30 Aug 2016

The Economic Stimulus Programme coordinator, Ms Goitsemang Morekisi says 46 projects are earmarked for North West district under Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

Ms Morekisi said this when responding to some residents of Sehithwa during a kgotla meeting recently as they complained that there were no projects undertaken in their area.

She pointed out that most of the projects undertaken under ESP had commenced and were progressing well. She mentioned that ESP included different sectors, noting that under Ministry of Lands and Housing, six houses would be constructed under the turnkey programme.

Ms Morekisi also noted that Toteng clinic was also to be upgraded, but there was no maternity wing included.  She revealed that fish farming would also be introduced in the district before end of the year.

She said they wanted residents to venture into island fisheries to ensure sustainability. Residents also learnt that electrification project was ongoing as the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources was working on network extension in villages of Sehithwa and Bothatogo with an aim to boost businesses and local economy.

Ms Morekisi explained that ESP was geared towards stimulating the economy, diversifying it and this will result in accelerated job creation.

She also briefed residents about the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) initiative which aimed to diversify the economy by developing sectors other than the primary sectors so that they contributed meaningfully to Gross Domestic Product .

She explained that the initiative sought to leverage government’s purchasing power to enhance local production and consumption through local procurement.Under EDD,

Ms Morekisi cited that there was one beneficiary who  packaged serobe in tins so that people could buy from the shops and urged residents to think outside the box and benefit from the initiative.

She explained that all government departments were supposed to support the initiative to ensure it produced the expected results. ENDS