28 Jul 2015

The Vice President,  Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, says Botswana can transform into a better country through citizen participation.

Officially opening the Vision 2016 national stakeholders’ conference in Gaborone yesterday (July 28), Mr Masisi said as Botswana begins the next stage of its journey, citizens must continue to entrench the values that have brought Botswana this far, and further provide building blocks for the development of the country.

He said there must be no doubt on the political resolve of the country’s leadership.

Mr Masisi noted that at the inception of Vision 2016, some people had doubts about Botswana’s ability to transform into a high income economy.

“This country has been very fortunate to have produced a crop of visionary leaders who created the platform from which we are able to operate on in our respective spheres of life with a sense of purpose and direction,” he said.

He said it was evident that the country has made progress in the implementation of Vision 2016 through reports that have been produced biannually by the council.

“A national vision is always about transformation; transforming the lives of people and moving fast to catch up with developments in the rest of the world, if not overtake and set a pace for them,” he said.

The Vice President said Botswana was ranked as one of the world’s safest and most stable locations by Global Peace and Positive Peace Indices and various private risk surveys.

Highlighting some of the significant progress made in some pillars, Mr Masisi added that there had been remarkable improvement in access to safe drinking water with 96 per cent of the population having access to safe drinking water from 77.5 per cent in 1996.

He also noted that poverty levels have been decreasing from 47 per cent in 1993 to 21 per cent in 2010 and 17.5 per cent in 2012.

“Absolute poverty levels are now at six per cent, and it is the resolve of my government to eradicate abject poverty by March 2017,” he said.

In addition, he said unemployment and poverty have gone down, but still remain at unacceptable levels.

“Diversification of the economic base is progressing, but not as fast as we wish and we will continue to push forward and make it a priority area,” he said.

He said Botswana must remain resolute to address existing challenges and make necessary adjustments and sacrifices to help develop the country.

For her part, the executive director of the council, Dr Charity Kruger gave an overview of Vision 2016’s performance to date, noting that Vision 2016 was an outcome of a national consultative process that involved Batswana from all walks of life.

She said the vision was launched in 1996, and that it was a reflection of Botswana’s aspirations and determination to achieve prosperity for all through sustainable growth and equitable distribution of wealth in a safe and secure environment.

“The vision is to be achieved through seven interwoven pillars being an educated and informed nation, a compassionate, just and caring nation, a safe and secure nation, an open democratic and accountable nation, a moral and tolerant nation and a united and proud nation,” she said.

Dr Kruger further noted that the council was established to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the vision, adding that the council has fulfilled its mandate despite the lack of statutory powers.

She also noted that the Vision 2016 council held its first national stakeholders conference in May 2003, and that deliberations revealed that although the vision was still perceived to be relevant, there was an urgent need to enhance implementation of its goals and objectives as well as popularise and promote its ownership across all stakeholders nationwide.

The chairperson of the publicity committee of Vision Council, Kgosi Puso said Batswana should start by practicing the pillars with their families.

“Individuals should look to work towards the realisation of the pillars and work with renewed determination to succeed,” he said.

Kgosi Puso said the journey has not been smooth sailing, but that with the development of Botswana at stake, people should be resolute in achieving the Vision 2016 pillars and looking beyond 2016. Ends