08 Dec 2016

The building of sound institutions and the implementation of prudent macroeconomic policy since independence has led to Botswana gaining respect internationally.

These were the words of Ghanzi South Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Christian De Graaff while giving his response to the State-of-the-Nation address.

Mr De Graaff recounted an experience he had a few years ago as a cabinet minister on a visit to Washington DC, United States of America when he and other regional cabinet ministers had a courtesy call on American president, Mr Barack Obama.

“As I introduced myself as Botswana’s Minister of Agriculture, President Obama said that we are a country which is blessed to have good leadership, a democratic culture and sound people-centred policies.

As we left the other countries’ ministers were asking me why Botswana had been selected for special praise. It is just a sign that we have earned respect,” Mr De Graaff said.

He said that since independence the country has made great developmental strides, saying that the physical infrastructure and social development that has taken place countrywide is remarkable.

“In the Ghanzi district we used to take a long trek to Lobatse, some on foot, others on horseback in order to sell our cattle to the Botswana Meat Commission in Lobatse. The country now has a good network of tarred roads, and those time-consuming trips are now made with ease,” Mr De Graaff said.

He praised the government for heeding the developmental requests of residents of his constituency by providing among others, the tarring of the Charles Hill-Ncojane road, which he said is now under construction.

Mr De Graaff said that rural electrification had changed the lives of many Batswana in the countryside, including in villages located in his constituency.

He said that the changing of the name of the portfolio he used to head, which is now called the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, was a welcome development as food security is important across the world. Mr De Graaff said that the government provides support through subsidies to small scale, emerging and commercial farmers, who are assisted through inputs, herbicides as well as logistical support.

“The government is assisting with access to water in Pandamatenga, and more hectares of land will be brought under production there.

We have a problem of the fruit and vegetable production in this country being of low quality and this is something we will need to work on,” Mr De Graaff said. ENDS