The Botswana Truckers Association (BOTRA) was launched last week at Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School. The launch of BOTRA was so successful that by the time members left the venue of the launch, they were sure of office space, a computer and printer, continuous supply of paper, office table and chairs and landline telephone- all thanks to the members’ generous donations.
Furthermore, the Association left the venue having pledged a computer donation to the school and having registered an impressive new membership. First to make a pledge was John Carroll, the Chief Executive Officer of the John Carroll Group, who pledged to freely provide office pace to the Association for an undisclosed period. He also pledged to donate T-shirts in scripted, “Batswana first.”
“In every country priority is given to citizens of a country in which a business is operated. This should be the practise here. I would like to see the Association operational and I am pained to hear there is no office space for whatever reason. I therefore pledge to provide office space,” said Carroll to a loud round of applause. He also promised to donate t-shirts written the Association’s slogan in order to send a clear and loud message.
Dick Mading of Montle Logistics followed with pledge for a computer for the association as well as the school that hosted their launch. The Director of MOP Holdings pledged to supply printing paper, telephone and its connection charges. Director of Basharik Company pledged two office chairs; while Managing Director of Bravo cabs and Phillip Seitei of Couriers pledged a printer and office table respectively. That done, the association’s interim Secretary General, Alvin Yalala, briefed the participants on the way forward.
He informed them that the joining fee was set at P1000 while membership fees or monthly contributions shall be determined by a general meeting in the near future. He highlighted that for smooth running of the trucking business there will be a database of all registered truck owners. This, he said, was meant to ensure that to transporting tender would be awarded foreign companies while local trucks are parked.
“It happened in the past that when a mine needed transportation of minerals out of Botswana it advertised in neighbouring countries that it needed such services. When asked to explain they said they thought the foreign truckers were the only ones that had capacity to do such business. However, local trucks were just parked without business. This should not be, and we can monitor the situation through a database,” he said.
He added that the database would also help to track the performance of drivers.
“We should avoid situations where one driver goes from one operator to another, stealing or underperforming without a trace,” he said.
