Ithuba Optimistic About Empowering Locals
The country’s national lottery runnersup, Ithuba Botswana is optimistic about empowering locals once it starts operations.
Ithuba Botswana, a subsidiary of a wellknown Pan African group Ithuba Holdings, is expected to commence negotiations with the Gambling Authority, which will ultimately pave way for the awarding of the National Lottery licence.
This comes after the Gambling Authority Board announced that negotiations with Grow Mine had proved unsuccessful and a decision had been made to revoke the consortium’s status as the preferred bidder. Grow Mine, a 100% locally owned company, was awarded a 10-year licence to operate the lottery in June last year.
Ithuba Botswana chairperson, Todd Mangadi said they are ready to contribute significantly to the country’s economic advancement and diversity.
“We have a strong view that we have the capacity to sustainably operate the national lottery given our strong track record in other jurisdictions,” he said. Through the National Lottery, Mangadi said they will immediately start empowering citizens as more opportunities will open up in the National Lottery value chain. In addition, they also aim to stimulate the retail industry as retailers will earn a commission through ticket sales. Some of the immediate services, which will be procured locally, include but are not limited to printing services, maintenance, security, distribution, warehousing and staff hiring amongst others.
“Our citizen empowerment approach is hinged on our commitment to ensuring citizen participation in the rollout of the National Lottery, where citizens are shareholders of the project,” he said.
According to Mangadi, the company has in place an initiative to increase local game content, train retailers and staff during the licence period. He said Ithuba Botswana has already partnered with local businesses that have intimate knowledge of the market. These range from law firms, banks, marketing and communications agencies, accounting and telecommunications.
However, he said they have set aside a portion of resources for broad-based organisations and entities, employment opportunities and skills transfer of a dynamic new industry. “We ensure mark-moving and meaningful citizen participation.”