OP refuses to assist textile firm

SELEBI-PHIKWE: The Office of the President (OP) has refused to intervene in a dispute between government and Microlith, a textile firm based in the copper mining town.

This follows a letter to the Office of the President penned by Ikageleng Phase Two councillor Lekang Mukokomani seeking President Ian Khama's intervention in the matter.Mukokomani said in his letter to the OP in December that he was approached by the director of Microlith who informed him about disagreements they had with government over some dealings some years ago.  Mukokomani explained that said dealings resulted in the company experiencing some bottlenecks, which impacted negatively on its operations.He argued that despite visits by some cabinet ministers to the firm, there has been little progress in resolving the dispute.

Senior Private Secretary to the President Brigadier George Tlhalerwa said in his response that his office made enquires on the issue and received expert advice from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.He explained that the standing policy is that government does not provide any support in the form of bail-outs to individual companies.
The letter, which was also addressed to the coordinator of the Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) and the Selebi Phikwe Town Council among others, explained that it was likely that the company was faced with either shutting down or relocating outside the country.Mukokomani appealed for joint efforts to avert the closure of the company closure and loss of jobs.  He stated that in light of the town's diversification campaign, there was need for the company to be assisted for the benefit of the workers.

Editor's Comment
UDC's 100 Days: Please deliver your promises!

We duly congratulate them to have ousted the long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power. Prior to taking power from the BDP, the coalition had made several election promises that are credited for influencing change and swaying the people to vote in its favour.The party had made an undertaking, which its leader and President Duma Boko consistently bellowed in his campaign trail. These undertakings were promises that Batswana would be...

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