Citizens of Botswana will soon be allowed to run businesses without licenses, so long as they do so from the confines of their homes, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said.

“I want to share with you that among the bills passed by the 11th Parliament is a bill that allows you to run your small business from home without requiring a license. Soon I will sign this bill into law,” President Masisi announced on Monday via his official twitter handle.

The president hopes the move will make it easier for Batswana to venture into domestic entrepreneurship as a way of beating unemployment in the country.

Botswana is ranked 86^th among 190 economies in the ease of doing business, according to the latest World Bank annual ratings. The southern African country ranks sixth in Africa.

The country’s unemployment rate stood at 18.10 percent in 2017, a figure Masisi’s administration hopes to reduce.

“It is our serious intent to reduce excessive and unnecessary regulation of the economy to allow you to prosper. This is part of our improving the ease of doing business for Batswana.

“Please take advantage of these efforts to do your part in self-improvement for your communities & our country. Have a productive week,” President Masisi added.

The announcement comes just two months before Botswana holds a general election in which President Maisisi will be seeking a second term in office.

Masisi may come up against his predecessor Ian Khama in the 24 October polls, as the latter considers running for the top job.