01 Dec 2016

The government has through various social programmes shifted towards people centric development rather than just infrastructure development.  

Responding to comments from MPs following the adoption of Chapter 9 of NDP 11, Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale said this was evidenced by the decline in number of people living beyond poverty datum line.

Minister Molale said various programmes such as Young Development Fund (YDF) Poverty Eradication Programmes and Women Empowerment have enabled a number of Batswana to improve their livelihood, adding this was a vital role government would play during NDP 11.

He said contrary to what members of the opposition were saying, Botswana’s democratic strides since independence has caught the eye of the international community such that even US President Barack Obama paid tribute to as Botswana celebrated 50 years of independence.

The minister said to address dark streets, government was replacing the current lights with solar ones across the country.

He said Parliament could not have a budget office as its activities would run parallel to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

Minister Molale said a Special Fund to assist people to connect to the sewer system could be established.

Government through NDP 11 was looking into improving its monitoring and evaluating hence the involvement of Village Development Committees and Village Extension Teams in the exercise. ENDS