01 Sep 2020

Members of Parliament have called on government to ensure the practical realisation of envisaged development projects planned for the remainder of NDP 11.

Speaking on Monday at the National Assembly during the debate on the NDP 11 Mid-term Review presentation by Economy and Employment Sector ministries, legislators urged government to ensure that projects were brought to fruition to the benefit of the people.

The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) chief whip, Letlhakane/Lephephe MP, Mr Liakat Kablay said there were some good initiatives that could uplift people from poverty, but there was a need to ensure they reach ordinary people in rural constituencies.

He lauded government for introducing the new Citizen Entrepreneurial Agency (CEDA) guidelines, and urged the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry to push for CEDA and the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) to have offices in Letlhakane. Mr Kablay said his constituency was broad, but its residents had to travel to Molepolole or Gaborone to access services, which compromised their ability to take advantage of government programmes.

Citing the example of the long distance between the two villages of Letlhakeng and Lephephe, Mr Kablay said the vast nature of his constituency and poor economic state of the majority of residents necessitated that investment should be done in the area. Mr Kablay called for the government to expedite land allocation to assist the youth, in particular, to have access to home ownership and pursue entrepreneurship.

He also said ground water sources should be developed to alleviate water shortage in the area.

Serowe North MP, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe on the other hand said government should assist farmers engaged in crop farming and fodder production in his constituency.

He said there were many farmers who were taking the initiative, but could not access the markets.

Mr Mathoothe urged government to assess the impact of youth empowerment schemes in order to gauge what needed to be done to effect greater impact.

He also noted that while large amounts were used to extend the national electricity grid to rural areas countrywide, some households in villages were situated in areas where they were unable to access electrical connection.

While he was grateful that work on the Paje to Tshimoyapula connection to water supply had commenced, Mr Mathoothe called on government to ensure that the Gojwane, Moreomabele, Topisi and Serule villages in his constituency were also connected to the water carrier pipeline, as had already been promised. Ends