19 Dec 2024

Applications for Chema Chema are still open countrywide, Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Tiroeaone Ntsima has said.

Answering a question in Parliament on Wednesday he said CEDA had temporarily paused disbursement of funds but would resume once the agency had received funding from the ministry. The minister said the pause affected everyone who were issued with approval letters on November 21.

Mr Ntsima said Chema Chema was currently under review and any changes would be communicated by end of the current financial year.

Maun East MP, Mr Goretsetse Kekgonegile had asked the minister if he was aware of existing confusion or emerging desperate situation among small entrepreneurs concerning Chema Chema.

He asked the minister to brief Parliament on the progress made in implementing Chema Chema loan initiative nationally in particular, if the initiative would proceed as it was under the new government or there would be any changes.

MP Kekgonegile further asked the minister to state the changes to be made if any and whether they included the loan being turned into a grant as per the UDC manifesto.

He further asked if the minister was aware that some district offices had stopped issuing Chema Chema loans and wanted to know if the stoppage included those written approval letters to receive the funds. Ends