14 Dec 2016

Palapye MP, Mr Moiseraele Goya, says government should be commended for  the country’s developments, despite economic challenges.

Commenting on the State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday, Mr Goya said government had shouldered Batswana since independence and continued doing so regardless of the thorny economic situation.

He said he was surprised that some legislators expected government to perform miracles in the midst of current economic challenges.

“We should remember that Botswana is not immune to global economic challenges,” he said. Mr Goya further said, despite challenges, government had not stopped some services that continuied to be offered for free, arguing that unemployment rate should not be used to gauge performance of government.

Mr Goya commended government for the envisaged leather park that will create about 6 000 jobs.

He further said corruption was undesirable and should be the responsibility of every Motswana to uproot it in all its forms.

Gaborone Bonnington South MP, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe said he was concerned that the country’s democratic system was imbalanced since the executive was empowered excessively acompared to other branches of government.

He said without a system of checks and balances, the country would not go any far, adding that the performance of institutions in general was regressing without any valid excuses. He complained of under investment in police services, which he said raised an eyebrow, and that the education system especially vocational and technical was under-budgeted for.

“If the economy is to achieve the type of heights that we yearn for, government should spend in personnel, laboratories and equipment in order to develop the type of manpower that we need as a country,” he said.

Mr Gaolathe further said self-reliance seemed to be dissipating because whenever there were efforts by members of public to meet government half-way, their dreams were shuttered.

He said his constituency has had several initiatives that may assist the government, but there was no support.

Mr Gaolathe further called government to consider investing in niches available in manufacturing as a way to diversify the economy.

MP for Mahalapye West, Mr Joseph Molefhe called for improved infrastructure at agricultural production areas.

Mr Molefhe also suggested that the Botswana Meat Commission’s sole responsibility should be to concentrate in beef processing and leave feedlotting to farmers, as that brings about differences between beef farmers and BMC.

He commended government for reviewing employment act and called government to consider reviewing other labour laws to enhance relationship between labour movements and employees to bring about productivity.

He further called for extension of the Mahalapye Psychiatric wing for provision of rehabilitation unit as well as EMS services as the hospital serves 12 villages in its vicinity.

MP for Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy suggested that President Khama should attend Parliament sessions and be answerable to some of the issues raised in the floor of Parliament for democracy to flourish such as in other countries in the region.

He also said government should channel more resources in the tourism, agriculture and manufacturing to diversify the economy away from mining.

Mr Billy called for empowerment in tourism sector, arguing that the sector was in the hands foreigners more than indigenous Batswana. ENDS