26 Oct 2015

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Thapelo Olopeng has highlighted that the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP), is meant to  fast- track the economy following the difficult financial terrain that the country has been going through.

Speaking at a kgotla meeting in Semotswane recently, he said many countries are slowly emerging from the economic recession.

He therefore said the ESP targets , among others, construction of roads and buildings, tourism development as well as agricultural development. 

The minister stressed that construction will assist in addressing the issue of unemployment, which mostly affects youth as well as fast tracking the building of classrooms and teachers houses. 

On other issues, he said Parliament has also agreed to reduce taxes for companies that will assist the government to bring about the development of the country such as construction of roads and other infrastructures. 

He said they have also upgraded the Botswana College of Agriculture  into the status of a university in order to produce advanced and professional graduates, who will be able to use new technology that is needed to improve agriculture and consequently improve the country's economy.

Furthermore, Mr Olopeng stated that Semotswane village is located in the greater Francistown area and it has been demarcated for agricultural purposes since it is surrounded by dams and this will enable the investors to know where they should invest. 

He said the country is currently facing serious shortage of water and electricity with Gaborone being the hardest hit, but he said the government is working hard to address the water situation through the North-South Carrier scheme.

Kgosi Micheal Madumela of Semotswane stated that his village needs a tribal office and a community junior secondary school, stressing that students walk long distances to Tonota Community Junior School and they are forced to cross a river, which is dangerous. 

He said the Shashe-Mandunyane road that passes through their village is small and worn out and needs refurbishment as it causes a lot of accidents. 

Kgosi Madumela said the village has many unoccupied and worn out residential and industrial plots, something that portrays a bad image and also acts as a hiding place for criminals and urged the land board officials to investigate the matter. 

He stressed that the high unemployment rate at his village has forced the youth to enroll in Ipelegeng programme, but advised them to utilise youth development initiatives such as Youth Development Fund Tirelo Sechaba and Internship Programme. 

Kgosi Madumela also decried low attendance of residents at the meeting and non-functionalism of the Village Development Committee which delays the village's development. A resident of Semotswane Mr Masilo Maja praised the ESP and urged the veterinary officers to educate them on how to live with fish and also turn fishing into a business as their village is near Shashe Dam. Ends