08 Nov 2016

Member of Parliament for Mahalapye West Mr Joseph Molefe says National Development Plan (NDP) 11 should leave a development legacy.

Debating the NDP 11 Plan in Parliament on Monday (November 7), MP Molefe said development expenditure should be used accordingly.

The Mahalapye West legislator said the agriculture business should be further developed saying it was the responsibility of government to ensure the nation feeds itself.

MP Molefe said agro-business has potential of creating employment and generate revenue.

He also said there was need to venture into green technology saying Botswana has not yet fully utilised solar power.

The MP said NDP 11 should achieve a number of goals amongst them reduce the number of years it takes for plot allocation, make it easy for investors to register and start their businesses and improve cross border trade.

For his part, MP for Mmathethe-Molapowabojang Dr Alfred Madigele said it was imperative for projects which were deferred in NDP 10 to be given priority in NDP 11.

He commended the government for not retrenching public service employees during the economic meltdown.

He said there was need for Botswana to develop its human resource adding indigenous knowledge should also be enhanced as it could also be used to diversify the economy and preserve cultural heritage.

Dr Madigele, said the country faced HIV/AIDS challenges during NDP 10 but added there were dual epidemics due to communicable and non-communicable diseases but the latter have increased because of the life style Batswana live.

He called for the establishment of community rehabilitation centres to deal with an increasing number of drug addicts.

Dr Madigele further said it was important for mental health to be given attention saying they were usually ignored.

He further said there was need for the country to address issues of maternal mortality which he said was caused by a number of factors amongst them over bleeding, infections and backyard abortions.

Dr Madigele said gone are the days when young children were encouraged to be lawyers and doctors but should be encouraged to have skills so they become artisans or engineers.

For his part, Letlhakeng-Lephephe MP Liakat Kablay said developments should not be concentrated in one area but should be equally distributed.

He said it was disheartening to see some constituencies which are under developed and do not have proper roads and potable water.

MP Kablay said people in his constituency who are faced with limited employment opportunities have embraced Ipelegeng and called for sustainable projects to be undertaken under the programme.

Ramokgonami-Sefhare MP Dorcas Makgato said the opposition have failed to provide alternative NDP yet they claimed to be a government in waiting.

She said the plan was through and addressed all areas and where there were challenges, solutions were offered.

Francistown West MP Ignatious Moswaane said he was concerned with the huge amount of money returned to government coffers every year saying this showed Batswana were being denied developments.

He called for the public service employees to improve their productivity, adding their salaries would constantly be increased.

MP Moswaane said accelerated land servicing should be introduced in rural areas.

He said while government has made strides in the fight against poverty eradication, there was still room for improvement.

MP Moswaane said women should not be left behind and said their grant in NDP 11 should be increased from P30 million to P5 billion to ensure a number of them benefit.

He further said civil servants should be encouraged to opt for early retirement to make way for unemployed graduates. Ends