08 Jun 2022

The emergence of citizen-owned businesses is indicative of the country’s economic growth, says President  Dr  Mokgweetsi Masisi.

  Speaking at the opening of new Motor Holding Botswana dealership in Gaborone yesterday, he said the facility would create the much needed employment adding that 500 jobs were created during the construction phase while  over  200 permanent  ones  were expected when the company was in full operation.

 The President expressed delight that the project had been completed despite the challenges presented  by the COVID-19 pandemic and  global economic slumps. “It is gratifying that the dealership is 100 per cent citizen-owned, which is  a  clear demonstration of the capabilities and resilience that Batswana possess and  act upon to realise  their dreams while  contributing  meaningfully to the  country’s economic  growth,” he said.

    Noting that the company started from humble  beginnings  in 1994  with  only one  dealership, President Masisi said it was now keen on expanding its services across the country despite operating in the current hostile economic environment.

    He said it was commendable that the dealership had already expanded to Francistown to service the northern part of the country while other outlets were planned for  Palapye and Maun.

Government remained committed to supporting such commendable work which was aligned with employment creation and citizen empowerment and undertaken in partnership with stakeholders, stated the President.

He reiterated government’s intention of facilitating citizens in their endeavour  to contribute to the  growth of the  economy.

     Batswana, he said,  had the potential to succeed in different business ventures if they took full advantage of the enabling  environment that government provided for citizen-owned companies to thrive.

   President Masisi said citizen economic empowerment, which sought to place Batswana at the center of the national development agenda, was a government priority.

     “It is  for this  reason that Parliament  in 2021 enacted two pieces of  legislation, namely  the  Public Procurement Act  and the  Economic  Inclusion Act which are aimed  at impacting the realisation of the citizen economic agenda,” he said.

   The first act, the President said, covered all aspects of procurement involving the use of public funds while the second entailed  economic empowerment of citizens in all economic sectors.BOPA