30 Jan 2025

Government is in search of suitable partners for the attainment of sustainable developments and uplifting of citizenry livelihoods.

Officiating during the United Nation Economic Commission for Africa engagement session with the government of Botswana in Gaborone on Wednesday, Vice President and Minister of Finance Mr Ndaba Gaolathe highlighted that plans to identify potential partners in various sectors were at an advanced stage.

He said the current regime was keen on transforming the country to one of the best-managed states in the continent and a paragon of unity, fairness and prosperity. 

Hence, he said government had realised that it could not succeed alone and that a lot rested on the identification of an ideal partner for the success of both State Owned Enterprises and SMMEs.

“We have begun to ponder on the ideal type of partner for the new Botswana and we have so far identified certain characteristics that identifies an ideal partner. 

We are first looking for partners that would be in for a long time and not in for quick cash and we are making remarkable process in identifying such partner, ” he said.

Mr Gaolathe indicated that government was also looking for a partner with ‘very deep pockets’ and financial resources as well as high impact ideas.

Those, he said, were some of the ideal characteristics that defined a suitable partner that Botswana would be looking for to transform the country adding that the government had identified that the destiny for success was into picking a suitable and reliable partner.

In that regard, Mr Gaolathe said the country was looking up to institutions such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa for guidance given the vast experiences it possess.

On issues of improving efficiency, Mr Gaolathe said Botswana had a long history of having strong public service institutions.

 He nonetheless admitted lapses where certain processes in budgetary and prioritisation of development projects had failed in the past.

“There is need to bring back basic governmental processes in place in an effort to make government more efficient and functional at all times,” he said.

 He further stated that identification of economic drivers would be keen on mechanising mega projects that would create the much needed employment opportunities for the citizenry.

Additionally, Mr Gaolathe reaffirmed government’s commitment toward the reconfiguration of the beef ecosystem and its livestock farming value chain. 

“We will be aggressive in moving away from the monopolistic ecosystem and create room from partnerships that could bring technology and open up markets and bring new players into the beef sector,” he said. He said it was equally important for farmers to also realise the potential in the beef sector and refrain from considering livestock farming as a hobby. ENDS