Quarterly meetings have not been feasible due to non attendance of members and time constraints given various time demands of businesses. Retail Sector is made up of small retailers and some big retailers (chain stores). The latter has an association where they meet to discuss common issues. The small retailers face tough competition from the big retailers and even wholesalers.
Matters Considered during 2008 and Additions for current Year
1. Implementation of New legislation relating to Licenses
Implementation of Separate Trade and Liquor Acts has been done during 2008. Liquor retailers have expressed great concerns about some sections of the regulations. Alcohol abuse has come strongly as an issue to be dealt with. The concern has been that the Industry has done very little to attend to the negative side of its business. A committee of Alcohol Customers’ has been formed through the Ministry of Trade, more work is still to be done.
Implementation of Trade Acts has taken off with some teething problems relating to lead time and interpretation of some clauses being divergent between Local authorities and the entrepreneurs. It is believed that with more input from the entrepreneurs improvements can be made whenever reviews come.
2. Buyers / Sellers Workshop
Following the 2007 Buyers / Sellers Workshop, a seminar was organized during 2008 where the Minister of Trade and Industry was the Guest Speaker. It was clear that the Main Chain Stores controlled fro RSA were not doing enough to support the local producers. It was strongly felt that it is time to regulate the support. Currently Government has issued some procurement policies in the past few years and directives recently. The challenge of implementation still exists.
3. Working Relationship of Wholesalers and Retailers
These two sectors which have existed together in past decades are facing the challenge of co-existence. Some of the wholesalers have been retailing, now they are pushing for reduction of minimum size of wholesale from 1,500 m2. the Retail Sector does not see that as a healthy move because retailers will be swallowed up.
4. Government Business Through Tenders-Govt
Local Authorities Procurement Act has been finalized. This is expected to curb favouritism which was prevalent because of excluding Councilors from the committees. Private Sector will be represented in the committees.
Coupon systems of Ministry of Local Government has been partly rolled out in some districts. Complete rollout is expected to be done before end of the year (December 2009). This procurement business has been restricted to small retailers even though some chain stores and wholesalers wished to participate. Ministry of Local Government consider the plea of small retailers.
Local Level Consultative Committees have been resuscitated. This presents a golden opportunity of dealing with matters through the 15 Local Authorities in the country. Issues which cannot be resolved are then escalated to the Ministerial Sector level and finally the Main HLCC.
Central Government Tenders through PPAB:- Room for improvement.
Following soaring price of “food commodities” during 2008. PPADB conducted some consultation workshops at Francistown and Gaborone in order to discuss matters relating to “price increase” and “localization of tenders”. The latter is still to continue while a decision has been made on the former that prices will be fixed for 6 months.
Delayed tender decisions (award and price increases) are still a concern.
5. Review of CEDA & citizen Empowerment Study
CEDA review has been completed with maximum loan amount increased to P 4m and repayment period increase to 15 years.
Citizen Economic Empowerment Study has been completed and is still being studied by Minister of Finance and Development Planning.
6. Chairperson’s Budget Speech Observations
Public service Salary review – No increase
Government Recurrent and Development budget give hope to stimulate the economy. Existing challenges can be turned to opportunities.
