16 Apr 2013

Some Members of Parliament have expressed concern over the high rate of unemployment in the country.

During their contribution to the debate on the mid-term review of National Development Plan (NDP) 10 in Parliament on Monday, the MPs emphasised the need for government to devise strategies to speedily address the problem.

 MP Frank Ramsden of Maun East said it was disheartening that unemployment was continuing to grow.

He said though in the past Batswana were actively engaged in agricultural activities and able to sustain their families, the situation was now different due to the conflict between government policies geared towards promoting agriculture and tourism.

Mr Ramsden said as a result of such a scenario, agriculture was no longer an employing sector as wild animals in particular continued to impact negatively on Batswana’s efforts to produce food.

The MP also expressed worry over the rate of poverty in the country; urging government to do something to ensure that the situation did not worsen. He noted that Statistic Botswana had shown that Ngamiland was the second most affected by poverty in the country.

For his part, MP for Gaborone Central, Mr Dumelang Saleshando indicated that unemployment remained the country’s greatest challenge; similarly stating that there were currently no strategies as to what would be done to realise full employment.

He also decried the rate of the country’s economic progression, which he said gave the impression that hard work did not pay. Mr Saleshando stated that it was generally difficult for Batswana to grow and be able to realise their full potential economically.

MP for Tonota North, Mr Fidelis Molao implored government to improve labour relations. He noted that the continuing conflict with labour unions was bad and had the potential to negatively affect employee morale and in turn their productivity.

On other issues, Mr Molao said it was crucial to have in place the requisite infrastructure in order to stimulate economic activity. Such, he pointed out, would include a good road network as well as first-class telecommunication networks.

In his contribution, MP for Selebi Phikwe East, Mr Gilson Saleshando described the foundation of the country’s economy as poor. He observed that the middle and lower income classes, which he said made the bulk of the population, were generally underpaid; something he pointed out was bad for the economy.

These categories of people, he said, had the potential to propel forward the economy; however indicating that their being paid low wages generally meant that saving and investing by citizens was by and large insignificant. He thus appealed to government to consider developing and growing the middle and low income classes.

Okavango legislator, Mr Bagalatia Arone on one hand noted that it was difficult to do business in some parts of the country due to a number of factors among them lack of proper roads. Citing Ngamiland as a case in point, the MP said there was no how Batswana could be expected to effectively run their businesses if such situations continued to prevail. ENDS