The new development continues the retailer's drive to open 26 outlets by 2015 across the country.The Bontleng development takes the Pay-Less store count to six - five in Gaborone and one in Mochudi - with a staff compliment of 320."It is a fact that employment opportunities can be created as many companies set up or expand operations in the country. Companies such as Pay-Less need to be commended for heeding the call by government to assist in employment creation as this is a mammoth task which government cannot achieve alone," Malesu said at the launch of the store.Malesu took her audience through the history of the group which used to trade as Corner Supermarket at the Gaborone Main Mall. She recalled that in the early 1970s, the supermarket was owned and managed by the Henning family. "As the pioneer of supermarkets in Botswana, most residents of Gaborone and the surrounding villages identified with the Pay-Less brand. On the 1st March, 2013 the business was sold to Saleem Malique, whom I trust has a good vision for the development of the enterprise," she said.
Malesu said Malique, with three former colleagues, had aspirations to become meaningful players in both wholesale and retail FMCG sectors.She revealed that the acquisition of Pay-Less as retail and the setting up of Fours Cash & Carry Gaborone as a wholesale started it all."I have been reliably informed that every month, Pay-Less Supermarket procures around P700,000 worth of fresh produce from local companies and this is an initiative worth commending.The growth and the diversification of the country's economy can only be fulfilled when both government and the private sector are committed to working together.I therefore call upon the private sector to support the government in its efforts to diversify the economy through the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) initiative," she appealed.She explained that one of the objectives of the EDD initiative is to build a vibrant and globally competitive private sector, as well as to achieve a modern technologically and skills-driven knowledge economy to enable competitiveness. Malesu appealed to local suppliers to improve the quality of their products. She also called on Batswana to develop their small general dealers so that they can attract business.
