09 Nov 2021

Government is reviewing the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) and evaluating the Affirmative Action Framework for remote area communities.

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said on Monday when delivering the state-of-the-nation-address. He said the development of a decentralisation policy was complete and was awaiting approval.

Further, he said a review of the 2002 Revised National Policy on Rural Development would also be undertaken to promote rural development and improve service delivery.

Regarding Ipelegeng, he said, the programme was being transformed to make it more productive and sustainable. The re-engineered Ipelegeng would focus on maintenance of public facilities especially schools, erection and maintenance of cluster fences, de-bushing of international boundaries, construction of Kgotla shelters and implementation of other development projects.

He said the programme also aimed to empower beneficiaries through capacity building, skills development that would help them to earn a living, post Ipelegeng. President Masisi further said the provision of reliable electricity, water, broadband and roads was central to rural development.

As such, he said the country has increased rural electrification to 79 per cent, which translated to a total of 447 out of a total of 504 gazetted villages having been electrified.

He said through the village connectivity project, the government would connect ICT services in 504 villages in Botswana by 2022/2023. 

Dr Masisi stated that the ICT services would be provided at Dikgotla, schools, health facilities, colleges and brigades and added that by the end of the current financial year, at least 203 villages would have been connected.

Furthermore, he said during the current financial year, 11 villages would be connected to the national backbone infrastructure. This, he said, would be achieved through two projects in Sebina-Tutume and Takatokwane-Morwamosu areas.

In addition, the President said government had made significant achievements in the provision of potable water in rural areas. He said some of the major projects which would cover rural areas included the Shakawe-Gumare Water Treatment Plants, the connection of Kanye, Moshupa and Thamaga to the North South Carrier (NSC) and the Masama-Mmamashia Water Pipeline.

Other major projects which are under construction included the Mahalapye-Palapye Water Treatment Plant, North East and Tutume Sub District Water Supply Scheme, Lobatse Water Master Plan, Gaborone Water Master Plan, Selebi Phikwe - Serule Water Transfer Scheme, Mmamashia Treatment Plant Expansion, as well as Kanye and Moshupa Sanitation Projects. ENDS