Why the chicken consumer is bleeding
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The closely controlled poultry industry in Botswana has resulted in inflation of the general poultry meat prices by 65 percent, as key players in the local industry enjoys government protection at the expense of ordinary consumer, WeekendPost investigations can reveal.
This publication has established that the retailers and franchised fast food outlets are forced by the Poultry Licence Committee (PLC) to procure their poultry meat from local producers precisely Tswana Pride (Pty) Ltd, which controls about 90 percent of the market – and its associated companies.
This has resulted in retailers and fast food outlets buying poultry meat from few local producers who dominate the market at exorbitantly higher price than they would have if they were allowed to buy directly from South African producers.
WeekendPost has also established that although some measures were initially put in place for the best interest of all local poultry producers in Botswana, it has transpired that smaller producers are not able to benefit due to their inability to meet both quality and quantity demands of the franchised international fast food outlets like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Chicken Licken, Hungry Lion and Nandos among others.
With the Tswana Pride (Pty) Ltd having superior advantage in terms of infrastructure and capacity, small producers have been taken out of the game. Currently, Tswana Pride (Pty) Ltd is the sole producer which is approved by the Kentucky Fried Chicken to supply its franchisee in Botswana. Other producers are not licensed to supply KFC with poultry meat due to infrastructure, quality and quantity limitations, effectively giving Tswana Pride (Pty) Ltd absolute monopoly over supply of poultry to KFC.
This publication has also learnt that when the demand is high, local fast food outlets and retailers apply to PLC for permit to procure meat from South Africa for a certain period of time. This however has not been able to bear fruits as lack of storage facilities will either force them to procure not enough or engage Tswana Pride (Pty) Ltd to procure from South Africa in large quantity and then sell to them.
This results in local retailers and fast food outlets buying poultry meat at higher prices much more than they would have, had they been allowed to directly from South Africa. Tswana Pride (Pty) Ltd’s monopoly and prices control has inflated the chicken prices meat in Botswana, making it more expensive than in neighbouring South Africa.
Tswana Pride (Pty) Ltd General Manager Wayne Du Toit said the quality of Tswana Pride and its associated companies’ meat is up to standards and revealed that it has never encountered problems with its buyers over the quality of their products.
However, according to the information gathered by this publication, the bone of contention is the price at which Tswana Pride (Pty) Ltd offer its products to fast food outlets especially when it comes to poultry meat which is imported from South Africa, “When we import on their behalf, we consider storage costs because we purchase in large quantity and have to supply throughout the country,” he said.
“The retailers and most fast food outlets do not have the capacity to do so, which means we share the benefits 50-50.”
Currently Tswana Pride and its associate companies slaughter 160 000 chickens while South Africa producers are able to slaughter 20 million chickens on average every month. Botswana has not been able to meet some demands of chicken meat products like the ‘wings.’
Some of the franchisers who spoke to the WeekendPost have stated that they are aware that some big local poultry producers charge enormous prices after importing at a lesser cost from South African poultry giants. Managing Director for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Africa, Doug Smart confirmed in an interview that: “we are aware of this and we’re looking into this further and working to build our own local supply chain.”
Out of the 12 KFC restaurants operating across Botswana, he said they have only four local suppliers in Botswana and one supplier in South Africa. According to Smart, KFC Botswana sources their chickens from local suppliers that meet KFC’s high quality standards and specifications.
“Where there is a supplier shortfall, product is then imported from approved South African suppliers. All fresh produce is sourced from local suppliers and other ingredients including spices and breading are sourced from South African suppliers,” he said.
The KFC Africa Managing Director also highlighted that their local (Botswana) suppliers are Tswana Pride, Bidvest Food Service, Mr Veg, adding that Digistics is their South African provider. Although he said in terms of the ownership of their suppliers, he is not at liberty to disclose their information but WeekendPost can reveal that Tswana Pride (Pty) Ltd is owned by powerful businessman Satar Dada, who is the sole local supplier to KFC in Botswana.
WeekendPost has established that the company has benefited due to some import restrictions which unable KFC to import certain products which include poultry, eggs and fresh produce. Although this publication has gathered that the recent closure by KFC is attributed to failure by their supply to meet their high demand, the KFC Managing Director also shared insights that: “the temporary closure of the KFC restaurants in Botswana is due to the restaurants experiencing difficulty in securing approved KFC ingredients.”
While Smarts stated that KFC believes in supporting the communities in which they operate, he however said they are working closely with local suppliers to develop a local supply chain for ingredients that meet KFC’s quality standards – while also ensuring the volume demands of the local KFC system can be supported by supplier capacity.
KFC chicken franchise counterpart and competitor Nandos, through the Brand Manager Simiso Ncube said in their brief interview that “Nando’s Botswana aims to engage local suppliers wherever possible, for our chicken and all other ingredients.” She however would not be drawn into discussing whether they are aware of certain big poultry local producers buying from across the border to re-sell with a higher price to the franchisers.
Investigations by this publication further reveal that at the end of the day, the ordinary man on the street suffers more due to the hefty tariffs on chickens on the shop shelves. This is exacerbated by the fact that franchisers and shops also skyrocket the prices after producers do the same. She said they have two poultry meat suppliers which are both local and have fifteen outlets across the country.
Meanwhile Botswana Poultry Association Chairman Ishmael Mosinyi asserted that the big poultry man has pushed small man against the wall, and therefore now it’s the ordinary man on the street that suffers most.
He said the challenges they face as small poultry producers cascade down to consumers as big producers may charge exuberant prices as they see fit – to consumers.
“Big poultry producers have put their teeth on the market and have proper infrastructure and therefore meet expected standards,” adding that as small poultry meat providers they have been kicked out by big firms and franchisers’ set of high standards.
Chicken Licken Managing Director Saizel Ismail also shared the same sentiments that the local suppliers cannot meet demand and therefore they get authority to import from South Africa if they fail to meet demand.
“Locals get authority from Poultry Association Board to import supplementary poultry meat from South Africa to complement the demand. All suppliers and buyers meet to discuss poultry decisions and authorise suppliers.”
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BTC launches the 3rd Francistown Marathon 2024 and handover proceeds to the 2nd Francistown Marathon beneficiaries
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTC) has announced that its 3rd Francistown Marathon will be held on Saturday 20th April 2024 at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown. The BTC Francistown Marathon is officially recognised by World Athletics and a Comrades Marathon Qualifier will offer race categories ranging from 42.2km, 21.1 km, 10km, 5km fun run, 5km peace run for children and has introduced a 5km and 10km categories for wheelchairs athletics.
BTC also used this opportunity to announce beneficiaries who received donations from proceeds made from the 2nd BTC Francistown Marathon that was held on April 23rd 203. BTC donated a play area, plastic chairs and wooden tables for pupils worth a total of thirty eight thousand, one hundred and three pula, fifty thebe each (P38, 103.50) to Monarch Primary School, Tatitown Primary School, Mahube Primary School and Gulubane Primary School. Ditladi and Boikhutso clinics each received a donation of benches, television sets and 10, 000 litre water tanks worth thirty seven thousan, eight hundred and ninety eight pula (P 37, 898.00). Additionally, BTC also donated seventy thousand pula (P70,000.00) to their marathon technical partner, Francistown Athletics Club (FAC) which will be used for daily operations as well as to purchase equipment for the club.
The BTC Francistown Marathon aligns seamlessly with BTC’s corporate social investment programme, administered through the BTC Foundation. This programme is a testament to BTC’s dedication to community development, focusing on key areas such as health promotion. The marathon, now in its third year, not only promotes a healthy lifestyle but also channels all proceeds to carefully chosen charities as part of BTC’s commitment to impactful and sustainable projects.
Speaking at the launch, the BTC Managing Director Mr Anthony Masunga stated that the marathon underscores BTC’s commitment to community upliftment and corporate social investment. He stated that “the annual event which has been in existence since 2016, having taken a break due to the covid and other logistical issues, is instrumental to the economic upliftment of the city of Francistown”. He congratulated all the beneficiaries for having been nominated to receive the donations, adding that “the donation of proceeds from the 2023 marathon aims to highlight BTC’s commitment and heart for Batswana and our continued impact in the different industries”.
He further stated that through this marathon, “we demonstrate our steadfast commitment to having a good influence on our communities, this event is a manifestation of our dedication to promoting education and a healthier, more active society”. He concluded by stating that “BTC looks forward to another successful marathon that will leave a lasting positive influence on the greater Francistown community and the country at large” he said.
Giving welcome remarks, the Councillor for Donga, Honourable Morulaganyi Mothowabarwa stated that “he is ecstatic that BTC is collaborating with the City of Francistown on yet another installment of the Marathon”. He continued to offer his support to BTC to enable this marathon to continue over the coming years, stating that the “CSI element is a welcome development that helps empower our communities”, he said.
The 3rd BTC Francistown Marathon is officially open for registrations and athletes may use the following platforms to register and pay; through Smega by dialling *173# and choosing opton 5, then choose Option 3 for the Francistown marathon, at any BTC store or by visiting the BTC website and clicking on the BTC Francistown Marathon and choosing the relevant options.
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Letsholo lauds President Masisi’s digitization in fight against corruption
Thapelo Letsholo, Member of Parliament for Kanye North, delivered a moving speech at the United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day commemoration, praising President Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi’s digitalization initiative in the fight against corruption. Letsholo highlighted the importance of embracing digitalization in governance as a crucial step in curbing corrupt practices.
According to Letsholo, the implementation of digital systems in government services can significantly reduce direct interactions between citizens and officials, which often serve as fertile grounds for corruption. By minimizing these opportunities for illicit activities, the efficiency and transparency of public services can be enhanced. Letsholo pointed to Estonia’s success in digital governance as an example, where public services have become more transparent, accessible, and efficient.
The MP commended President Masisi’s commitment to digitalization and E-Governance, emphasizing that it aligns with global anti-corruption standards. He called for full support and active participation from all sectors to ensure the success of this initiative.
Letsholo also stressed the importance of improving detection methods and refining whistleblower laws to effectively combat corruption. He highlighted the unseen and unspoken facets of corruption as its lifelines, emphasizing the need for robust detection mechanisms and a system that encourages and protects whistleblowers.
Addressing the societal role in fighting corruption, Letsholo focused on the crucial role of everyday citizens and civil servants who often witness corrupt practices firsthand. He acknowledged the existing reluctance to report corruption due to the perceived risks of repercussions. To change this narrative, Letsholo advocated for creating an environment where staying silent is deemed more detrimental than speaking out. He called for a cultural shift where the potential benefits of exposing corruption outweigh the risks, ensuring that whistleblowers are protected and feel secure in coming forward.
Letsholo called for collective responsibility and action in creating a system that not only detects and reports corruption but also supports those who stand against it. He expressed hope that under President Masisi’s digitalization initiatives, the future of governance in Botswana will be characterized by integrity, transparency, and accountability. Letsholo’s speech resonated with the sentiments of hope and determination that permeated the commemoration, emphasizing the need for unity in the fight against corruption.
In summary, Letsholo lauded President Masisi’s digitalization initiative in the fight against corruption, highlighting its potential to curb corrupt practices, enhance efficiency and transparency in public services, and align with global anti-corruption standards. He emphasized the importance of improving detection methods, refining whistleblower laws, and creating an environment where speaking out against corruption is encouraged and protected. Letsholo called for collective responsibility and action in creating a future characterized by integrity, transparency, and accountability in governance.
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FaR property assets value clock P1.47 billion
FaR Property Company (FPC) Limited, a property investment company listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange, has recently announced its exceptional financial results for the year 2023. The company’s property asset value has risen to P1.47 billion, up from P1.42 billion in the previous year.
FPC has a diverse portfolio of properties, including retail, commercial, industrial, and residential properties in Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia. The company owns a total of 186 properties, generating rental revenues from various sectors. In 2023, the company recorded rental revenues of P11 million from residential properties, P62 million from industrial properties, and P89 million from commercial properties. Overall, the company’s total revenues increased by 9% to P153 million, while profit before tax increased by 22% to P136 million, and operating profit increased by 11% to P139 million.
One notable achievement for FPC is the low vacancy rate across its properties, which stands at only 6%. This is particularly impressive considering the challenging trading environment. The company attributes this success to effective lease management and the leasing of previously vacant properties in South Africa. FPC’s management expressed satisfaction with the results, highlighting the resilience of the company in the face of ongoing macroeconomic challenges.
The increase in profit before tax can be attributed to both an increase in income and effective control of operating expenses. FPC managed to achieve these results with fewer employees, demonstrating the company’s efficiency. The headline earnings per linked unit also saw an improvement, reaching 26.92 thebe, higher than the previous year.
Looking ahead, FPC remains confident in its competitiveness and growth prospects. The company possesses a substantial land bank, which it plans to develop strategically as opportunities arise. FPC aims for managed growth, focusing on consumer-driven developments and ensuring the presence of supportive tenants. By maintaining this approach, the company believes it can sustainably grow its property portfolio and remain competitive in the market.
In terms of the macroeconomic environment, FPC noted that inflation rates are decreasing towards the 3% to 6% range approved by the Bank of Botswana. This is positive news for the company, as it hopes for further decreases in interest rates. However, the fluctuating fuel prices, influenced by global events such as the war in Ukraine and oil output reductions by Russia and other Middle Eastern countries, continue to impact businesses, including some of FPC’s tenants.
FPC’s property portfolio includes notable assets such as a shopping mall in Francistown with Choppies Hyper as the anchor tenant, Borogo Mall located on the A33 main road near the Kazungula ferry crossing, and various industrial and commercial properties in Gaborone leased to Choppies, Senn Foods, and Clover Botswana. The company also owns a shopping mall in Mafikeng and Rustenburg in South Africa.
The majority of FPC’s properties, 85%, are located in Botswana, followed by 12% in South Africa and 3% in Zambia. With its strong financial performance, competitive position, and strategic land bank, FPC is well-positioned for continued growth and success in the property market.