21 Sep 2016

With a few days left before the beginning of the new country’s Vision 2036, valuable lessons have been learnt from the previous Vision 2016 the director of Monitoring and Evaluation of Vision 2016, Dr Pelotshweu Moepeng has said.

Speaking during a panel discussion organised by Botho University community of students and lectures on September 19, to assess Vision 2016 pillars achievements, challenges and way forward, Dr Moepeng said lessons learnt indicated that there was no comprehensive national strategy and supporting implementation plan for Vision 2016, as well as lack of representation in district and local level structures.

He also said the Vision 2016 experience suggested the need for increased research and innovation activity to enhance the country’s global competitiveness by Vision 2036.

He said the vision as espoused in the vision document did not have a clear strategy with proper yardsticks to measure the performance of each pillar and in terms of where Botswana should be in global competitiveness.

Dr Moepeng said during evaluation of the previous vision, it had been recommended that there should be establishment of a new monitoring and evaluation agency, promotion of growth of middle class to stimulate growth and job creation, as well as an education curriculum that combines both theory and practice from a young age.

Dr Moepeng said other recommendations included freedom of information law to minimise secrecy and potential for abuse of office to benefit from corrupt practices, asset declaration to improve transparency and political party funding parties to encourage increased participation in elections.

With regard to the outcome of V2016, he said the vision delivered a mixed bag in some areas having performed well while other pillars performed minimally and others below par.

“Within each pillar the objectives performed differently, for example the pillar of Compassionate, Just and Caring Nation has performed exceptionally well and the pillar of Prosperous, Productive and Innovative Nation, we are far from what was expected,” he said.

For his part, the University of Botswana senior lecture of Political Science, Prof. Zibani Maundeni deliberated on issues bordering on security, oversight, tolerance and democracy in the country.

Managing director of Innolead Consultancy, Mr Oabona Kgengwenyane said as much as the successes were celebrated, Batswana especially young people should take stock of their performance moving forward.

He said the next phase of the vision should create young people who do not depend on government, but are able to stand up and do things for themselves.

Mr Kgengwenyane said entrepreneurship was desirable because it frees people from depending from any system or feel entitled to anything.

He said although there were some successes, some of the indicators such as the one on unemployment, the country underperformed.

‘’The country is full of strategies which are never implemented. The country has a lot of potential that has not been unleashed.” he said.
Rev. Daniel Moshabi touched on issues of morality and encouraged young people to create a better Botswana for their generation.

Botho University dean of external affairs, Mr Golekane Setume said the future was in the hands of young people and that it was up to them to create the Botswana they wanted to see. Ends