28 Feb 2023

Members of Parliament have heard that the Ministry of Entrepreneurship has not yet established a joint departmental committee to curb the rampant rise of non-citizens’ businesses in Maun.

Such businesses include horticultural gardens, brick moulding, chicken and egg sales, concrete and sand mining.

Answering a question in Parliament on Monday, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Lefoko Moagi said the reason why the committee had not yet been established was because after the Ministry of Entrepreneurship was established in April last year, the functional structure had to be developed for the ministry to be suitably staffed to deliver on its mandate.

“Premised on the fact that the Ministry of Entrepreneurship was completely new, it took longer than envisioned to complete the said structure,” said Mr Moagi, who was answering on behalf of Minister of Entrepreneurship.

The minister also told Parliament that recruitment and establishment of the office of the coordinator of economic empowerment would commence in May while the coordinator would be appointed no later than July.

Maun East legislator, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile had asked the minister to brief Parliament on measures in place to protect local businesses from illegal businesses operated by both non-citizens and citizens fronting for non-citizens, in line with the Citizen Empowerment Act.

He particularly asked if a joint departmental committee had been established to curb the rampant rise of non-citizens businesses in Maun.

Mr Kekgonegile also wanted to know the terms of reference of such a committee as well as its achievements so far and schedule of operation or meetings. ENDS