19 Nov 2015

The newly appointed chairperson of Vision 2036 presidential task team, Mr Neo Moroka has lauded Good Hope residents for the contribution they made to the ongoing consultations towards the development of the new long-term vision for Botswana.

Addressing residents during a consultation meeting at Good Hope, Mr Moroka said their team was tasked to lead Batswana to come up with long-term social, environmental and economic aspirations that would be used to develop the vision strategy.

The long-term strategy which was termed Vision 2036, he said, was intended to reflect the consensus that would have emerged from the consultations that the team has embarked on. He said the team was also expected to review relevant background material on the subject, including the results of the ongoing evaluation of Vision 2016 and the framework for the development of Vision 2036.

The Vision 2036 chairperson further said they would consult the public through different mediums such as press releases, meetings, seminars as well as inviting submissions by individuals or organisations and through any other appropriate platform.

Mr Moroka therefore called for continuous support and contribution of all stakeholders in the national assignment to make it a success.

Reacting to Mr Moroka’s address, Kgosi Botiki Motshegare said some aspirations on Vision 2016 have not been accomplished and advised the Vision 2036 task team to include them in the new long-term vision to ensure that Batswana live improved lives in the future.

He also said the ‘botho’ aspiration should be included in the new framework to build a nation that has mutual respect towards each other and also accountable and responsible for their actions.

Another speaker, Good Hope District Farmers Association secretary general, Mr Ntsimane  Maseng said agriculture production should be included in the new aspirations to benefit all citizens as their region used to be the food basket of the country.

He said agriculture has over the years been declining due to climatic conditions, and said the government has to ensure that there was sufficient electricity and water for farmers to start new methods of agriculture.
He said the new methods would lead to the establishment of food processing industries in the region to curb high rates of unemployment.

Mr Reuben Kgengwenyane concurred that the government should help to revive the spirit of farming amongst all farmers and find a way of incorporating it into the vision.

He added that small scale farmers should be treated equally as commercial farmers during drought seasons and be subsidised as it was currently happening with commercial farmers. He said the government’s input of paying a certain percentage of money to banks should also apply to small scale farmers who also suffer from natural disasters.

On another issues, he said in terms of pensions, the elderly should be given a raise on their pensions to help them live better lives. He advised the government to exempt those who have retired from the public service from benefiting from the old age pension scheme.

He added that the nation should be encouraged to revive the spirit of self-reliance.Ms Mmantsa Sekgororoane also echoed the same sentiments as Kgosi Motshegare that the Vision 2016 aspirations have not been accomplished.

She said certain groups of people have been marginalised such as people with disabilities (PWD’S), and implored the nation to ensure that in the next coming vision, all governmental buildings, fleet as well as public transport should be made accessible to all PWD’s.

She also said all customary and constitutional laws that have some form of discrimination should be reviewed.
She noted that there were still cases of gender discrimination at land boards where married couples were not entitled to own plots as individuals, and urged the Vision 2036 task team to look into such issues when preparing the document.

For his part, Mr Blom Lekoma said there should be proper monitoring on the programme to note areas of progress and set backs, and to find ways of addressing those set backs before the vision time elapses.

He said the government should strive to build an educated and informed nation that is also productive to outgrow the country’s gross domestic Product (GDP) especially on agriculture which he said has drastically dropped from 40 per cent from 1966 to the current 1.9 per cent.

Mr Lekoma said when agriculture and vocational training is done at all education levels, learners would be well equipped with adequate skills to benefit them in different workplaces as well as for self –development to sustain them and create jobs for others.

Meanwhile, Ms Elizabeth Mokoto said all the citizens should have equal access to health facilities. On other issues residents also suggested that the welfare of public servants be improved to have a productive workforce that deliver quality service to the customers. Ends