to grow/upgrade and increase export volumes.

Mr Sechele stated that they did not want to see existing entities, that were currently in the national economic space, shutting down due to lack of export market. ends