13 Jun 2021

Kgatleng District authorities have been advised to align Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) strategies with national priorities.

Addressing the district’s heads of department and Mochudi leadership on Friday, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane said their economy revitalisation strategies should embody what government wished to accomplish.

He called on Batswana to redouble efforts to revitalise the economy through export-led growth initiatives.

The district leadership was told to encourage value chain development ingenuities to unlock new opportunities for Botswana’s ailing economy.

COVID-19, Mr Tsogwane said, had negatively affected the development budget and resulted in revision of the 2020/21 budget to cater for the Economic Transformation Recovery Plan (ETRP).

The vice president said with many revenue generating streams affected, the country was forced to draw funds from foreign reserves and review some National Development Plan (NDP11) projects.

“Development budget for NDP 11 had been affected severely as we now had to align it with Economic Transformation Recovery Plan,” he stated.

Stressing the need for efficient spending, Mr Tsogwane said he was troubled by widespread wastage and corrupt practices within government.

“Leadership should enforce efficient government spending to achieve more with money spent,” he stated.

He encouraged his audience to purchase goods within their localities in an effort to grow local economies and improve communities’ standard of living.

On other issues, Mr Tsogwane reiterated government’s commitment to fight COVID-19 saying protecting Batswana against the pandemic remained top priority.

He encouraged district authorities to adopt and promote the National Digitisation Strategy meant to unlock access to international markets and encourage entrepreneurship.

Vice president Tsogwane also was toured some projects including maintenance of Radikolo Junior Secondary School and Lady Mitchison Primary School.

Another project that he visited was Bosija ponds, a sore point for residents because of its stench.

Earlier, principal district officer, Ms Tebogo Modise had apprised the meeting about project and programme implementation.

They include rehabilitation of Mochudi – A1/Malotwana turn off road, dry grading of internal roads, pavements and vegetation control.

Others are design of Pilane landfill expansion cell and maintenance of government buildings and street lights.

 

Ms Modise also briefed the meeting about progress of social upliftment programmes, project monitoring, Youth Development Fund and Poverty Eradication Programmes. ENDS