Africa-Press – Botswana. Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti has revealed that Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) is unlikely to record any profits by the end of the year.
This is despite President Duma Boko’s decree that all State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) will make profits year end.
Boko has always maintained that SOEs should wake up from their slumber and generate profits in an attempt to resuscitate the ailing economy. Earlier this week when launching the Economic Transformation Labs, Boko reiterated his stance.
However, Dikoloti in Parliament yesterday said it is highly unlikely that BMC will generate any profits within this financial year end.
Dikoloti was responding to a question from Kgatleng West Member of Parliament (MP), Unity Dow who had enquired whether BMC will make profit during this current financial and if there are any plans to privatise it.
In his response, the minister said they are only hanging onto hope but realistically it is out of reach.
“The answer is definitely unlikely. This is because where we are and in respect to the accumulated losses that the BMC has incurred since January 2025, it will most probably not be possible that any turnaround action that is being taken however positive will wipe out the losses incurred hitherto,” he said.
Though Dikoloti said BMC is unlikely to make profit, he stated that the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is hanging on to a leaf of hope that their strategic reforms pay dividends.
“Based on the active transformation that is on going, it is this government’s, this ministry and the BMC’s intention to achieve profitability on a monthly basis by December 31st 2025,” he said.
Regarding privatising BMC, Dikoloti said his ministry is entertaining the thought, as it needs help from all stakeholders to generate profit and wake up from the slumber.
“We have the BMC Transition Act to facilitate privatisation. Being a prudent government and intending to obtain the best value in the public interest, we are solidifying the asset and are happy to work with anyone who can improve the net asset value,” Dikoloti said.
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