29 March 2010 | Allie Anderson

The Botswana government plans to help reduce poverty by buying more locally produced goods.

The country’s Cabinet Committee of Economic Empowerment will direct all departments to source from local manufacturers and businesses to boost the domestic economy.

Mokgweetsi Masisi, assistant minister of presidential affairs and public administration, said the move would increase the number of manufacturing plants in Botswana and create jobs.

He added the government could go further to help small businesses qualify for public sector procurement opportunities.

The policy, which comes into effect in June, is among a host of initiatives aimed at eradicating poverty. Other plans include ensuring future public policies are “informed by knowledge of the causes of poverty and the need for the poor”.

Masisi said: “We have realised that some programmes, though not intentional, cause poverty and they end up wasting the government’s money.”