14 Jul 2021

Approximately P53 million has been approved under the Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan for the refurbishment of the Mass Media Complex during the current  financial year, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has revealed.

Updating on national issues on Tuesday, he said a feasibility study on the complex’s utilisation was also being conducted by a citizen owned company at a cost of approximately P878 000.

The complex would become the hub for local film and television production, he said, noting that development of creative arts including music, literature, performance and theatre, film, dance and crafts was vital.

“Through a creative art strategy we will strive to commercialise the creative industry and include more Batswana in the lucrative wildlife and tourism filming and photography industry,” he said.

Dr Masisi outlined measures  aimed at empowering citizens to actively participate in the national economy including formulation of Economic Inclusion Bill, Public Procurement Bill, National Employment Policy and Botswana Intellectual Property Policy for consideration in the current Parliament sitting.

He said government was forging ahead with implementation of its reset agenda with civil service reforms already having commenced.

“Government has completed the rollout of the Reset Agenda to accounting officers, chief executives of state owned entities, heads of local authorities and heads of Botswana diplomatic missions abroad,” the President said.

He said public sector structural reforms were ongoing in order to improve implementation of government programmes.

Among the reforms President Masisi mentioned Office of the President rationalisation to make it more strategic than operational.

“Reviews for the rationalisation of the Office of the President have been completed. The capacity of the Presidential Private Office will be enhanced to be more responsive to the public. A Chief of Staff will assume duty on 1st August 2021,” he revealed.

Dr Masisi said a public sector change management framework was being rolled out across the civil service in order to accelerate reforms.

The framework would enable public organisations to effectively manage change, the President said.

He reiterated government plans  to use information communication technology (ICT) to improve delivery of public services.

Stating that digitisation remained one of the main drivers of the economy, President Masisi said by the end of 2021-22 financial year, a minimum of 25 services would  be online.

Applications for tertiary education bursaries, Youth Development Fund, land boards and company registration were already online while  implementation of e-learning and e-health services were progressing well, he said.

He also briefed the nation on peace and security challenges currently being experienced by some SADC member states including eSwatini.

A second SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation mission to eSwatini was dispatched yesterday following the July 4 one, the President said. Ends