BEMA supports ban on school uniform importation

Q : What are your thoughts on the restrictions imposed by the government on importation of some textile products, including school uniforms? Was it a good move? A: It is no secret that as things currently stand, Botswana’s import bill is high and has been at peak levels for many years. There has been a public outcry to change the situation and therefore it is plausible to witness the government taking a bold step towards addressing these concerns. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type="show" ihc_mb_who="1,2,3,4" ihc_mb_template="1" ] The importation of school uniforms has been quite alarming over the years since we already have local entities that have continually asked for support. As an Association, we believe this restriction, coupled with capacitation by the government, will see many Batswana manufacturers shifting towards the space and maximising the utility of this instrument. Q: How much are Batswana textile manufacturers ready to fill in the existing gap caused by the importation ban? A: We have compiled conducted our own data and deduced that local manufacturers have the capacity to fill in the gap. It is also important to note that as we shift towards local consumption, hurdles are bound to emerge, of which a natural market prospect is. However, this does not imply that we cannot overcome such hurdles. To meet the market demands, a cluster approach will be necessary and is an effort currently in the works. There have been conversations around textile manufacturers’ readiness to supply the local market and it has been quite alarming to see numerous untruths circulating, especially on social media platforms. It is important to therefore clear the misconceptions and state that as BEMA, we work on the ground with textile manufacturers and have a full appreciation of their strengths and shortcomings. It is our conclusion that our local manufacturers make high quality school uniforms and can scale up their output to meet any levels of demand. We already have local manufacturers who are supplying the retail space in Botswana and therefore adequacy has never been an issue. Q : How do you think the government can capacitate local manufacturers to raise them to a level where the sector is able to meet local textile needs and demand? A: There is an inexhaustible list of options that the government can use to capacitate local manufactures to meet the local demand. The government is already working on a proposed few. However, in summary, it would be more fitting to see the small and medium scale players benefiting from this instrument; new entrants in the market could undergo supply and technical development training programmes to enhance their supplier readiness. Q: How do you see the ban being instrumental in creating employment and industrialisation in the textile sector? A: The instrument is imperative, without a doubt, towards reducing the current alarming unemployment rate. The restriction on importation carries the implication that once borders are closed, we will get to see a proliferation of local manufacturers in the textile sector as well as their expansion. This in essence will lead to considerable job creation within the sector and in related sectors in the value chain. Q: Do you think the restrictions will promote active citizen participation in the textile manufacturing sector as the government believes? A: The instrument has been made to benefit local textile manufacturers. Therefore, the onus lies with citizens to benefit from this instrument. It is important to note that increased investment will be critical, especially for expansion. We therefore need not be discriminatory against foreign direct investment. Q: There are concerns among Batswana about inadequacy in terms of quality when it comes to local products. As the organisation that directly deals with exporters and local manufacturers, how do you intend to change this negative narrative? A: As I have already stated, and with due respect for my fellow Batswana, concerns about quality inadequacy are a false narrative. We at BEMA work with textile manufacturers and are confident that they manufacture quality school uniforms. It is also important to note that in days of old, when there was a scarcity of uniforms in retail stores, different households would resort to purchasing uniforms from neighbours who made them and quality was never compromised. That is the case with manufacturers in the sector now. We are currently hands on in ensuring the sector benefits from this instrument. We sit at the policy level and the technical level to ensure our members' concerns are heard and addressed. Q: Would it be a good idea to spread the instrument to other textile products? It is key to emphasise that concerning the school uniforms instrument, research was conducted and it was clear that the ban would serve as an appropriate tool. We cannot use the same diagnostic in other areas because research would also need to be conducted before such a tool can be proposed to aid other textile products. [/ihc-hide-content]

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BEMA supports ban on school uniform importation

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