25 Mar 2018

Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has applauded President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama for his able leadership, which he said through it, Botswana managed to maintain fiscal discipline during the debilitating recession whose negative impact was throughout the world.

Speaking at a farewell dinner that Cabinet hosted for the President in Gaborone on March 24, the Vice President said during the time the economy was gloomy, government resisted pressure to downsize the civil service as part of its cost cutting measures.

He said rather government adopted the posture of doing more with less adding that President Khama also recognised the centrality of the human factor in taking the country to greater heights.

“In this respect, there has been continued substantial allocation in the national budget to human capital form an average of 30.7 per cent expenditure in 2008 to 33.5 in 2016/17.

He said through President Khama’s visionary leadership, programmes such as Ipelegeng were introduced and subsequently expanded in scope while budgetary provision of some of the social programmes were increased substantially.

Mr Masisi further said he was also proud of introduction of other programmes such as Youth Development Fund ISPAAD and LIMID as well as Poverty Eradication programme which he said he was proud to associate with.

“The Poverty Eradication Programme has taken thousands of Batswana out of abject poverty and they are now leading a dignified life,” he said.

He further said President Khama’s continued and regular interactions with communities was the first of its kind and that it had really touched the hearts of many Batswana across the country.

“For the first time in the history of this country, a Head of State is always seen visiting communities unannounced. A lekola Batswana, a ora molelo le bagolo ba motse, a ba a ja dijo le bone,” he said.

He assured him that all the initiatives and programmes that he started will continue to be supported by government, albeit with some adjustments.

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale praised President Khama for presiding over a country whose common denominator was peace.

“We as the Cabinet want to send you off in a grand way to express our gratitude to you in a special way,” he said.

He said President Khama connected with citizens in a special way during community service initiatives, interacting with the elderly, young and people with disabilities.

Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi assured President Khama that Mr Masisi will have full support of the cabinet he will pick in a week’s time from current crop of MPs.

“We have seen the first steps of Mr Masisi that there is indeed a Presidential material in him.

He has put the doubts to rests that some had about him.

If we have ever had any trust in you, that trust has to be displayed in the confidence that you have now in our trust and support that we will give to your successor,” she said.

Permanent Secretary to the President and Secretary to Cabinet, Mr Carter Morupisi said they will forever remain indebted to excellent leadership of President Khama in steering the country towards sustainable development and posterity.

He said they will continue to uphold the good legacy that President Khama left behind.

“We will further commit to organisational excellence in order to ensure that the aspirations of Batswana are fulfilled.

We remain to have been blessed with a judicious and visionary leader of your caliber who is passionate about people development,” he said.

He further applauded President Khama for devoting ample time to continuously interact and exchange views with accounting officers on a quarterly basis.

Such a platform, he said provided an invaluable opportunity for permanent secretaries to be given feedback on the concerns raised by staff who serve in remote Botswana, including their welfare.

He said equally, such meetings also afforded accounting officers an opportunity to express their views on ways and means of strengthening policy formulation and execution.

Mr Morupisi said during President Khama’s tenure of office, there had been a remarkable improvement in delivery of quality service to the public because of the culture of discipline he instilled.

He said through programmes such as Tokafatso Maduo and Phone-ins, members of the public were able to interact with public servants which, he said also improved service delivery and governance in Botswana.

Mr Morupisi further said he was impressed by President Khama’s resilience and determination to reach out to everyone in all corners of the country.

“Over 800 houses have been built for less privileged, there is high resurgence in showcasing the rich cultural diversity and speaking for the voiceless has been a beacon of your international relations agenda,” he said. ENDS