13 Apr 2021

Gaborone - Government introduced the Motor Vehicle Purchase Scheme to assist beneficiaries in the execution of their official duties like facilitating their travel to the workplace not on farming.

This was said by the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Dumizweni Mthimkhulu in Parliament on Monday.

Mr Mthimkhulu however said it did not hinder those affected from approaching financial institutions to individually apply for tractor loans outside the parameter of the government Motor Vehicle Purchase Scheme.

He also pointed out that it was against that background that General Order 117.12 explains that ‘for the purpose of this General Order the expression vehicle shall not include vehicles which are unlikely to be used by the officer in the execution of their official duties such as taxis, tractors, heavy lorries, buses and commercial combis.”

Mr Mthimkhulu said it was not possible currently to indicate socio-economic benefits which would accrue to Batswana as a result of amending the scheme to allow for the purchase of tractors since no proper study had been done on the subject.

“My ministry does not intend effecting any changes on the scheme to allow for the purchase of tractors,” he said.

He was responding to a question from Mr Thapelo Letsholo, Kanye North MP who had asked the minister if the Government Motor Vehicle Purchase Scheme could be amended to allow for the purchase of tractors for farming purposes.

MP Letsholo also wanted the minister to state what socio-economic benefits would accrue to Batswana as a result and what could hinder the possible implementation of the amendment and state the earliest timeliness that the adjustment might be effected. ENDS