02 Feb 2021

The Economy and Employment Thematic Working Groups (TWG) have been allocated the largest share of the 2021/2022 development budget.

The Economy and Employment TWG, which includes mega water, agriculture and transport projects, geared towards the transformation of the economy, got P10.23bn.

Social upliftment took the second largest share of the proposed budget at P2.04bn (13.81 per cent), governance, peace and security has been allocated P2.12bn (14.36 per cent) while sustainable environment will get P364.35m (2.47 per cent).

In his presentation of the 2021 budget speech on February 1, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr Thapelo Matsheka stated that consistent with the commitments made by government to improve supply and management of water in the country, the largest share of the proposed development budget, at P3.4bn or 23.06 per cent, had been allocated to the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services.

Water projects account for P2.93bn or 85 per cent of the ministry’s allocation. Major investment in water and sanitation infrastructure include the ongoing construction of the Maun Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme, which will provide potable water and sanitation networks to benefit the localities of Sexaxa, Matsaudi, Sekampane and Shorobe.

He said in the southern part, the construction of the Masama-Mmamashia 100-km pipeline had commenced and would inject an additional 64 million cubic litres of water per day into greater Gaborone, Lobatse, Kanye, Ramotswa, Molepolole and Borolong areas. 

The project is expected to be complete by May.

Other significant water projects include the next phase of North- South Carrier project under the NSC2.2 Palapye-Mmamashia Water Pipeline, including the Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant expansion, NSC 2.3 Mmamashia-Gaborone Pipeline and implementation of Gaborone and Lobatse water master plans, Moshupa sanitation project and connection of Tswapong South villages to the North-South carrier.

He said the Mahalapye and Palapye water treatment works were ongoing and were scheduled for completion in December.

Further, Dr Matsheka stated that government was also constructing a water treatment plant in Kasane scheduled to be completed in March 2023.

Apart from projects to be financed under the ministry, Dr Matsheka said there would be additional financial support for projects under the World Bank supported programme, which included the North East/Tutume Water Supply project, which entails upgrading and remedial works in 52 villages in the two districts.

Regarding implementation of the Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan initiatives, Dr Matsheka said a budget provision had been made for major transport infrastructure projects.

To this end, he said the second largest share at P1.85bn or 12.51 per cent was allocated to the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

An expression of interest for all the roads in the ERTP will be done in the coming financial year, including the Nata-Maun road, dualling of A1 and Gaborone Eastern by-pass.

Other transport projects to be implemented in the coming year include the Francistown-Nata, Maun-Mohembo, Palapye-Martin’s Drift, Mmathethe-Bray roads as well as Mmamabula-Lephalale and Mosetse-Kazungula railway projects.

Minister Matsheka said Infrastructure projects being implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications were the Traffic Control Modernisation and Centralised Traffic Control for the greater Gaborone area.

The budget also caters for Information Communication Technology (ICT) projects, being Government Data Network upgrading, National Backbone networks, Government Data Centre and Local Access Network.

The third largest share of the proposed development budget is allocated to the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security at P1.65bn, or 11.15 per cent.

This allocation, according to Dr Matsheka, was for the Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police Service, Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation Services, for the provision of infrastructure and procurement of air assets, vehicles, and defence and communication equipment.

Dr Matsheka stated that Ministry of Basic Education (MoBE) would take the fourth largest share at P1.61 billion or 10.91 per cent in order to drive the transformation of Botswana into a knowledge based economy and deliver on the promise of the 21^st century learner.

To cater for School Digitisation initiatives, he said, MoBE was still to procure devices for ICT-based learning for all learners and teachers from Standard Five to Form Five, roll out functional connectivity to all schools, develop and source e-content for schools, train teachers and school managers on basic ICT skills and use of technology on teaching and learning, and out source educational broadcasting programmes.

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, takes the fifth largest allocation of P1.45bn or 9.85 per cent, to continue the implementation of social protection programmes and village infrastructure projects.

The projects include the Primary School Backlog Eradication Programme, Tutume internal roads and bus rank, as well as Gabane and Kang infrastructure development.

Dr Matsheka further said the Ministry of Agriculture Development and Food Security would take the sixth largest share at P978.5m or 6.63 per cent.

The proposed budget caters for the stepping up of projects under the Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development II Programme.

These projects, he said, included small stock, piggery and poultry production, dairy production, apiculture, horticultural and aquaculture.

The funds will also be used to provide essential services, including basic infrastructure in selected agricultural production areas.

Minister Matsheka said infrastructure development earmarked for production areas include roads, telecommunications, electricity and water reticulation.

He said the approach was to adopt a phased implementation plan for the provision of essential services, starting with areas showing the highest potential in agricultural production and productivity.

He stated that the intention was to reinvigorate the agricultural sector and achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural products, where possible.

“One of the lessons of the pandemic and associated lockdowns is that it is important to build resilience in food supply chains, including a larger role for domestic production. 

This will help achieve improved food security and self sufficiency in line with the objectives laid down in the ERTP and the Mid-Term Review of NDP 11,” he said.

Further, he said government was reviewing the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development with the intention of creating an efficient and sustainable programme to replace it.

The new programme will be launched during the course of 2021 and among its key elements, the subsidy will be weighted more towards outputs, rather than the current input-based subsidy, and realignment of fields to enable critical infrastructure developments such as digitisation, roads and water, among others.

In addition, he said parts of the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources will be refurbished.

Meanwhile, he said the remaining ministries/departments would share the balance of P5.46bn or 37 per cent.

The major projects, he said, were staff houses and maintenance of schools; the Poverty Eradication Programme; housing schemes such as Self Help Housing Agency, Poverty Eradication scheme and destitute housing for the low income groups.

The budget also caters for refurbishment of brigades, which is part of the youth empowerment initiative some of whose projects include construction of mini health centres at Sir Seretse Khama, Maun and Kasane airport as well as upgrading healthcare facilities in Maun and Kasane, redevelopment and repair of Lobatse’s Athlone Hospital and further development of Mahalapye and Sekgoma hospitals.

Dr Matsheka stated that the budget also included upgrading the National Identification System (NIS) to enable the development of a Biometric national identity card, which has been identified as one of the initiatives in the ERTP that could fast-track digital transition and effectively facilitate timely service delivery and effective business facilitation. ENDS