04 Nov 2021

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi will on Monday deliver the State-of-the-Nation Address which coincides  with commencement of the 1st meeting of the 3rd session of the 12th Parliament.

Normally, members of the public would turn up in large numbers to fill to capacity a giant marquee erected on National Assembly grounds to hear the President firsthand, but under the ‘new -normal’ of the COVID-19 era, they are expected to tune in to various media platforms wherever they will be.

The only constant will be the Botswana Defence Force guard of honour as President Masisi makes his way to the National Assembly where he will present a sector-by-sector account of the general health of the country, his administration’s achievements  as well as  the way forward from the ravages of COVID-19.

Chief among strategies for the next 12 months would be saving lives from COVID-19 and ways of dealing with challenges encountered in the implementation of critical policies and development projects following the outbreak of coronavirus, all of which should conform to the RESET agenda.

“Government has set a target to achieve a vaccination rollout to 64 per cent of the eligible population by the end of December 2021, therefore it is important for the President to give an update on the progress thus far,” said University of Botswana senior political science lecturer, Dr Kebatetse Lotswao.

“We can also expect him to give a  detailed narration of the SoE (state of emergency) benefits,” he said.

Among issues that the President is expected to update the nation on is government’s determination to provide Batswana with safe potable water, especially in view of the particularly “the significant 100km Masama–Mmamashia water pipeline project” and related infrastructure in South East, Greater Lobatse and Kweneng, said Dr Lotshwao. 

 Business Botswana president, Mr Gobuamang Keebine expressed optimism that the President’s address would include a comprehensive economic transformation plan post the state of emergency, which ended September 30.

“First, the lifting of the SoE and the recovery could mark the onset of a broader challenge, not the end of the crisis. One of the hardest things about the COVID-19 crisis is that there is no liberation day when we will be certain of its ending, hence it could be premature to celebrate the lifting of SoE,” he said.

He said the business community was hoping for a robust recovery plan as government had heeded their plea and relaxed restrictions with the intention of stimulating economic growth.

In this regard, it would be important for SONA to address the issue of inclusive economic growth vis-à-vis COVID-19 dented public finances and SMMEs.

Other critical issues that the President is expected to cover include:

Unemployment

According to a Central Statistics Office report, unemployment increased to 23.30 per cent in 2020 from 18.20 per cent the previous year. President Masisi is expected to reaffirm government’s commitment to create jobs, particularly for young people, even in the face of COVID-19.   

Constitutional Review 

The President announced in the last SONA that government  was  committed  to reviewing  the constitution, an exercise which he recently said would begin soon. He is expected to update on the matter. 

Mining 

President Masisi is likely to discuss the development of government’s beneficiation strategy aimed at facilitating citizen participation in the mining industry as well as the decision to issue short term permits allowing local diamond companies to conduct sales outside the country as a means to stimulating sales. 

Also likely to feature in the SONA is reopening of the Selebi-Phikwe BCL mine and Khoemacau Mine operations.

Food Security

It is highly likely that President Masisi will announce completion of the Integrated Support Programme for Arable 

Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) review, which is the intended to create an efficient and sustainable programme.  

The new programme, which was launched earlier this year, aims to improve food security and reduce the food import bill.

Road infrastructure

Following the coming into effect of African Continental  Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement in January, it is  anticipated  that the President will update  the nation on the completion of major roads linking Botswana with central Africa and AfCFTA’s benefits. There has been a notable increase in freight transportation following the commissioning of the Kazungula Bridge.

Other roads include Nata-Maun-Sehitwa-Mohembo, some sections of the Nata-Kazungula road and Palapye-Martin’s Drift.

Cattle rustling 

Cattle rustling remains a thorn in the flesh forcing the appointment of a commission of enquiry to investigate livestock rustling allegations in the Bobirwa area along the  Botswana/Zimbabwe border where the scourge is believed to have reached crisis proportions. ends