12 Dec 2013

BOCCIM will continue to lobby and advocate the government for a conducive business climate so that the private sector becomes the engine for economic prosperity.

Giving a keynote address at the Hospitality &Tourism Association Botswana (HATAB) conference, BOCCIM president Mr Lekwalo Mosienyane said BOCCIM was founded on the belief that the private sector is the engine of economic growth, wealth creation and poverty eradication in Botswana as is the norm across the globe.

He said they had been directed to come up with a renewed BOCCIM mandate which would embrace among others investment and free members to be self- determining within the collective bargaining of an apex boby.

Mr Mosienyane said their priority was to work with other industry groups such as HATAB, Chamber of Mines, Bankers Association of Botswana to ensure that procedures and regulations for starting and operating a business in Botswana are simple, quick and efficient.

“I am aware that our detractors have tried to undermine our advocacy efforts by claiming that we are always complaining about government.

I think we should ignore such protestations because as the private sector, we do not have the power to make laws but have a duty to identify and lobby for the amendment of those laws and regulations that impede the growth of the private sector,” he said.

Mr Mosienyane said they continued to lobby and advocate for reforms of key indicators for doing business namely; registering a business, getting a trade and tourism licences, the mindless bureaucracy of certifying of documents, getting construction permits, work residence permits for investors and expatriate staff, paying taxes, trading across the borders and just to mention a few.

He noted that BOCCIM is lobbying for the removal of red tape in favour of simplicity and efficiency in crucial business operations. He said they had lobbying for the online submission of tax returns and payment noting that would include online payment of trade and tourism licences.

He said online payment would provide a great relief to operators especially those based in far areas such as the Delta and enable them to remit the tourism levies and pay for the myriad of licences and permits with ease.

Mr Mosienyane said they would worked closely with HATAB over the last two years in preparing and submitting a catalogue of issues that impede the tourism sector such the red tape associated with tourism vehicle permits and poor state of medical facilities in the major tourism centres of Maun and Kasane.

Participants were informed that BOCCIM has just completed a study of the proliferation of levies and fees and the impact of these on the ease of doing business.

Mr Mosienyane urged members to participate actively through the HATAB and BOCCIM structures and help to develop a well thought out position paper on the best way of managing, consolidating and if necessary removing some of the levies in order to reduce the burden on the private sector.

He also reassured participants that they were working with HATAB through the High Level Consultative Committee (HLCC) and would continue to engage the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs to ensure that Point Based System (PBS) achieves its intended objectives and is not used to frustrate the private sector.  ENDS