28 Aug 2023

Government has secured a market for locally produced school uniform.

Giving a keynote address at the manufacturers workshop in Francistown on Thursday the Deputy Mayor of Francistown,  Mr Lesego Kwambala, said the only problem is that illegal school uniforms still find their way into the local market.

Mr Kwambala said the Grand Plaza mall, commonly known as “Bulawayo” because of the influx of Zimbabwean nationals who buy items, is inundated with illegal school uniforms.

He pleaded with all school uniform suppliers to supply the required quantities and quality and assured them of government’s support.

He said in 2021, the government took a decision to ban the importation of school uniforms and that the restriction was carefully considered as a way of market reorientation where local manufactured uniforms will get access to self-space as opposed to the previous dominance by imported school uniforms.

The restricted items included school tunics, shorts, skirts, pants, slacks, blouses, t-shirts, ties, scarfs, tracksuits for both public and private schools at primary and secondary level. This was a disadvantage because it was difficult for the locally made school uniforms to access the domestic market despite it meeting all the required standards, Mr Kwambala said.

He said there was need for manufacturers to work together with all key stakeholders and business organisations such CEDA, the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) and Tokafala.

He explained that the government had observed an increase in the demand for locally made school uniform and in this regard, it had growing business relationships or linkages where some manufacturers are making contracts with retailers.

“The government is also observing a steady rise in employment and acquisitions of new machines and this is an indication that the industry is responding positively to the restriction,” he added.

He said this achievement was in line with the government’s mandate of creating a conducive environment for doing business, developing industry and trade.

Mr Kwambala also said the government would develop industries through making relevant policies and regulations aimed at the supply side and market access.

“We are doing well in market access as we have agreements such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the SADC Protocol on Trade and the European Union Economic Partnership Agreement,” he added.

The Director of Industrial Development in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ms Ruth Baoki, explained that the textile and clothing industry is one sector that can grow the economy and create employment for Batswana.

Ms Baoki said the industry had become one of the economic sectors that have employed many women compared to other sectors due to its value chain development.

She advised school uniform manufactures to take advantage of the challenges facing the sector such as shortage of school informs in schools to grow their businesses.

“Be committed to dress the nation because school uniform has a value chain development,” she said.

Ms Baoki explained that the market for school uniforms is abundant in Botswana, adding that they should apply the mindset change initiative to grow.

The Francistown District Commissioner, Ms Chabongwa Matseka, appealed to the manufacturers to rise to the occasion because the market for school uniforms is abundantly available in the second city.

Ms Matseka challenged the manufacturers to look into opportunities of collaborating and working with one another to increase production as well as to share skills.

“Don’t be alone, shout for help in order to increase your production,” she said.

The Chief Education Officer for Francistown, Mr Boy Olekantse, also underscored that the textile and clothing industry has a huge market in Francistown indicating that the city has 20 primary schools, eight junior secondary schools and two senior secondary schools with an enrollment of over 24000 students.

Mr Olekantse said there are also a number of private schools with an enrollment of over 10000 pupils.

“This is a huge market given that the sector has an open market for school uniforms,” he said. ENDS