23 Nov 2021

Government is on track to attain some of the key priority areas outlined in the ruling party’s election manifesto, says Molepolole North MP, Mr Oabile Regoeng.

In his debate of the State-of-the-Nation Address, Mr Regoeng highlighted that government was living up to its pledge of transforming the economy and investing in the country’s infrastructure development amidst challenges posed by  COVID-19.

He said Botswana, like many countries, had been adversely affected by the pandemic and that the virus had shone the spotlight on a range of socio-economic challenges that the country faced such as unemployment and poverty.

He noted that the country had made a number of policy pronouncements, which were part of the development road map seeking to propel the country to greater heights despite all the challenges. Mr Regoeng cited the Masama/Mmamashia and Gamononyane water works as some of the milestone achievements that were testimony of government commitment to fulfilling its promises. “It is pleasing to note that the Botswana Democratic Party lead government is delivering on its promises particularly in the entire Molepolole constituency through the recent ground breaking of the Gamononyane water works which will argument the water crisis in Kweneng,” he said.

He pleaded with the public not to despair as government had developed an Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan (ERTP) to support the restoration of economic activity well as facilitate economic growth.

Mr Regoeng highlighted that as the economy emerged from the COVID-19 experience, government should promote the growth of small and micro enterprises, which he said were fundamental to employment generation and economic diversification.

He said one of the strategies for realising income redistribution and social justice was through government support for small and micro enterprises.

He acknowledged the new arable agricultural programme, which would replace the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture (ISPAAD).

He expressed optimism that the programme would improve food security since it was envisaged to increase agricultural productivity.

Although he commended positive strides in the health sector, Mr Regoeng advocated for adequate staffing at Phutadikobo Clinic. Also contributing to the debate, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Annah

Mokgethi said the ministry was experiencing high numbers of uncollected Omang cards which stood at over 30 000 across the country.

She said the ministry would also cease to open Omang offices on weekends as a result of a decline in the number of applicants who visited such service centres on weekends.

With regard to Gender Based Violence (GBV), Ms Mokgethi said GBV was one of the critical issues that impeded women, girls and men from fully enjoying their human rights and unleashing their potential.  She said the high number of GBV cases called on all Batswana to take decisive steps and act collectively against it.

She commended government for promoting gender equality, saying it was pivotal to the development of the country.

Her ministry, she said, was on the look out for legislation that impeded women from playing their role in society. She added that the country could not progress if women were not empowered to participate in the country’s socio-economic development.

Ms Mokgethi, who is also Gaborone Bonnington North MP, decried the malfunctioning street lights in her constituency, saying they contributed to high levels of crime.
ENDS