Botswana has launched a national textile development programme aimed at strengthening local manufacturing, supporting citizen-owned businesses and expanding participation in regional and international apparel markets.
The initiative forms part of the newly launched Maikarabelo Movement, a platform designed to promote citizen participation in economic development and enterprise growth. Government officials, development partners, financial institutions and business leaders attended the launch in Gaborone.
The programme will support 100 citizen-owned textile enterprises selected through a national process led by the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA). Participating businesses come from communities across the country, including Maun, Kasane, Ghanzi, Letlhakeng, Lobatse and Gaborone.
Organisers said the programme is intended to help local manufacturers move beyond uniforms and personal protective equipment into higher-value apparel production. The goal is to improve competitiveness and position Botswana firms to benefit from opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Presidential Youth Empowerment Campaign (PYEC). Development partners and private sector companies have also committed support. These include the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), De Beers Group and Absa Bank Botswana.
Participating enterprises will collectively produce the Maikarabelo Symbol, a new apparel brand promoted as an expression of national pride and active citizenship. Each garment will carry a digital identity linked to the enterprise that produced it.
The movement estimates the programme could create more than 1,000 jobs as production expands and the domestic apparel sector grows.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Presidential Youth Empowerment Campaign (PYEC). Development partners and private sector companies have also committed support. These include the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), De Beers Group and Absa Bank Botswana.
A community development fund has also been established as part of the programme. Under the model, P50 from every Maikarabelo item sold will be allocated to community development projects across Botswana’s 31 administrative districts. The fund will be administered by Absa Bank Botswana and implemented through PYEC.
Organisers said the broader objective is to create a platform that links enterprise development, skills creation and community investment. The initiative is aligned with Botswana’s industrialisation and economic diversification goals.
The launch marks the first national programme under the Maikarabelo Movement, which aims to bring together government, citizens, business and development partners around long-term economic development objectives.
