20 Nov 2022

Government needs to formulate a law prohibiting businesses with the same beneficial owners from obtaining trading licenses within the same value chain.

Presenting his motion on Friday, Kanye North MP Mr Thapelo Letsholo said it was meant to achieve a more inclusive economy where Batswana truly shared prosperity and participation in wealth creation.

He said by supporting the motion, law makers should be deliberate about shaping the economy and the business environment for Batswana and not allow business to be dominated by a handful.

Mr Letsholo said business monopolies killed the economy because supply chains did not grow.

He said Batswana were naturally not greedy and their culture encouraged sharing, adding that the motion had been formulated in line with government’s agenda, which spoke of employment creation through value chains.

He said he was worried that many big name players in the business sector had taken over new market opportunities, which were meant for informal sector.

Mr Letsholo said this was against President Masisi’s will that wholesalers and retailers ensure compliance with the new policies with a view to supporting and growing farmers countrywide, creating employment and putting money at many households’ disposal.

He said the trend of large-scale businesses establishing other value chains should not be entertained, pleading with fellow MPs to come to the fore and allow other Batswana to share ‘a piece of the cake’.

He said the idea of fronting by some establishments was a welcome idea, but sadly locals were not getting any value from the agreements.

He said government must scrutinise licensing as small enterprises had shut down for failure to compete with wholesalers.

Contributing to the motion, Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane said the old Liquor Act allowed wholesalers to sell to retailers only, but Parliament killed the provision, allowing wholesalers to now compete with retailers.

He said since then chain stores flourished while small enterprises belonging to Batswana died a natural death.

Mr Moswaane said the arrangement of fronting had led Batswana to heavy debts and many civil imprisonments.

Kanye South MP, Dr Lemogang Kwape gave the motion the green light and said supporting the informal sector had been top of government’s priority.

He said chain stores and any other established business entities should be embraced and at the same time be seen to be benefitting Batswana.

Nkange MP, Dr Never Tshabang applauded the mover for extensive research on the plight of small businesses in Botswana.

He said it was appalling why big retail shops were still licensed for bakeries, butcheries and bottle stores. He said it was long overdue for a law to be formulated to restrict competition between small man and established businesses.

Dr Tshabang said the motion sought to protect small players in the business environment, noting that many Batswana poultry farming businesses were run down due to oligopoly.

Gaborone Central MP, Mr Tumisang Healy said the motion spoke to a more inclusive economy.

He said it had all the tones set by government’s intention to empower its citizens.

He said the executive must also be challenged to expedite such pieces of legislation.

Serowe North’s Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe said implementation of such pieces of legislature remained a problem.

He said as Parliament they must introspect and see that whatever motion passed through had a ripple effect.

He said when government talked of wealth creation it had to be Batswana first and not necessarily the same people.

He said big hardware chain stores were now manufacturing bricks at the disadvantage of the small man on the streets.

Thamaga/Kumakwane MP, Mr Palelo Motaosane supported Mr Letsholo, but decried lack of implementation on the part of the executive. He said good motions had been passed through Parliament, but were not operational. ENDS