05 Dec 2022

Parliament on Friday unanimously voted to pass the motion tabled by Kanye North MP, Mr Thapelo Letsholo which requests government to consider prohibiting businesses with the same beneficial owners from obtaining trading licenses within the same value chain.

Mr Letsholo had moved that Parliament pass the motion in order to achieve a more inclusive economy where Batswana share prosperity and participate in wealth creation, and guard against monopoly trade.

He thanked MPs for being in one accord in supporting his motion, which he said was geared at ensuring fair trade and protecting citizen entrepreneurs from large-scale traders who monopolise the industry and its value chain.

Debating the motion, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela voiced his support and stated that his ministry would work towards ensuring the policy implementation thereof.

He said the Economic Inclusion Act already had measures that when gradually implemented would ensure fair competition, and the Citizen Economic Empowerment policy also had many positive elements geared towards protecting smaller-scale domestic traders.

Mr Kgafela said the Competition and Consumer Authority needs to be more resourced to deal with monopolies and price collusion in business such that "peaceful coexistence could override the pursuit of profit."

Gaborone North MP, Mr Mpho Balopi said Batswana entrepreneurs have over the years displayed their capability to set up and sustain business.

He noted that there had been influx of foreign traders who have come to be prominent in the domestic market and urged local entrepreneurs to have an innovative proactive approach.

While supporting the motion, Mr Balopi said it was incumbent on citizen entrepreneurs to work together and stop having a jealous attitude towards one another, particularly more successful businesses.

Maun East legislator Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile was of the view that the governing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) pursued the free market capitalist economic system which he said encouraged the rich to become richer while the poor stagnate.

He said in the North West, foreign traders were dominant in tourism and even small and medium businesses. Rather than what he called piecemeal legislation, he said the country needed coherent overriding policy to guide empowerment. All MPs present voted in favour of the motion. BOPA