23 Feb 2016

Palapye Sub-council chairperson, Mr Lesedi Phuthego has implored councillors and public service employees to accelerate the implementation of the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) and annual plans.

Addressing a Palapye sub-council meeting on Monday, Mr Phuthego said ESP was the government’s new agenda aimed at stimulating the economy, accelerating job creation for citizens and promoting economic diversification.

He said the targeted sectors were infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and services and reinventing government.

He said there would be a strong focus on infrastructural backlog eradication, upgrading and health facilities, roads construction, accelerated land servicing as well as the promotion of the commercialisation and integration of the agricultural sector.

Infrastructural backlog eradication, he said, would include refurbishment, upgrading and construction of school laboratories, classrooms, teachers houses, health posts, clinics and hospitals.

He said ESP was carried out to benefit as many Batswana as possible. He added that it was the government’s priority to ensure that all projects undertaken under various sectors were done by Batswana companies.

“We should support ESP in any way we can,” he said.

Mr Phuthego, who is also the councillor for Mogome/Mokgware ward, said President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has assigned Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi as the champion of the programme.

He said the project would be coordinated through the Ministry of State President hence all enquiries regarding ESP should be directed to the ESP secretariat or district commissioners.

He said the Palapye Administration Authority (PAA) has under the ESP expressed interest for Ratsie Primary School backlog eradication. In addition, he emphasised on the need for councillors and the administration wing to fight against crime and corruption.

He also said public officers should adhere to deadlines, respect diversity of ideas, quality and excellence, a sense of urgency to ensure that they deliver their mandate. Furthermore, he thanked heads of departments for their contributions to the council performance over the past years.

“I also pledge to join hands with other leaders of the local government to continue our efforts to promote the culture of hardwork and customer oriented service delivery,” he said. Ends