17 Nov 2021

Batswana have been implored to do their bit in helping the nation move towards realising its food security aspirations.

Debating the State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Tuesday, Mmathethe/Molapowabojang Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Edwin Dikoloti encouraged Batswana to take advantage of the rains which some parts of the country had started to receive, saying it was vital that they realised that food security started at the household level.

MP Dikoloti said with each contributing towards the attainment of national food security in their own small way, those in the farming community should also take to mind President Dr Mokgweetsi

Masisi’s call for the development of value chain by doing their best in ensuring that they got the best out of their farming activities.

Still on farming, the MP called for the development of the country’s road network with the view to enable farmers to reap the most out of their efforts.

He said in the Mmathethe/Molapowabojang constituency, there were some critical roads which if tarred and kept in good condition would enhance agricultural production in the area.

He cited the Mmathethe-Bray-Werda, Gathwane-Kgoro-Good  Hope as well as the Maokane-Jwaneng roads as being vital to the revitalisation of the economy of the constituency.

On a different issue, Dr Dikoloti decried the long waiting list for land allocation in his constituency.

Pegging the figure at 40 000, he said the problem was getting out of hand and needed to be addressed speedily.

On COVID-19 and its effects on the nation, the MP said the virus had wreaked havoc on the mental health of many, plunging many people into depression and other mental health challenges.

He said the Ministry of Health and Wellness had since identified the glaring need to reinforce its efforts of putting mental health issues at the fore.

He said the devastating effects of COVID-19 had left many needing counselling and psycho-social support, hence the ministry found itself duty-bound to make  counselling services extensive and more accessible to the public.

MP Yandani Boko of Mahalapye East highlighted how Gender-Based Violence continued to grow despite the efforts that were being made to fight it.
In his contribution, Mr Boko said violence against women in particular was growing unabated, and noted that government together with other stakeholders needed to join efforts to address the problem.

Calling for government to adopt a holistic approach in combatting the societal ill, he also said it was necessary for families to inculcate good morals in children so as to raise a generation that shunned GBV in all its forms.

Like other MPs that have had the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the SONA, Mr Boko said the delay in allocating Batswana land was worrying as the waiting lists for land boards across the country were continuing to spiral out of control.

He noted that many working Batswana could not invest in property due to them not having land rights.

He observed that as a result most were using the chunk of their salaries on payment of rental whereas they could be financing their property ownership dreams.

Regarding lessons drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic, the MP said the outbreak of the virus had laid emphasis on the need for government to facilitate its people, particularly the youth to open businesses that could produce  such as masks and gloves.

However, he commended frontline workers for the sacrificial work that they had put into the fight against the pandemic.

Furthermore, Mr Boko hailed teachers for having soldiered on with their work despite the challenging circumstances that COVID-19 had brought about in their work environment. ENDS