21 Feb 2023

An office of the economic empowerment coordinator is expected to be established by May this year. 

 This was said by Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare in response to a question in Parliament on Monday.

Minister Gare said establishment of such an office followed implementation of the Economic Inclusion Act which was assented on October 18, 2021.

He said the office would be responsible for, among others, overseeing and coordinating implementation of the relevant existing economic empowerment laws, policies, initiatives and programmes as well as ensuring an integrated, coordinated and uniform approach to economic empowerment.

The coordinator would also ensure promotion and facilitation of ownership of income generating activities and assets by targeted citizens and further strengthen the ability of a targeted citizen to own, manage and control a private sector enterprise and productive assets.

“Upon fully establishment and operationalisation of the office of the coordinator, companies that want to benefit from the Act will proceed to further guidance by the coordinator,” he said.

Mr Gare also explained that the coordinator’s office would implement economic laws, policies, initiatives and programmes to create investment opportunities, ownership of land and property and empowerment programmes for ‘targeted citizens.’

“Targeted Motswana in this context refers to citizens of Botswana who belong to historically disadvantaged groups such as women, youth, people living with disabilities and individuals from low-income households,” he explained.

He added that the goal of the Act was therefore to provide targeted citizens with opportunities to participate in and benefit from the country’s economic growth and development.

He further told Parliament that the specific criteria to identify one as ‘targeted Motswana’ would vary depending on the programme or initiative being implemented.

“However, it is likely that government will use certain indicators such as income level, gender, age, disability status and geographical location to determine eligibility for the various economic empowerment interventions,” he added. Further, the minister said that Regulations for the Economic Inclusion Act were currently being drafted by the Attorney General’s office and scheduled to be finalised by April this year.

MP for Maun West, Mr Dumelang Saleshando had wanted to know when implementation of the law commenced and if there were any regulations that had been adopted as part of the subsidiary legislation to assist with implementation.

He also wanted to know if there were companies that had benefited from such and how those who wished to benefit from the provisions should proceed.

Mr Saleshando also wanted to know who qualified as a targeted Motswana in the absence of regulations. ends