11 Apr 2013

Members of Parliament  expressed divergent views on the mid-term review of National Development Plan (NDP) 10 during an on-going debate in Parliament.

One of the MPs, Mr Pono Moatlhodi of Tonota South said it was worth noting that the first three years of the plan period were marred with challenges associated with the global economic downturn.

Mr Moatlhodi, also deputy speaker of the National Assembly, pointed out that despite the challenges, government had done commendably well in carrying forward some key developmental projects.

He cited, among such, the Morupule B power station as well as the construction of several dams in the country. However, he pleaded for the construction of the Tonota/Mmandunyane Road as soon as the economy improved. He further said there was need for more internal roads within the Tonota South constituency.

For his part, Kgatleng East MP, Mr Isaac Mabiletsa said deferring projects had not helped government to save funds as the projects would end up costing even more due to inflation.

Mr Mabiletsa, who said government had erred in freezing implementation of new projects, noted that had the projects been implemented at a slower pace, the situation would have been more advantageous.

On one hand, he wondered why the Mmamashia/Mabalane Road had not been started whereas the construction of the Tonota/Francistown Road was currently underway.

He said it was disheartening that there was no explanation on why such a decision was taken when the two projects were deferred at the same time.

Mr Frank Ramsden of Maun East said he wondered why the debate on the mid-term review was ongoing despite the Minister of Finance and Development Planning having stated in his presentation that there would be no changes in relation to project implementation.

For his part, Okavango MP Mr Bagalatia Arone said representatives of rural communities were unhappy with the manner in which the economy was being run. The legislator said it was apparent that the economy was pro-urban, with rural areas only benefiting from funds set aside for the Ipelegeng programme.

He said rural areas had limited employment opportunities; a reality he noted meant unemployment was rife there as compared to urban areas.

This, he said was so despite the availability of key natural resources in some of the rural areas. He therefore urged government to devise strategies to ensure that rural communities benefitted from such resources.

On youth empowerment, Mr Arone decried the difficulties which he said the youth often encountered in their efforts to secure serviced land. Such a challenge, he observed, was likely to spell doom on the success of the several youth empowerment schemes currently in place.

The MP also questioned the sustainability of poverty eradication projects, noting that at the moment a number of backyard gardens lie idle.

Contributing to the same debate, Tonota North MP, Mr Fidelis Molao said while reviewing the plan, it was necessary to look at areas of the country which had benefitted less during the first three years of the plan period.

Mr Molao said it was important that such areas be given priority during the remaining phase of NDP 10.

He also said it was crucial that there be certainty that the deferred projects would indeed be implemented.

Selebi Phikwe MP, Mr Gilson Saleshando cautioned people against celebrating any form of growth, saying mineral-driven growth was often misleading.

Mr Saleshando said for growth to be worth celebrating, it should be synonymous with economic diversification. ENDS