Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe has advised the leadership of Lobatse to submit a business proposal to the Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) for consideration to declare Lobatse a special economic zone. 

Mr Mathoothe made the call when he was responding to a parliamentary question on Monday. The assistant minister said section 4, sub section 2 (e) of the Special Economic Zone Act of 2015, provided for the SEZA to develop a portfolio of public sector, private sector and public-private sector partnership Special Economic Zones as dictated by the market. 

He indicated that SEZA was not yet established at the time the 2013 parliamentary motion, which had called for Lobatse to be treated as a special area as a way of reviving its economy was adopted.

 He however noted that even though Lobatse was not gazetted as a special economic zone, the ministry continued to invest in projects such as the Milk Valley, Delta Technologies and Lobatse Clay Works among others, with a view to diversify the economy of the town. 

Lobatse MP, Mr Karmal Jacobs had wanted to know when the parliamentary motion, adopted in 2013, which called for Lobatse to be treated as a special area, would be implemented. ENDS