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Botswana: Hail to the Leader!
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The Voice (Francistown)
6 May 2008
Posted to the web 6 May 2008
Guy Brina
President Ian Khama's small business stimulation plan has been a huge hit so far both inside government and on the streets, but it has also led to some misunderstandings.
Last week, Permanent Secretary to the President Eric Molale announced two directives that should see more government money finding its way to local artists, craftsmen, caterers and other small business people.
The first calls for public offices to buy all their decorations, arts, crafts and related goods and services solely from citizens or 100 percent citizen owned companies.
The second order says steps must be taken to reserve reasonable space, free of charge, in the reception areas of various public buildings and offices to allow small-scale caterers and vendors to sell their goods.
Batsho Ollie-Groth brushes shoulders with lots of artsy folk at the family owned Botswana Craft shop and restaurant on Gaborone's western bypass, and she says the presidential initiative has generated a great deal of enthusiasm.
"I have friends who are artists and one who is caterer, and they all think this is tremendous."
Francistown's Supa-Ngwao Museum Curator Monwabisi Ntuli shares that feeling.
"This is very good. Government has taken the first step to promote local art in Botswana."
Government Communication and Information System Coordinator Dr Jeff Ramsay, meanwhile, says the reactions his office has received have been overwhelmingly positive, but he admits that may not be the case once the directives start to be implemented.
"There will always be complaints, no matter how perfect the system may be - and no system is ever perfect. The important thing will be to put proper procedures in place to insure that the businesses that benefit from these directives are picked in a fair and transparent way."
This process of choosing who will benefit, and who will not, is one of the main aspects of the order that has been misunderstood. Some vendors and other members of the public have the impression the reception areas of all public buildings will be opened to any citizen who wants to pedal his or her goods.
This is not the case.
The directive states guidelines are to be drawn up within the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Youth, Sports and Culture, as well as Labour and Home Affairs, for the implementation of the order to ensure that "transparent rules are first put into place as to how to select its commercial beneficiaries, as well as to determine the specific locations and otherwise prescribe the manner in which such businesses shall be carried out."
According to Ramsay, that means only some Batswana vendors and caterers will be allowed to set up shop in some government buildings.
"Of course the people who don't get chosen are going to be upset, but creating opportunities for some vendors shouldn't be seen as denying opportunities to others.
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"The president has made it very clear this thing is a high priority item and the ministries will have to keep him updated on how things are proceeding so we could have something in place in the next six months."
The information coordinator adds that while none of the rules have been written down and approved yet, people shouldn't worry too much about vendors being allowed to operate at inappropriate locations.
"I can't say for sure, but I think it's a fairly safe bet we won't be seeing any food vendors on the State House lawn."
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