10 Feb 2021

Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga says government should reduce the budget deficit and work towards a balanced budget.

Debating the 2021/22 budget proposals on Tuesday, MP Majaga said he was concerned that the country might find itself in trouble over debts accumulated to cover the deficit.

He said the country should consider domestic borrowing instead of sourcing funds from the World Bank with high interest rates.

MP Majaga said the country’s high debts might impact its sovereign credit rating.

He acknowledged that the country was faced with economic challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and that it was important to increase the country’s revenue base.

The Nata/Gweta MP urged the country’s leadership to borrow a leaf on what the country did during the HIV/AIDS pandemic, noting that the country was able to offer anti-retroviral drugs without sourcing loans from the international community.

He further said health facilities must be maintained and equipped to deal with future pandemics, adding that the health ministry must be adequately funded.

MP Majaga further said he welcomed the rationing of state owned enterprises as the government’s wage bill would be reduced.

For his part, Selebi Phikwe East MP, Mr Kgoberego Nkawana said the tax increments came at the wrong time as every Motswana had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He further said second hand imported vehicles had enabled Batswana to venture into different businesses and that he was was against the introduced taxes. He said Botswana should produce its own vaccines, adding that the country already had facilities and qualified scientists at Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI), which is known for producing livestock medicines, especially against Foot and Mouth Disease.

He further said the Ipelegeng programme should be enhanced and that employees should be engaged in sustainable and tangible projects, not just bush clearing.

MP Nkawana further said the Citizen Economic Development Agency (CEDA) guidelines should be easy for everyone to understand.

The MP for Takatokwane, Mr Friction Louwe welcomed the budget allocated to the Ministry of Basic Education, saying he hoped the money would be used to construct additional classrooms at primary schools and improve accommodation for teachers.

He further called upon the government to tar the Letlhakeng-Kaudwane road, saying it was economically beneficial.

MP Louwe further said the budget allocated to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development was not enough to deal with Ipelegeng salaries and other challenges. ends