03 Dec 2015

The government of Botswana does not make empty promises it cannot deliver, but is rather honest with members of the public, MP for Boteti West ,Mr Slumber Tsogwane has said.

Speaking during his contribution to the debate on the State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament, Mr Tsogwane , who is also the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said that the government has always ensured that the promises it makes to ordinary Batswana are practical and can be delivered.

“We have kept the promises we have made to Batswana, because we are always realistic when we make them to the people. Our government has been honest, and has worked hard to improve our people’s lives,” he said.

Mr Tsogwane praised President Lt Gen Seretse Khama Ian Khama, saying that he is a leader who has proved compassionate, caring about improving the dignity of ordinary citizens.

“The leadership of President Khama is recognised internationally, that is why he was recently awarded an honorary doctorate by an international university.  What is worrisome is that there are people, particularly in the opposition who always want to criticise whatever the President does,” Mr Tsogwane said.

He added that the good work of President Khama is visible in the countryside, as his initiatives are impacting on the lives of Batswana.

“You have the Presidential Housing Appeal, which has touched many people’s lives.  We must thank the private sector, civil servants and individuals who have assisted in such presidential initiatives,” he said.

Mr Tsogwane further said that the economic stimulus programme would lead to the acceleration of some developmental projects that were put on hold due to a lack of funds owing to the impact of the global recession on Botswana’s economy.

Additionally, Mr Tsogwane said that his constituents are stationed between the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), and urged the government  to assist the people of Boteti to be able to derive economic benefits from the tourism industry.

“The area could be considered for bio-diversity, considering that we have the Boteti River,” said Mr Tsogwane, who also called for the upgrade of the Rakops Community Junior Secondary School into a ‘unified junior secondary school.’ MP for Good Hope-Mabule, Kgosi Lotlaamoreng II thanked his constituents for voting him into the National Assembly, and urged the government to consider some of the developmental backlogs in the area.

“Good Hope Primary Hospital only has one ward where all patients, sleep in the same ward, grown up males, females and children.  Also water is a problem, affecting our communities and institutions such as Good Hope Senior Secondary School, where you have many students boarding there, affected by the situation,” Kgosi Lotlaamoreng said.

He also complained about access to schooling in certain areas of his constituency, saying that in some villages, children have to travel a long distance, in either blistering cold winter conditions or in the summer heat, to access their schools.

Kgosi Lotlaamoreng also lamented that the Tribal Administration department lacks office facilities and vehicles across the country, with headmen also poorly remunerated, despite the fact that even the most remote villages in the country rely on Tribal Administration for most services. Ends