01 Mar 2016

Some legislators say, although Botswana’s economy has made strides, there are still parts of the country that lag behind in terms of development.

Consequently, they urged the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) to ensure that every region was emancipated economically.

The MPs were debating the Minister of Trade and Industry’s submission of estimates of expenditure from the consolidated and development funds.

Bobonong MP, Mr Shaw Kgathi said Bobirwa Sub-district had been affected by the closure of Talana Farms and urged MTI to take up the issue of resuscitating the business.

 He said opening of a food processing plant in the region did not make sense after the closure of Talana Farms, saying that the two would complement each other.  

He said Bobirwa should be turned into a fodder production area in order to generate wealth.

 “We need to go back to the basics, work on very simplistic strategies of utilising our land and involving ordinary farmers in practical agricultural business ideas that can be profitable, instead of complexities that take long to plan and execute,” he said.

 Mr Kgathi, also Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, urged the MTI to work on reviving the factory shells in Selebi Phikwe.  

 Boteti East MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe, said Boteti Sub-district was poorly developed despite the area being rich in mineral resources.

 He said while Botswana’s resources had to benefit the country as a whole,  source areas of mineral wealth had to be considered for development, citing the example of Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU).

 “SPEDU was founded when it became apparent that Selebi Phikwe and surrounding areas could be adversely affected by a future closure of the copper nickel mine there.  Boteti needs a SPEDU-type institution that needs to be empowered to work on developing our region. Let us not wait until diamonds are depleted and the area no longer has a source of jobs,” he said.

Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane called for citizen economic empowerment  to be taken seriously.

His views were buttressed by Mochudi East MP, Mr Isaac Davids, who said foreigners had taken over even small businesses such as butcheries in villages.

Mr Davids further expressed concern over poverty in the western parts of the country,  in particular Kgalagadi South villages such as Bokspits, Struizendam and Middlepits.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry had presented a budget proposal of over P 980 million for approval by the parliamentary Committee of Supply. Ends