21 Mar 2016

An independent economist, Mr Obuseng Sennye has reiterated that the Economic Stimulus Programme is a viable concept that has been tested in developed economies and responded positively to the affirmative.

Speaking during ESP seminar for District Development Committee and the business community in Kanye, he said, the programme has been tried in developed countries and proved to work well noting a positive approach of the model will yield fruitful results.

He said the model is used to cushion economies against unfavourable trends and to ensure the economy does not sink below its trend path.

Mr Sennye said what is important is not the huge sums of money but to utilise it in a cost effective and efficient manner noting prudent resource management is critical to keep the economy vibrant.

He is of the view that the budget availed for the ESP will inject a considerable energy to the country’s economy.

He said ESP is meant to take the economy back to its trend path and warned that not retaining money into the country may have precarious implications in the economy.

He said government should try to avoid exporting money through buying foreign products and awarding tenders to external companies in order to keep the local economy vibrant.

He said ESP is a viable economic resuscitation model but government needs to unbundle projects awarded to companies through the programme noting only work which requires people with high expertise should be awarded to foreign companies.  

For his part, the Southern district commissioner Mr Mmoloki Raletobana said he is optimistic that more local companies will benefit from the programme and encouraged locals to share tenders as much as possible.

He is of the view that people should share the national cake as fairly as possible. He warned against corruption noting such unscrupulous acts may soil the good name of the programme and called for the community to stay clear of  such “immoral” behavior.

He is of the opinion that where possible all Batswana should have a fair share of the national cake unlike having a system whereby only few individuals benefit from the programme, adding his motto is collective sharing. Ends