Selebi-Phikwe Businesses Urged To Address Challenges

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Monday February 1, 2010 00:00

 

Speaking during a two day national conference on the economic diversification of Selebi-Phikwe region last week, Kago Moshashane, Selebi-Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) coordinator, said success will largely depend on the singular and combined efforts of all stakeholders.

Moshashane called for a change of attitude in the public sector and re-iterated that Selebi-Phikwe requires a special dispensation.

'Self regulation is needed in the business sector to ensure that the voice is raised and heard in a more structured manner,' he said. Moshashane lamented the bureaucracy within ministries and parastatal organisations which has led to impediments towards successful implementation of the economic regeneration and diversification agenda. 

He noted the initial misconception by many, that economic diversification was a social welfare and a huge national purse was open and freely available for the taking for all within the region.

The SPEDU Chief described the uncoordinated nature of development in the region, the unsynchronised ministerial budgets, in line with the diversification agenda as a challenge.

Speaking at the same event, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Kenneth Matambo said the conference was convened at the right time, when the economy of Botswana is still under stress from the global financial crises that adversely affected the mining industry. He said this calls for the nation to re-dedicate itself to finding a lasting solution to the issue of economic diversification. He noted that it is particularly urgent in Selebi-Phikwe because of the impending closure of the Bamangwato Concessionary Limited (BCL) Mine.

'Nothing comes without a challenge. The work towards diversifying the regional economy of Selebi-Phikwe is faced with the problem of competing for national demands. The global economic meltdown has adversely affected our economic resources to a level where financing national development programmes is a challenge,' said Matambo. He revealed that the government has not been able to provide all the requisite financial resources for SPEDU's activities and regional projects in the next financial year.

The conference recommended that the community benefits from SPEDU and that the agency should support existing businesses. It was also recommended that government work towards creating an attractive permanent business environment.