Government urged to prioritise beneficiation for job creation

A recent panel discussion at the High-Level Business Engagement Forum in Gaborone concluded that the government must empower small farmers to transition toward commercialisation and implement deliberate programs aimed at beneficiation, with digitisation as a priority. 

The forum, an initiative by the Office of the President (OP) and powered by the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE), was held in partnership with the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) and Business Botswana.

Moderated by Kopano Bolokwe, Head of Product Development at the BSE, the first panel discussion, titled Job Creation & Economic Diversification, explored strategies for the new government to spur job creation and accelerate economic diversification. 

Panelists included Lillian Scheepers, CEO of the Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers Association; Wanatsha Moakufi, Head of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP) at Debswana Diamond Company; Lily Rakorong, CEO of the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB); Carlos Bernitt, Managing Director of Kgalagadi Breweries Limited; and Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, Vice Chancellor of the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST).

The discussion covered key aspects of job creation and economic diversification, including the role of modern agricultural practices in ensuring food security, initiatives to empower citizens through enterprise development, strategies to boost tourism’s contribution to the economy, the impact of corporate investment on local supply chains, and the importance of research and development (R&D) in fostering sustainable growth.

Agriculture: A catalyst for food security and job creation

When asked about best practices to accelerate food security and job creation, Lillian Scheepers highlighted the potential of cereal production, citing Brazil—the world leader in cereal production—as a model. Brazil is projected to harvest over 322 million metric tonnes of cereals in 2024/25, creating thousands of jobs in the process. Scheepers noted that Pandamatenga farmers expect a bumper harvest this year due to favorable rains, which will contribute to food security and employment.

“On a good season, Pandamatenga farms alone employ 3,000 Batswana, with the potential for more,” she said. Scheepers emphasised the need for the government to support small, medium, and large-scale farmers with technical and financial resources tailored to their needs. She also called for the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) to recalibrate its procurement strategy to balance purchases from small-scale and commercial farmers.

Scheepers advocated for the development of farming clusters to scale up production, enabling Botswana to export surplus produce and create more jobs through agro-processing. She also highlighted the formation of the Botswana Commercial Grain Farmers Association, which aims to unite commercial grain farmers to support each other, bargain collectively, and grow together.  

Citizen Empowerment and Enterprise Development

Wanatsha Moakufi, representing Debswana, shared insights on citizen empowerment and enterprise development. He revealed that Debswana’s CEEP programme aims to achieve a P20 billion citizen spend by 2024 and create 20,000 jobs. Moakufi attributed this success to policy reforms, partnerships with BITC and the Botswana Chamber of Mines (BCM), and initiatives to localise mining production inputs.

“Government needs to do the same if they are to radically achieve job growth,” Moakufi said. He called for policy reforms and new legislation to level the playing field for local businesses, citing stringent licensing requirements for locally manufactured goods as a barrier. He also emphasised the need for funding in research and development to identify market needs.

Tourism: A key contributor to economic growth

Lily Rakorong, CEO of HATAB, addressed the role of tourism in job creation and economic inclusion. She dispelled the misconception that tourism primarily benefits foreigners, noting that Batswana hold 80 percent of tourism licenses across all categories, including high-end camps, lodges, and hotels. Rakorong encouraged the BSE to collaborate with HATAB to attract tourism companies to list on the stock exchange, thereby diversifying their shareholding.

Rakorong also highlighted challenges facing the tourism sector, including the lack of government engagement in decision-making and the new per diem policy, which has led to reduced revenue for hospitality providers. She urged the government to expedite the issuance of concession leases, particularly in the Okavango Delta, to protect existing investments and foster job creation.

Manufacturing and local sourcing

Carlos Bernitt, Managing Director of Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL), emphasised the role of corporate investment in supporting local enterprises. He revealed that AbInBev, which owns KBL and Botswana Breweries Limited (BBL), employs over 450 people and sources 22 percent of its production inputs locally. Bernitt expressed the company’s commitment to increasing local procurement through ongoing the R&D initiatives.

However, he identified the alcohol levy as a significant barrier to investment, with 35 percent of production costs going toward the levy. Bernitt called for its removal to unlock further investment potential.

The role of research and development

Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, Vice Chancellor of BIUST, underscored the importance of R&D in driving economic growth. He highlighted the recent launch of BotSat1, Botswana’s first satellite, as a milestone in the country’s digital transformation.

“The satellite will be a powerful tool for environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, urban planning, and disaster management. This is a major step toward knowledge-based economic growth,” he said.