12 Feb 2017

Member of Parliament for Tati West, Mr Biggie Butale has said there are opportunities for economic growth and employment creation if government could stick to its development initiatives.
Debating the 2017/18 National Budget proposals in parliament on Thursday, MP Butale said the Trans Kalahari Railway line linking Botswana with Namibia, has huge potential.
He said the railway line can employ people in the short term while the long term benefits include enhanced trade between Botswana and other countries.
Given the amount required, he said it could be undertaken through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Another project that has potential is the coal to liquid project, which even at a price tag of P40 billion, the benefits are many as coal by products could be used to develop downstream activities.
MP Butale further said the Agro-Zambezi project also can add value to the economy.
He also said following the discovery of uranium in Sese, the mine should be developed and Botswana builds a nuclear power station for export purposes.
MP Butale said another sector that has potential is the development of conference tourism saying Kenya and South Africa have already set the pace while Rwanda was also playing a role.
For his part, MP for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said the budget does not address what the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) promised electorates during the last general elections.
He said the BDP in its manifesto promised to create jobs but the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mr Kenneth Matambo during the delivery of the budget speech said the government’s role was not to create employment but rather, to ensure there was a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive.
This, he said, showed that the government has reneged on its promises. MP Mmolotsi further said the government continues to pump money into education yet the students’ academic performance continues to decline.
He said it was high time the government makes follow up to ensure the money allocated was properly utilised adding, classrooms across the country are dilapidated and students are forced to continue learning without adequate stationary. ENDS