01 Dec 2020

 It is commendable that government took a decision to be part of the COVAX facility which allows Botswana possible access to the COVID-19 vaccine once finalised, Kanye North Member of Parliament, Mr Thapelo Letsholo has said.

 In his debate of the State-of-the-Nation Address, Mr Letsholo requested government to make an undertaking to avail free COVID-19 vaccine for all Batswana once it becomes available, notwithstanding the subdued economic circumstances.

“There are about 193 countries in the world and we are said to be amongst the 156 that have joined the COVAX facility. We need to take a more aggressive stance and be in the top 10 per cent of countries with a guaranteed vaccine for each member of our 2.5 million population,” he said.

 Mr Letsholo said the damage to the economy and businesses coupled with the number of people who would lose their jobs post the state of emergency superseded the decision to provide vaccine to all members of the population.

 He urged government to provide assurance and commitment on the procurement of the vaccines instead of just securing the opportunity of access. 

Mr Letsholo decried that several youth-owned businesses in his constituency had closed down since the advent of COVID-19. He named Khakhi Botswana, Mareledi Bar, Embassy Bar and Restaurant, and many events management companies. 

He said while some of the businesses were small individually, the collective social and economic impact of their failures was substantial.  He added that there was a need to bolster the initiatives that the government was already implementing to support businesses by enabling the continued operation of high potential businesses that were otherwise dying due to non-conducive conditions of trade imposed by COVID-19.

He proposed a business rescue act in the next sitting of Parliament to promote rescue rather than liquidation for high potential companies impacted by COVID-19.

Furthermore, he appreciated the jobs created by the tourism industry, particularly the concessions in the Okavango Delta, but raised concern about the low salaries in the sector.

Mr Letsholo also commended the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism for visiting Kanye North constituency. He expressed hope for the speedy implementation plan to develop Mmakgodumo Dam, Pharing Gorge and other sites in Kanye North for tourism purposes. Even though national revenues were dwindling, Mr Letsholo highlighted that government should not postpone effective health care, education or infrastructure development.

 He said the construction of a hospital in Moshupa was a welcome development which should not take away the urgency and need for a suitable public hospital in Kanye. 

“The Moshupa Hospital will be overwhelmed because of the combined population of Moshupa and the neighbouring villages,” he cautioned. He pleaded with government to reconsider its priorities and allocate a public hospital for Kanye or engage with Seventh Day Adventist to expand the existing one under a private public partnership model.

For his part, Good Hope/ Mabule MP, Mr Eric Molale applauded Batswana for collectively adhering to the set COVID-19 protocols. 

Mr Molale also condemned the high increase in the number of gender-based violence (GBV) cases. 

He said success in fighting the moral decay was dependent on individuals’ collective resolve to take responsibility by naming and shaming those who perpetuated GBV as well as reporting the heinous act to the relevant authorities.

He said the high increase in the number of GBV cases called on all Batswana to take decisive steps and act collectively against it. Mr Molale further applauded government for allocating funds towards the economic recovery plan, highlighting that the plan was complete and already at the implementation stage.

Furthermore, Mr Molale pleaded with government to capacitate the Morapedi Farm in his constituency, saying it was ideal for small stock farming and fodder production. He added that the same programme should be rolled-out to Mosesedi Farm.

He was hopeful that part of the P100 million allocated for agricultural support would be invested in some of the farms in his constituency. Mr Molale also applauded the improvement of the road network in Good Hope-Metlojane and Pitsane which he said were almost complete. He, however, called for the road to extend to Sekhutlane since it was a production area. ends