16 Nov 2017

 Shashe West Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Fidelis Molao has called for accelerated infrastructure development to stimulate economic activities countrywide.

Debating the State Of  The Nation Address (SONA) on Tuesday, he said serviced land, accessible roads, provision of electricity and water were fundamental to economic prosperity.

He called government to take a bold step in constructing a dual carriage way that runs from Ramatlabama to Ramokgwebana to decongest the A1 Road that delays movement of goods and services from South to North and vice versa.

“We also need speed train within the vicinity of the city to decongest routes leading into the city,” he said.

Mr Molao further called for strengthening of citizen economic empowerment laws that would protect Batswana and disgruntled unemployed youth.

“Bulging unemployed youth is a disaster waiting to happen and we need to tighten laws that protect our people,” he said.

He further called for expedition of Ntimbale Dam expansion services for water to be distributed to villages in his constituency. With regards to the Police, Mr Molao called for the expansion of police satellites to increase visibility of police where there were no police stations.

Mr Molao also appealed for acceleration of infrastructure at Special Economic Zones areas as they had a potential for job creation.

On other issues, he commended the President for an all-inclusive SONA that provided an assessment of the country’s achievements, challenges and way forward.

He also said he was happy for the pronouncement that headmen of arbitration would be paid.

MP for Takatokwane, Mr Ngaka Ngaka called Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to put more effort on policies and strategies aimed at improving food security. 

He bemoaned that commercial farmers were disgruntled because they were not getting value for money of their hard earned produce.

“Our farmers are being swindled by the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) that purchases their harvest with little money,” he said. 

He also complained that roads infrastructure and rural electrification in his constituency were lagging and as such hamper developments in his constituency.

Mr Ngaka also called the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to empower social and community development officers to look beyond provision of food rations and uniforms to the less advantaged children.

 He said some of the discretions the officers used in their assessments were questionable. Takatokwane legislator commended the envisaged amendment of the Electoral Act Bill that would accommodate the usage of the paper trail when electronic voting comes to effect. BOPA