27 May 2014

 Member of Parliament for Ngwaketse South, Mr Peter Siele says good leadership yields positive results.

Speaking at kgotla meetings he addressed in Sesung and Pitseng on May 23, Minister Siele said President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama was showered with praises by international organisations due to good management and leadership skills.

He said President Khama received the Order of Valuable Contribution to the Olympic Movement from Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, which was presented by the association’s president, Mr Lassana Palenfo at the official opening of the ongoing second African Youth Games in Gaborone.

He said his contribution ranged from a number of initiatives including constituency league, among others, which contributed immensely in honing young stars’ talent.

These young stars, Mr Siele said, eventually participated in regional and world competitions. He said President Khama’s government took a bold decision to focus on social protection programmes to improve the quality of life and economic wellbeing of Batswana more especially the populace living in relatively isolated areas and those in sparsely populated areas.

Mr Siele, also Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, spoke of President Khama’s leadership saying such a move took a lot of good management and leadership skills to continue with social protection progrmmes despite the cavity left by economic crisis.

He added that peace and tranquility, which prevailed in the country was due to good leadership and as such the environment was conducive for international sport to take place in Botswana as well as economic activities.

He said budgetary constraints hampered development as only six villages were electrified in his constituency out of the 100 villages, which were electrified countrywide; moreover funds are being diverted to buy drugs and medicines as well as for water reticulation.

Mr Siele said the government is very supportive to its citizens in providing for the needy and meeting the needs of Batswana. He cited that the provision of fertilizers, chemicals which kill weeds and fencing of fields are indicators that the government is doing more than enough for its citizens.

On other issues, minister Siele encouraged his constituents to practice row planting method as it yield good results.

He implored his constituents to desist from broadcasting method as it is difficult to use machinery when weeding, harvesting or applying fertilizers and applying weeding chemicals adding that such a method is archaic.

He said broadcasting method cannot give farmers the results they want. He fired salvo at government officers who default in paying rentals for village development committees’ houses saying it tarnishes their image.

He urged government officers to be trust worthy stressing that cannot happen for Botswana Housing Corporation houses and private developers as tenants pay in advance. He had time to bid his electorates farewell as he won’t be standing for the coming elections in October.

Residents were grateful of government flagship programmes such as poverty eradication, Ipelegeng, Youth Empowerment Scheme and ISPAAD and urged the government to continue with the good spirit. ENDS