19 Apr 2013

Kgalagadi South MP Mr John Toto has appealed to government to allow the official use of other languages to ensure that their speakers also benefit from government programmes and policies.

Speaking in parliament on April 18 during the debate on the mid-term review of National Development Plan (NDP) 10, MP Toto said some people in his constituency spoke only Afrikaans and were complaining that they could not understand anything aired on both national radio stations and on television.

The problem, he said, was not only confined to this, adding that learners were also greatly disadvantaged as they spent the first few years of their schooling learning Setswana and not much in terms of attaining the objectives of the curriculum.

As such, MP Toto said time had come for other languages to be used officially for the benefit of all Batswana regardless of their tribe.

On a different matter, the legislator said though his constituency was an area suitable for agriculture, it faces serious challenges of water shortage. This makes it difficult for people to embark on agricultural activities such as livestock rearing.

For his part, Tswapong South MP, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi said government was doing a lot to help disadvantaged Batswana, adding that recipients of government programmes meant at improving citizens’ lives were equally appreciative of such efforts.

Among government’s initiatives is the one on agro-economic zones through which people are being encouraged to plant only crops that could fare well in their areas.

Mr Molebatsi further said that the government encouraged integrated farming where a couple of agricultural activities could be undertaken on one piece of land.

However, Mr Molebatsi called upon land authorities to collaborate with other key service providers when allocating land to ensure that plot owners would not face any hurdles when trying to access services such as power and water.

Still in parliament MP Moiseraele Goya of Palapye also commended government for working tirelessly to restore the dignity of under-privileged Batswana.

He said this was evidenced by the many programmes put in place, citing as examples the provision of anti-retroviral drugs and the Self-Help Housing Agency (SHHA).

Mr Goya said the recent relocation of the Rural Development Council from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to that of Local Government and Rural Development was a good move.

He added that the fact that the Vice President was assigned the responsibility to oversee it was another indication of government’s commitment to ensuring that the council succeeded in discharging its mandate.

He further lauded government for setting up an office responsible for issues pertaining to the welfare of people living with disability. MP Goya however decried the fact that budget allocations for these two structures did not reflect in the draft review document. ENDS