16 Oct 2013

The Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Keletso Rakhudu has assured Discovery Metal Limited (DML) or BOSETO mining of government’s full support.

He said his ministry, as a key facilitator in the country’s wealth, viewed the mining sector as a key engine of economic development and diversification hence government’s eagerness to see BOSETO succeed. BOSETO is an open cast copper and nickel mine situated at Toteng, about 70 km from Maun.  

Mr Rakhudu toured the plant to appreciate its operation and get first hand information about the challenges encountered by the management. He said it was the ministry’s intention to ensure other key stakeholders especially those who regulated the mining sector to make processes and procedures for doing business smooth to avoid delays.

He said mining played a major role in the country’s economy and that in turn, contributed to increased tax revenues, export earnings, employment opportunities, infrastructure development especially in rural areas, and transfer of technology to the host countries.

“We are impressed by BOSETO production and we want to ensure as an investor that they succeed in their project. We want to help other sectors to reduce red tape and bureaucracy”, he added.

The assistant minister urged the management to share the challenges with his ministry adding that some people do delay the processes because they do not appreciate that it is a business which can make a difference in terms of opportunities.

Mr Rakhudu also urged DML to ensure citizen owned contractors are taken on board to empower locals and noted the ministry had received complaints that business was given to foreign contractors only.
For his part, DML country manager, Mr Mokwena Morulane informed the assistant minister that they had an open tender system, and also a suplliers’ registration forms.  Locals, he said did submit but they failed to demonstrate their capabilities.

He also revealed that they had a contract with Trans Amina Company, a Swedish metal trading company for shipment of their concentrate to various ports. He appreciated the smooth working relationship with the ministry of Labour and Home Affairs in issuing permits but complained that at times it took long to processes permits particularly for permanent jobs and requested that critical positions be exempted.

Mr Morulane said they were competing globally for skilled personnel. Getting such labour could be because “at times we do not have benefit of time and our and applicants may find job elsewhere”. Ends