21 Nov 2025

In an effort to strengthen the local textile industry, school uniform manufacturing continues to be a reserve for the citizens as per the reviewed Industrial Development Act 2019, says Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Tiroeaone Ntsima. 

Responding to a parliamentary question on Tuesday, Mr Ntsima said that a citizen empowerment initiative the ministry further introduced a Statutory Instrument No. 76 of 2021, which restricted importation of school uniform. 

He told Parliament that school uniform production was dominated by duly licenced companies and that business inspections were continuously carried out, to ensure compliance. 

During inspections, a few cases of foreigners were found to be manufacturing school uniforms and were engaged in illegal importation, Mr Ntsima said and explained that the ministry in conjunction with other stakeholders had taken necessary measures such as imposing fines and confiscating the goods. “These efforts are continuing with a view to address the raised concerns,” he said. 

Additionally, the minister highlighted that during implementation of the National Quality Policy the ministry had started to inculcate quality culture among consumers, retailers, suppliers and regulators, to promote demand and supply of quality goods and services. 

He said the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) developed national quality standards on school uniform, to ensure that the products were of quality standard and could competitively access both local and global markets. 

He thus said, that local tailors were encouraged to approach BOBS for assistance in that regard and to urged consumers to buy school uniforms that complied with quality standards. The minister highlighted that it was pleasing that there were good quality products from Batswana noticeable in the market.

In line with international standards, the school uniform standards were voluntary as they were not related to health and safety, Mr Ntsima explained. He said it was a concern that consumers were much more skewed towards price rather than quality.

“This now means that sensitisation and campaigns should now be customer focused so that their choices could reflect quality and not just the price alone,” he said. 

He appealed to Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, through the Parents and Teachers Associations that in the procurement processes of school uniform, preference be given to tailors within their constituencies.

Mmopane/Metsimotlhabe MP, Ms Helen Manyeneng had wanted to know whether the minister was aware that foreign nationals were increasingly dominating the manufacturing and sale of school uniforms in various constituencies often using low quality materials. This, she said was to the detriment of local businesses that produced authentic and durable uniforms. 

She also wanted to know whether the ministry would consider to put measures in place to support and prioritise local tailors within constituencies for the production and sale of school uniforms, in order to promote quality standards and empower local entrepreneurs. ENDS