Africa-Press – Botswana. Development of informal sector model bye laws is ongoing and will be sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers for legislative drafting in the 2023/2024 financial year.
Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele revealed this when he was responding to a parliamentarian question on Wednesday and said it was anticipated that the instrument would be completed in the same financial year.
Mr Modukanele said in 2019, upon realising the challenges faced by members of the public when trying to set up temporary kitchen businesses, councils were advised to adopt the Francistown City Council (FCC) temporary structures guidelines.
He added that the main challenge was that some councils did not have the requisite statutory instruments, and therefore the guidelines were suggested to such councils in order to open up and allow small enterprises to operate while observing good public health practices and maintaining safety and order.
“The instrument circulated was not Bye Laws, but guidelines and councils were informed that they were at liberty to vary them to suit their circumstances,” he explained.
Furthermore, he said the Savingram did not constitute an instruction, but suggested a solution meant to facilitate operation of the informal sector.
He acknowledged that the ministry had initially intended to develop national guidelines, but upon further reflection, it was decided that the scope should change to encompass other informal sector trading activities.
“Eventually a decision was taken given the importance of the informal sector in the economy, that a comprehensive regulatory instrument was necessary to create an enabling environment for informal sector trade,” he said.
Regarding the Ghanzi District Council, Mr Modukanele told Parliament that at one point, they considered developing Food Vending Bye Laws, but the process was abandoned.
He nevertheless said the council was at final stages of customising the guidelines and would present them to house for consideration and approval in the next sitting scheduled for this month.
Member of Parliament for Ghanzi North, Mr John Thiite had asked the minister if he was aware of a Savingram that was circulated to councils instructing them to utilise the FCC bye laws pending finalisation of national guidelines by the ministry.
MP Thiite also asked the minister to state when the guidelines would be released as well as reasons causing the delay of their release.
Again, he wanted to know if the minister was aware that the Ghanzi District Council had formulated its draft bye laws and forwarded them to the ministry and the Attorney Generals Chambers.
The MP furthermore wanted to know the response given to the ministry on the draft bye laws seeking to manage and facilitate ease of doing business for the informal sector.
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