Private sector complains about SPEDU conference

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Friday January 29, 2010 00:00

Palalani Moithobogi of Kgwebo Consultants said in an interview that he is disappointed by the way the conference has been organised because fundamental things have been left out. He explained that only government departments would be making presentations.

'We gave the organisers some of the issues that we felt need to be addressed as the business community but they have been left out. We expected the private sector, Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME's) representatives among others to have an input in the conference but they will only be there as audience,' he said.

Moithobogi mentioned that SPEDU is forgetting that the private sector is the one that has been driving the diversification unit to be established.

'It is a lost opportunity for the private sector. The ministries will be making presentations about programmes that everybody is aware of. The conference is just another pep talk.

We cannot have people from outside the region making resolutions about the region, sidelining people from the region. Those resolutions will not benefit us,' he fumed.

He explained that Selebi-Phikwe is a region that is facing economic decline due to the mining activities. He said other means to support the region must be found after the mine lifespan comes to an end.  Moithobogi said non-mining companies must also not be left out because they have created many jobs.

'Such companies can be assisted through procurement of goods and services. The economy of the town cannot be sustained if tenders are given to businesses from outside. If it is an issue of capacity, they can be assisted to work on it. Businesses operating in this region are operating in a tough environment,' he said.

Moithobogi said since the government has realised that the region is a special case, it should relax the tax laws as a way of attracting investors to come and open businesses in Selebi-Phikwe.  He also complained that big projects that are taking place in the region must benefit the locals. He suggested that local companies be engaged to do some jobs instead of being sidelined leading to them becoming impoverished.

'Tendering must be transparent and open to public scrutiny. People are complaining because they do not know what the officials are doing in their offices. If there are rules in tendering, the public must know them,' says Moithobogi.

Furthermore, Moithobogi said it is a general feeling that Batswana do not play an active role in the economy of the country. He observed that it is difficult to sustain peace and stability if people are complaining because it is a recipe for disaster and unrest in the country. 'The only way citizen empowerment can be promoted is to pass the citizen empowerment law. The law will force some jobs to be reserved for citizens and that will empower Batswana,' says Moithobogi.He mentioned that in the past Batswana have been involved in projects such as dairy and poultry, which have all collapsed.

Managing Director of A1 Hardware, Shajeed Patel said the government must support citizens who are involved in setting businesses with the SMME's to save them from liquidation. He observed that many Batswana are not going into business because they are scared of competition from giant companies. Patel mentioned that businesses operating in this region must be given jobs instead of having them done by companies from outside.

'There must be observations done after funds are released by financers and they must also provide guidance,' he said.

Tebogo Venson of Venson Holdings also said he is disappointed by the way SPEDU conference has been organised. He complained that as the business community they have not been invited to come and tell different ministries their challenges in doing business in Selebi-Phikwe.

Meanwhile, Venson said citizen economic empowerment is failing because there is no planning. He noted that empowerment is not all about money but skills that will enable Batswana to take over when expatriates leave.

'Batswana are beggars while people from outside win tenders for big projects here. Such companies import everything, in the end they will even come with bricks from their own countries,' says Venson.  He said if local companies win tenders, they will empower other locals.