31 Mar 2026

The Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship has embarked on an extensive restructuring of its seven core departments to eliminate functional overlaps and boost operational efficiency.

 Responding to a question in Parliament on Monday, Minister Tiroeaone Ntsima informed legislators that the process, which aligned with Government Gazette No. 742 of 2024, began on August 4 last year and was expected to conclude by June 30. Minister Ntsima said the departments included Business Services, Cooperatives, Entrepreneurship Development, Industrial Development, Research, Statistics and Policy Development, Trade Development as well as Value Chains and Cluster Development. Addressing concerns regarding personnel, Minister Ntsima clarified that Wealth Creation was not a standalone department but a division within the Department of Entrepreneurial Development. On the division’s staff, he said there were no temporary employees within the division, adding out of an establishment of 128 contract positions, 106 were currently filled. Additionally, he said there were six permanent positions, five of which had been filled and while there were no temporary staff, the average length of service for contract employees was nine years. 

He further indicated that the staff establishment for the units under the Department of Entrepreneurial Development included 134 positions under wealth creation, six under Entrepreneurial Mindset Change as well as seven under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). 

Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile had requested for progress update on the restructuring, specific departments involved, the intended goals of the exercise, and a comprehensive breakdown of the staffing complement and employment status within the Wealth Creation division. ENDS