15 Feb 2017

Member of Parliament for Boteti West, Mr Slumber Tsogwane has suggested a mindset change in order to move away from the thinking that government should provide everything for people.
Debating the budget speech on Tuesday, the legislator explained that the role of government is to facilitate an enabling environment for economic growth instead of solving every problem.
Mr Tsogwane emphasised that the thinking that government alone could fight unemployment and grow the economy was wrong, and stressed that the private sector should contribute significantly to employment creation and economic diversification.
“We need a paradigm shift to move away from the mindset where people think that government will provide everything. We need to teach our people to take charge of their future,” said Mr Tsogwane.
He concurred with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Kenneth Matambo to the effect that the private sector must play a key role in economic growth.
 “In many ways the private sector is an engine of growth. Diversification is not for government alone, but for all parties including the private sector,” he said.
He contended that government had made significant strides on social development through the Economic Stimulus Programme, which he pointed had yielded jobs through construction projects around the country.
Minister Tsogwane further supported the establishment of the Constituency Development Fund, explaining that it would allow communities to take active part in their own development.
“It will be used to promote local economic development and stimulate economic growth at community level,” he said.
MP for Shoshong, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele supported the idea that the private sector must play a key role in economic growth, stating that government has provided conducive environment for business sustainability through various international trade agreements such as Africa Growth Opportunity Act.
However, Mr Makgalemele said the private sector must be capacitated at community level to be able to take advantage of these opportunities and create more employment opportunities.
Mr Makgalemele also agreed that government should find more sources of revenue. He advised the minister to enhance public private partnerships as a form of diversifying revenue streams.
“I think we need to do more on that regard. It is an issue that should be interrogated further when we diversify sources of revenue,” he said. ENDS