21 Nov 2018

Having ascended to the position of head of state and government earlier this year, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi offers the country the chance to renew its developmental direction and chart a new course for its people, Moshupa-Manyana MP, Mr Karabo Gare has said.

Giving his first ever response to the State-of-the-Nation Address, Mr Gare said the President offered Batswana a fresh beginning as outlined in his recent address.

“There is hope, restoration and renaissance delivered by President Masisi, which I believe the majority of this august house is essentially in accord with,” Mr Gare said, adding, “Let me also stress, and reiterate our president’s commitment to the roadmap and way forward he exhibited in his address, which I believe he will follow with due diligence, to serve and deliver with deliberate intentions and love to take this noble land to greater heights.”

Mr Gare proceeded to outline some challenges that needed to be addressed by government, stating that the southern part of the country was struggling with water access, something he said the government should address in order to alleviate the situation.

“We are drowning in lack of water in the southern part of this noble land. 

My constituents are thirstier than desert camels despite all the promises made of water delivery.

In the worst case scenario, we have taps that are being corroded by rust due to lack of running water in a period of over four years.

Had we been proactive in assessment of water boreholes, we would never have had to go through this excruciating catastrophe,” Mr Gare complained.

He praised the government for its approach to education, stating that it was one area that had managed to give every Motswana equal opportunity to progress in life.  Mr Gare also praised the introduction of public education at pre-primary level.

“I wish to commend the government for offering the best of free and accessible education from pre-primary to university level. 

Introduction of pre-primary education in public schools is a good initiative whose fruits are absolutely worth noting. 

This gives all children an equal opportunity to pre-learn concepts and hopefully step into their first year of primary school with confidence and more zeal to learn,” Mr Gare said.

In order to improve delivery in education, Mr Gare called for the improvement of teacher’s conditions, including better housing so that teachers and their families stop sharing living quarters. 

He also said automatic progression from standard seven to junior school did not serve the education system well; as well as the focus on cognitive curriculum subjects at the expense of vocational and sporting talents.

“What about those talented in sports, arts or handiwork whose talents have not been nurtured from grassroots level?

What do we expect to become of children who go to school to learn how to read and write and yet their talent is in swimming, football, netball or tennis?

Our education system focuses on the cognitive and totally disregards others, which are treated as extra mural activities,” Mr Gare said.

The youthful legislator praised the Ministry of Health and Wellness for their groundwork in improving healthcare provision in areas such as maternity care, oral care, malaria, tuberculosis, as well as combating and treating HIV/AIDS.

However, Mr Gare lamented that emergency services at the main government referral hospital took time to offer assistance to patients.

He pointed that there were long queues in hospitals, which he said were overcrowded, unequipped and understaffed. ENDS