The tabling of this motion by members of the ruling party signifies the deep-rooted anger and bitterness amongst many Batswana because of what some people have termed "taking over of our economy by foreigners". The motion requires government to consider setting aside businesses, which will remain the reserve of the indigenous people only. There is no doubt that this motion has the interest of all Batswana at heart and should be supported by all and sundry. The government is really struggling to contain the upsurge in unemployment in this country, especially amongst the youth.
Local people's Small Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) are struggling to survive or have collapsed only because they cannot stand the stiff competition they get from big businesses, mostly run by foreigners. It seems our mostly talked about Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has achieved one thing. It has only managed to attract people who come here to paralyse local owned SMMEs to the detriment of the social welfare of the indigenous people. It baffles the mind that somebody could come here, having flown all the way from Bangladesh, and other far away places overseas, claiming to be an investor, only to come and sell serobe, magwinya, dibete tsa dikoko le mala. Does that mean Batswana are so lazy that they cannot do these things and make a living for themselves and feed their children? Does it mean that these foreigners can make better serobe and phaleche than us?
