01 Dec 2016

The Vice President and MP for Moshupa, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said government will continue to develop programmes geared towards empowering the youths as they make a majority of the population.

Debating Chapter 9 of the draft National Development Plan (NDP) 11 in Parliament on Tuesday, the Vice President said new programmes would be introduced and existing ones refined according to the needs of the youths.

He said a road linking Manyana and Moshupa and joining the Jwaneng-Kanye road had been planned to be undertaken through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), but due to budgetary constraints, it has been decided it would only link Manyana and Moshupa.
However, he said they would continue to hold on to the original plan and undertake the extension in future.

The Vice President said it was important to ensure children under five years were properly nourished, saying this was crucial for their brain development and a key in improving performance at primary school level.

He said government was concerned about the health of Batswana, adding statistics indicated that per capita consumption of sugar in the country was high, hence the need to control its intake through taxation.

He further said his area has a potential for agriculture and said statistics indicated that ISPAAD has brought a huge difference.

For his part, Mmadinare MP, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila said he was happy the village internal roads have been included in the plan, saying they were initially in NDP 8 but never been completed.

He said Mmadinare has been declared a sub district and therefore they were still waiting for construction of RAC, bus rank and streetlights.

He said he was happy health posts in Mogapi and Tamasane would be upgraded to clinics and also happy the clinic in Maokatumo would also be upgraded.

Talking about the budget proposed for the Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services (DISS), MP Mzwinila said it was proper given the amount of terrorism threat around the world.

For her part, Serowe South MP, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi called for the headmen of arbitration in Thabala and Mogorosi to be paid salaries, saying they played an important role in ensuring there was peace in their villages.

She said despite the amount of work done by dikgosi, their offices were dilapidated and even worked without stationery.

MP Venson-Moitoi also said a service centre should be established in Motshegaletau, saying her constituents have to travel to Paje to seek services such as Land Board applications.

Ngami MP, Mr Thato Kwerepe said Gumare hospital has not been repaired after it was gutted by fire despite promises from the Minister of Health and Wellness.

He further called for an establishment of a service centre in Sehitwa.

Mr Kwerepe further said a number of villages in his constituency were yet to be connected to the national power grid.

Specially Elected MP, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo said there were problems related to social programmes as budgets were in various ministries without proper coordination, adding there were some duplications.

She said she was happy with the transformation of Youth Development Fund (YDF) saying it should be increased to cater for already funded youths whose businesses were successful and looked for expansion.

MP Kenewendo said there should be collaboration between the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, CEDA and LEA, saying the red tapes frustrated young people who wanted to venture into businesses.

She further called for the commercialisation of sports and entertainment, saying local music could also be exported.

Ms Kenewendo said despite the decline in maternal deaths, there were still concerns and called for further interventions.

Mabutsane-Jwaneng MP, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile said Mabutsane sub district has potential as it was strategically along the Trans Kalahari Highway and therefore should be provided with services to lure investors.

He said the road linking Bray, Khakhea, Kokong and Mabutsane could link Botswana and South Africa and therefore important for tourism. ENDS