BCL closure inflicts dire strain on businesses

BCL Mine demise has crippled Selebi-Phikwe
BCL Mine demise has crippled Selebi-Phikwe

SELEBI-PHIKWE: A task team appointed by Business Botswana (BB) following the closure of BCL Mine has submitted a draft report highlighting the need for big investments into the region to protect the existing businesses that are facing serious viability challenges.

The report that was recently presented to the local business community by Professor Happy Siphambe, has shown that firms have lost significant business due to the mine closure. It indicates that some potential businesses whose business plans were approved by Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency lost viability due to closure of BCL.

He added that companies whose business relied more on BCL have been highly affected and added that for most of local companies, business went down by more than 50% since the mine closure.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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