08 Sep 2014

Pace of development in Botswana was derailed by the 2008 world economic crisis, acting Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr Vincent Seretse has said.

He said some planned projects were affected as the country was part of the global community, adding that with the economy showing some signs of recovery, developmental projects promised will be delivered.

Addressing residents of Kgope and Ramankhung in kgotla meetings on September 2, he said as a mitigating factor against slow economic recovery, government had responded by introducing a host of intervention measures such as deciding against reducing its workforce.

Mr Seretse said government decided to prioritise projects particularly those, which could contribute to economic recovery and ensure sustenance of livelihoods of the citizens such power generation and completion of Dams in the north.

He said government recognising the importance of agriculture in the livelihoods of Batswana invested in the sector through programmes such ISPAAD, cluster fencing, distribution of free farming seeds, promoting small stock rearing and integrated farming as a way to ensure food security and reduce reliance on imports.

Mr Seretse encouraged youth to utilise government programmes such as Economic Diversification Drive (EDD), Youth Development Programmes (YES), Young Farmers at CEDA, ISPAAD and Youth Development Fund all of which he said were created to assist youth improve their lives and create employment opportunities for others. 

He said such measures were introduced to reduce youth dependence on parents and old age pensioners and to enhance youth employment opportunities by pursuing an integrated approach creating opportunities for skills transfer which will also simultaneously contribute to development of communities.

Mr Seretse said government was concerned by slow uptake of government assistance in Kweneng District, particularly poverty eradication and assured residents that he would continue to engage relevant officials to ensure that the district also benefit from such assistance.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Boiki Sechele of Ramankhung said the village was still to benefit from government assistance such as poverty eradication programme and the distribution of radios to the elderly. 

He said Ramankhung residents only hear stories of people making life from poverty eradication packages while the villagers only receive empty promises and are reeling from hardships of poverty. 

Kgosi Sechele however praised government for recognising their area as settlement defusing their fears of the “yellow monster” as for many years they had been regarded as squatters. ENDS