- SPEDU region to be hit by mass exodus of businesses - Businesses planning to relocate to other conducive environments - SPEDU’s DEA office blamed for delays in fast tracking EMP’s - Selibe-Phikwe ghost town looms
Some businesses based in Selibe-Phikwe and facilitated by SPEDU are said to be under heavy pressure to either close shop or relocate to other parts of the country.
The companies, especially in the manufacturing and textile are said to be failing to operate as a result of SPEDU’s failure to expeditiously execute its mandate, which includes among others, facilitation of land allocation for investors; promotion of investment in viable projects; lobby for incentives and conducive environment for doing business in the SPEDU Region.
Sources say it is only a matter of time before Selibe-Phikwe returns to its old ghost town status. The failure by SPEDU to deliver on its mandate has allegedly resulted in some companies ceasing operation as facilitation on utilities and Environmental Management Plans (EMP) are either done at a slow pace or not done at all.
However, Shiellah Moribame-Moakofi Manager, Corporate Communications at SPEDU said they are unaware of companies closing due to lack of facilitation or support. She added that there are no projects facilitated by SPEDU that have stopped operation save for one that is working to comply with the EIA requirements.
But Botswana Guardian gathers that officials at the Environmental offices are dragging their feet in assisting companies, an accusation that Moribame-Moakofi dismisses, arguing instead that the SPEDU DEA Office is “one of the most effective offices that give clients feedback timeously”.
She said the challenge clients face is that some EIA Consultants/Practitioners rather take too long to address issues raised by DEA and therefore such cannot be blamed on SPEDU as a facilitator or DEA as an Authority, she added.
Sources told this publication that officials at the Environmental office are allegedly colluding with some agents who charge exorbitant prices for the production of the EMP for business owners.
This publication has been reliably informed that some officials within SPEDU head office and its Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) office are targeting some of the viable businesses to collapse so that the businesses are sold to their cohorts’ business people of Indian origin.
The business owners are coerced to sell their businesses so that they are able to pay off their loans from the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). Most businesses under the auspices of SPEDU are CEDA-funded.
According to sources, what has alerted most businesses about these shady deals was when the officials started requesting for the companies to furnish them with their Business Plans.
Moribame-Moakofi explained that a client Eligibility Criteria is followed before a client or investor can be facilitated by SPEDU, a process which she said includes evaluation of a detailed business plan.
“Therefore, business plan submission forms part of the prerequisite for SPEDU facilitation. SPEDU employees have signed confidentiality contracts with the Company and live up to the code of ethics of SPEDU as espoused in the Strategic foundations”.
She said for that reason they are not aware of allegations that employees share business plans with third parties. However, if that transpires to be true, she said that “due punitive actions and measures will be conducted accordingly on the culprits”.
Sources say the culprit officers have allegedly rented out some of the warehouses to their associates who in turn lease them out at high prices while they acquired them under the pretext of operating a business.
According to the communications manager, SPEDU does not own any warehouses. SPEDU only facilitates access to Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) and Private owned warehouses at rental rates that are set by the landlords.
Further, Moribame-Moakofi said that unethical conduct can also be reported to law enforcement agencies such as Botswana Police, DIS and DCEC to conduct investigations.
She said that SPEDU has engaged key stakeholders to come up with interventions on assisting CEDA-funded companies and that as the main financier, CEDA is also part of the team working with the clients to find lasting solutions to support the companies.
SPEDU came into existence following the closing of BCL Mine in 2016, with the aim of resuscitating economic activity of Selibe-Phikwe Region. It is also tasked with facilitating work and residence permits, for investors; EIA,
Utilities connectivity; Stakeholder coordination and facilitation of dialogue for projects development, providing support for entrepreneurship development; Addressing barriers to business start-ups and Facilitating market access for projects and all aftercare support.
The companies, especially in the manufacturing and textile are said to be failing to operate as a result of SPEDU’s failure to expeditiously execute its mandate, which includes among others, facilitation of land allocation for investors; promotion of investment in viable projects; lobby for incentives and conducive environment for doing business in the SPEDU Region.
Sources say it is only a matter of time before Selibe-Phikwe returns to its old ghost town status. The failure by SPEDU to deliver on its mandate has allegedly resulted in some companies ceasing operation as facilitation on utilities and Environmental Management Plans (EMP) are either done at a slow pace or not done at all.
However, Shiellah Moribame-Moakofi Manager, Corporate Communications at SPEDU said they are unaware of companies closing due to lack of facilitation or support. She added that there are no projects facilitated by SPEDU that have stopped operation save for one that is working to comply with the EIA requirements.
But Botswana Guardian gathers that officials at the Environmental offices are dragging their feet in assisting companies, an accusation that Moribame-Moakofi dismisses, arguing instead that the SPEDU DEA Office is “one of the most effective offices that give clients feedback timeously”.
She said the challenge clients face is that some EIA Consultants/Practitioners rather take too long to address issues raised by DEA and therefore such cannot be blamed on SPEDU as a facilitator or DEA as an Authority, she added.
Sources told this publication that officials at the Environmental office are allegedly colluding with some agents who charge exorbitant prices for the production of the EMP for business owners.
This publication has been reliably informed that some officials within SPEDU head office and its Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) office are targeting some of the viable businesses to collapse so that the businesses are sold to their cohorts’ business people of Indian origin.
The business owners are coerced to sell their businesses so that they are able to pay off their loans from the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). Most businesses under the auspices of SPEDU are CEDA-funded.
According to sources, what has alerted most businesses about these shady deals was when the officials started requesting for the companies to furnish them with their Business Plans.
Moribame-Moakofi explained that a client Eligibility Criteria is followed before a client or investor can be facilitated by SPEDU, a process which she said includes evaluation of a detailed business plan.
“Therefore, business plan submission forms part of the prerequisite for SPEDU facilitation. SPEDU employees have signed confidentiality contracts with the Company and live up to the code of ethics of SPEDU as espoused in the Strategic foundations”.
She said for that reason they are not aware of allegations that employees share business plans with third parties. However, if that transpires to be true, she said that “due punitive actions and measures will be conducted accordingly on the culprits”.
Sources say the culprit officers have allegedly rented out some of the warehouses to their associates who in turn lease them out at high prices while they acquired them under the pretext of operating a business.
According to the communications manager, SPEDU does not own any warehouses. SPEDU only facilitates access to Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) and Private owned warehouses at rental rates that are set by the landlords.
Further, Moribame-Moakofi said that unethical conduct can also be reported to law enforcement agencies such as Botswana Police, DIS and DCEC to conduct investigations.
She said that SPEDU has engaged key stakeholders to come up with interventions on assisting CEDA-funded companies and that as the main financier, CEDA is also part of the team working with the clients to find lasting solutions to support the companies.
SPEDU came into existence following the closing of BCL Mine in 2016, with the aim of resuscitating economic activity of Selibe-Phikwe Region. It is also tasked with facilitating work and residence permits, for investors; EIA,
Utilities connectivity; Stakeholder coordination and facilitation of dialogue for projects development, providing support for entrepreneurship development; Addressing barriers to business start-ups and Facilitating market access for projects and all aftercare support.
