12 May 2016

Local authorities should come up with strategies aimed at addressing economic and development challenges.

The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr Kenneth Matambo, said this at the National Development Plan (NDP) 11 national stakeholders conference for local authorities in Gaborone on May 12. 

Given the low economic growth, he said the country continued to face challenges such as high rates of unemployment, poverty and unequal distribution of income. 

Average economic growth achieved during NDP 10 was around 3.9 per cent and over the last two quarters of 2015 entered a mild recession after a negative growth rate of 0.3 per cent. 

Mr Matambo called upon stakeholders to come up with solutions rather than questions as they synergised their thinking in the development of the NDP 11 and Urban and District Development Plans.

He said the conference underscored government policy of broad stakeholder involvement in the planning process to promote transparency and accountability in the formulation of national development policies and strategies as well as transformation of the country in the medium to long-term.

“It is particularly important to share matters of national interest with you as local authorities given that you are more informed on issues that affect the livelihood of the communities under your jurisdiction,” he said.

Mr Matambo said a national development plan offered a medium-term perspective to development initiatives and that it was the statement of intent and vision, which set out how the stakeholders would like to see the country develop over a specified time.

The minister said national development plan was also a road map that defined a desired destination and identified the role that different sectors of the economy needed to play in reaching that goal.

He said in deliberating the  NDP 11, they should be cognisant of the fact the plan set out priorities and policies to help achieve the vision set for the future development of the country.

Six national priority areas, Mr Matambo said, were designed to underpin a balanced integrated planning approach that would put the country on a sustainable development path.

The six priority areas were developing diversified sources of economic growth, human capital development, social development, sustainable use of natural resource, consolidation of good governance and strengthening of national security and implementation of an effective monitoring and evaluation system

These priority areas, Mr Matambo said, sought to address Botswana’s three major developmental challenges; being unemployment, eradicating poverty and reducing inequality.

The proposed NDP 11 would be premised under the theme: Inclusive Growth for the Realisation of Sustainable Employment Creation and Poverty Eradication.

Mr Matambo further called local authorities to ensure that projects were completed on schedule and on budget without cost overruns. 

The overall total revenue for the plan period was estimated at P372.3 billion, while government expenditure is projected to reach P370.2 billion over the entire plan period, resulting in a marginal surplus of P2.10billion.

Thus, he cautioned stakeholders to exercise restraint in spending against this background that modest surplus is forecasted since revenue forecast may turn out to be lower than projected during NDP 11.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane urged stakeholders to ensure that the plan follows the thematic areas approach as opposed to sectoral approach which was used in the past plans.

“This is meant to ensure a well-coordinated involvement of all actors in promoting joint planning and programming, budgeting, implementation monitoring, evaluation and reporting,” he said.

He also said it was important that the National and District Development Plans are informed by people’s aspirations through consultation, which is a pinnacle for nation building and community development. ENDS