18 Jul 2023

Parliament last week passed the Botswana Meat Industry Regulatory Authority Bill (BMIRA) which will liberalise the meat and beef industry.

The proposed law would consequently end the monopoly of Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao said when responding to Members of Parliament comments on the bill.

“Botswana Meat Commission will no longer be protected as it is now,” he said, adding that any person interested in opening an abattoir would be allowed under the prerogative of the regularity authority.

The minister said the bill would open up the market for investment which would improve and develop the industry.

Mr Molao also said it would contribute to the profitability of the beef industry and enhance local participation and beneficiation.

He added that the authority would from time to time assess industry levies and use the money for training and development of the industry.

The minister said the meat regulatory authority would address issues of hygiene, licensing, transportation of animals and animal welfare.

He noted that price control would not be part of the bill as farmers were against it and more so that Botswana was an open market economy.

He also added that the BMIRA board would be constituted of professionals of different cadres and that due processes to choose members would be followed.

The minister further told Parliament that he had instructed his ministry to draft the regulations which would be used to implement the bill once it matured into law. 

He added that it was to ensure that all necessary instruments were ready once the bill was signed into law.

Earlier Vice President and Boteti West MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said the bill showed the ruling party's intention of delivering on its promises of transforming the economy.

He said over the past years Batswana had complained about the monopoly of BMC and that the bill was a response to such.

Furthermore, he said climate change and globalisation had brought along emerging diseases and challenges hence the bill sought to address such.

Mr Tsogwane also said human health was core to development and that hygiene issues should never be negated.

While Mr Thulagano Segokgo of Tlokweng said the proposed law would benefit farmers who had long decried that their livestock were under priced.

Mr Segokgo said the new development allow Batswana to access markets outside the country.

While Mr Yandani Boko of Mahalapye East said the involvement of the minister in selecting board members could result in political appointments.

He suggested that board membership should include young people who were mostly affected by unemployment. Ends