The ‘Buy Botswana’ movement, whose mandate is to lobby for the reduction of the import bill, through purchasing and utilization of locally produced goods and services resonates well with the Botswana Government priorities.
“I believe the initiative is to persuade not only Government but Batswana and residents to consciously choose to buy goods and services produced here,” said Mabuse Pule, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, in official opening remarks.
He said, “His Excellency President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi has on numerous occasions propounded a Reset and Reclaim Agenda, in which he stressed that for us to achieve our goal of attaining high income country status, there is need to develop capacity for entrepreneurship by implementing strategic reforms that promote citizen economic inclusion.”
Officials believe Priority 4 of the Reset Agenda, talks to the importance of value chain development which will unlock opportunities for high growth led by the private sector and youth employment amongst other citizen economic empowerment initiatives.
This is evidenced by laws and policies that were passed and enacted over the years; these include various plans such as the National Development Plans, the Economic Diversification Drive, National Transformation Agenda and the Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP) etc.
Furthermore, intentional policies directed towards promotion of local economies were implemented and these are local reservation policies, citizenship economic empowerment and economic inclusions.
The Economic Inclusion Law, is a clear testament of Government‘s unwavering drive towards effective participation of targeted citizens in the economic growth and development of the economy.
The legislation will facilitate enforcement of the economic empowerment initiatives.
Pule said, “The Ministry’s five year Strategy and Transformation Plan (MSTP 2021-2025) is anchored on six pillars, and Pillar No. 4. speaks of ‘Building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable local economies’.”
Local authorities can potentially play an important role in building local economies, by creating an enabling environment for private sector development and facilitating and supporting the start of viable community based economic activities.
The continued restriction on imports of some goods and produce should encourage local farmers to produce for the local market and initial reports are encouraging with Botswana able to provide 70% of its own needs. This is Buy Botswana.
“We must be proud of our Buy Botswana, defend and protect it because this will bear fruits for our economy and consequentially reduce the importation of goods and services from outside the country,” said Pule.
