08 Feb 2015

Opposition Chief Whip and MP for Francistown South Mr Wynter Mmolotsi says the surplus budget should be used to create more posts rather than be kept in foreign reserves.

Debating the budget speech Mmolotsi said the modest surplus budget which is said to be equivalent to 18 months of import cover should be used to create more job posts so that Batswana can receive better services.

He said it was imperative for government to create more employment opportunities rather than use resources on raising a generation of entrepreneurs because not everyone wants to own a business, “some people just want to work hence it is the duty of government to create job opportunities for them,” he said.

He said over the years Ministry of Education and Skills Development is always given a lion’s share of the budget but still challenges remained in the ministry which he says brings to question capabilities of those entrusted with the Ministry.

He said more than 70 percent of young people in his constituency are enrolled in Ipelegeng programme which he says brings to question policies and strategies government adopts to curb unemployment.

On Health, Mr Mmolotsi said the Ministry still has a long way to go given human resource constraints it faces, and shortage of necessary resources such as medication, clinic cards, bandages and so forth. He said sometimes clients are asked to bring containers from home in order to get medication because there is acute shortage of resources especially in clinics.

He added that it was important to identify these challenges and devise concrete, practical solutions in order to deliver quality health service to the nation. 

He suggested that people living with HIV should not be stigmatized by the way Health facilities render services, “We should do away with the white caravans where they get ARVs because it stigmatises them, it may cause them to default on medication they should just join the dispensary queue just like everyone else, we should not be seen to be quarantining patients as if they have Ebola, lets treat them equally.”

On Poverty Eradication strategies, Mr Mmolotsi poured water on government efforts, alleging that the government has a tendency of “scratching where it is not itching.” He said government has already expended P12 million on poverty eradication but there is little progress to show when compared to funds injected into the initiative. ENDS