Next parliament to discuss BMC woes - Khama

President Ian Khama has promised to get the next session of Parliament to address the woes besieging the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) before he hands over the baton to Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi in April this year. Although speaking to a fully-packed Francistown stadium, Khama asked that his promise be kept a secret since, his cabinet is not aware of the impending BMC deliberations in parliament next month.

For a long time, the cash-strapped abattoir has survived on bailouts from supplementary budgets, causing some consternation among many legislators who strongly felt that the parastatal was not viable. In times past, Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Patrick Ralotsia has also hinted at proposals for the privatisation of the Lobatse and Francistown abattoirs in a 50/50 basis between Government and the private sector. Francistown abattoir was said to be ear-marked for complete privatisation since it was not only unprofitable but also suffering from a low throughput. Maun abattoir, it was suggested, would remain as a social project. In fact, at the time the minister said they intended to invite expressions of interest for the disposal of Francistown abattoir.