20 Feb 2020

Chobe District commissioner, Ms Sekgabo Makgosa has appaeled to planners in the district to ensure that the drivers of economic growth in Botswana shift towards export promotion.

Addressing the Chobe District Development Committee (DDC) members for the third quarter meeting in Kasane, Ms Makgosa said their effort would support the balance of payments, which emerged in recent years as a constraint to economic growth.

She explained that the main objective was to promote the implementation of the country’s export strategy, since increased exports of goods and services did not only contribute to growth and improved balance of trade position, but also necessary for replenishing the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Ms

Makgosa advised the managers to ensure efficient government spending because the economy experienced a less favourable fiscal position.

She also urged them to build human capital to ensure value for money in education spending as government remained committed to improving skills and knowledge as critical inputs to private sector development and industrialisation.

Provision of appropriate infrastructure, Ms Makgosa said, was critical in enhancing efficiency and providing a gateway for private sector participation by prioritising the provision of infrastructure with the highest potential to increase productivity in key economic sectors to drive transformation.

Such, she explained, would recognise the dire need for investment to promote a cluster development approach as approved in the Special Economic Zones Policy.

On other issues, the district commissioner requested planners to submit their input to the Chobe District Council chairperson’s speech who would be addressing the full council end of the month.

Presenting the health report and sensitisation on the COVID-19 commonly known as coronavirus, Dr Clement Mukadi of Kasane Primary Hospital appealed to the planners to raise awareness of the scourge as Chobe District had a high risk of registering cases because as a tourist destination, it experienced an influx of foreigners.

He explained that there was a serious need for an isolation centre in the event that there was an outbreak of the scourge, adding that an identified centre needed refurbishment.

Dr Mukadi explained that the Coronavirus is a family of viruses that could cause illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

The virus has been identified as the cause of a disease outbreak that began in China and not much is known about the virus yet.

Dr Mukadi explained that the symptoms of infection for coronavirus might appear a few days after exposure and might include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing

He said that the severity of the new coronavirus symptoms could range from very mild to severe, even death, noting that treatment of the disease was problematic and hygiene that included cleaning hands regularly with soap and water was the only preventative measure.

At the same meeting, Chobe DMSAC coordinator, Ms Mpho Mashila told the meeting that the committee was busy educating the community on the importance of ARV adherence through morning health talks. She explained that the Kazungula bridge project was the main target supported by Tebelopele Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre because there had been cases of sex workers at the site.

She explained that the main objective of the committee was to strengthen local governance, which currently stood at 2.1 per cent functional at community level structures.

Ms Mashila said the committee had a target of 100 per cent, but it stood at 40 per cent functional in the villages of Parakarungu, Lesoma, and Kazungula while Mabele was no longer active. ENDS