13 Dec 2022

Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Beauty Manake has acknowledged points raised by legislators in their debate of Chapter 6 of the Transitional National Development Plan, which speaks of sustainable economic development.

Responding to MPs contributions before approval of the chapter in Parliament, Monday, Ms Manake said government was equally yearning to establish laws that would make economic sustainability viable.

She said there was need for an economic diversification plan that would create opportunities for economic inclusion to establish several market opportunities.

Ms Manake noted that in recognising the importance of industrialising, government was establishing designated areas for growing business, which were offered by entities such as SPEDU.

She said through the mindset change agenda, there was going to be a lot of developments with regard to private sector engagements on different sectors.

Ms Manake said following the recent fuel shortages, government established sustainable structures through fuel storages that were on the pipeline.

In his contribution to the debate on the chapter, Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane said citizen economic empowerment was not reaching the targeted audience, but was only in the hands of foreigners.
He suggested the establishment of legislation that would allow citizens an opportunity to take part in their economy for it to remain resilient and sustainable.

He appealed with government to assist in the revitalisation of Francistown, which had remained a ghost after closure of mining activities around the city.

Mr Moswaane thus urged government to look into developing infrastructure, especially around Francistown, which had plenty of unused land.

Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga said the debate came at an opportune time when proper planning on sustainable development was required to create a better economic space for citizens.

He said it was important to review some of the laws to make ease of doing business achievable, noting that such would protect Batswana and assist in some policies meant to grow the economy.

The MP further emphasised the importance of empowering locals to generate wealth by creating market opportunities.

Mr Majaga said the ministry of trade must have a package that would incite locals to engage in lucrative joint ventures.

He said currently the gap between the haves and the have nots was worrisome and said the Ministry of Entrepreneurship should come on board and fulfill the dream of creating millionaires.

Mr Majaga challenged government to create a market hub for truckers and empower locals, especially in the Okavango area, as currently foreigners were enjoying the monopoly.

He was worried that wealth was not circulating in the country, but rather exported off shore.

He expressed concern that some foreign entities fronted their large scale businesses and were funded by financial institutions at the expense of locals.

The transitional development pan is due to be implemented from April 2023 to March 2025. ENDS