Minister denies rift with SA
Ookeditse Malesela | Friday December 7, 2018 13:43
His response followed a motion for the adjournment-definite matter for urgent public importance by Member of Parliament (MP) of Mogoditshane Sedirwa Kgoroba on Tuesday who asked the Government to revise the laws relating to the importation of horticulture produce. Kgoroba said that there is an impasse as small scale businesses particularly hawkers, are currently not allowed to import agriculture produce from South Africa.
He said that this is due to the restrictions and regulations imposed by the ministry on the importation of horticulture produce. However, Westhuizen told Parliament that there is no impasse and this have started during the outbreak of fruit fly in certain parts of South Africa.
Westhuizen said that trading in agricultural produce is governed through the control of Goods and Services Regulations for import and export, and importers are authorised to undertake their businesses under defined import conditions. He further elaborated that the import permit is also accompanied by Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) certificate for disease prevention administered by both Botswana and South Africa in accordance of controlling disease breakout.
Kgoroba said he agrees with the government’s policy that “we should protect the local producers and employment opportunities for local people.” He then asked the minister:
“Are you aware that the farms that you are trying to protect are abusing our hawkers, for example, potatoes are closed for now because we have local suppliers and hawkers arrive on that farm on Sunday and as of now they are not supplied and when the sun goes down they are locked outside with no toilets, no security and yet they are expected to pay cash?” he said.
In response, the acting Minister said as of now Batswana are at 60% of producing local horticulture produce and they are going to close borders to these products so that local farmers can grow and create more employment for people.
“However, it has been about five months having importers of horticulture produce cry foul and requesting the ministry to review the current compliance requirements. Their issue has been that restrictions should be confined to farms as holdings affected only instead to a border area. “In view of their request, Botswana has actively engaged South Africa under the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) platform to review controls to restrictions only in the specific farms in affected localities. The Government of South Africa is currently considering this and the outcome will be communicated to Botswana,” Westhuizen said.