27 Jan 2016

The government has been urged to empower Batswana so that they could become innovative by 2036 and assist further in developing the country.

One Nkange resident, Ms Moti Steven said this during the ongoing national Vision 2036 consultation meeting held in Nkange on Tuesday. Ms Steven said when Botswana was faced with the HIV and AIDS pandemic, a decision was taken to provide victims with free medication, thereby saving many lives.

She said it was through that vision that many people were living their lives to the fullest.

Ms Steven suggested Batswana should be empowered so that they could be innovative and come up with a treatment for HIV.  

Meanwhile, Kgosi Balauli Mabua of Mabua was of the view that factors, particularly those leading to nation building, should be looked into.

He noted that throughout Vision 2016, which ends in September this year, there was little or no consultation to introspect on the progress, and that stakeholders such as the youth were not much involved.

Kgosi Mabua proposed that in the new vision, the youth and concerned parties should be fully involved to get different views. He said laws governing bogosi should be re-looked as they helped guide the country to independence.

Dikgosi, he said, instill order among their communities so that there could be peace and harmony in the country. He said dikgosi should be given back their powers to continue guiding people and teaching them the need to respect their leaders.

For his part, Vision 2036 team member, Mr Mpho Balopi said they were moving around the country to solicit the views and thoughts of Batswana for inclusion in the new vision.
He said through such consultations, President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama aims to get the thoughts of Batswana across the country so that they could express their views on how they want to see their country being improved. Ends