12 Oct 2022

Time has come for government to abandon unproductive ideas and programmes and replace them with new ones.

This was said by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi when addressing a combined cabinet/accounting officers retreat at Mmamashia yesterday.

Giving an example of the Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan (ETRP) projects, he said despite being budgeted for, some had not been achieved.

The President said things that had not worked half the time of their existence should be abandoned to recover on lost opportunities.

 “We are going to abandon the way we have been doing some things and we are going to  make up for lost time and deliver going forward,” he stated.

Dr Masisi therefore called on the retreat attendants to take pragmatic and decisive decisions to alter processes for the better.

He advised them to admit when things were not done properly, appreciate that others knew better and escalate issues to superiors.

Going forward, he said performance monitoring instruments would be put in place for accounting purposes.

“This model should be cascaded right down to the cleaner so that this gives an idea of things that are embellishing the system because it will become apparent through these instruments,” he said.

President Masisi however applauded cabinet and accounting officers for their efforts to move the economy forward under harsh circumstances.

He said having responded to a debilitating and life threatening COVID-19 pandemic was a great milestone.

“You did it, you have done a lot. You went out and facilitated drug supply to our people,” he said.

He said another achievement was  the facilitation of investment in vaccine manufacturing.

President Masisi said Botswana’s semi-arid environment had not discouraged government from implementing projects meant to ensure sufficient water supply such as the Masama Water Plant.

He also mentioned Lobatse Water Supply and Molepolole Water and Sanitation projects.

The projects, including policy shifts to allow integrated businesses in the fields and transforming into a knowledge-based economy, were some of the Botswana Democratic Party campaign promises.

President Masisi said the constitutional review was another  promise made to the electorates which had so far been executed.

That was an indication that  government was resolute in delivering projects promised to electorates in 2019, said the President.

“I am saying this because you read and hear a lot of negativity and sometimes these things overwhelm you,” he said.

The three-day retreat will among others reflect on performance, strengthening working relations between ministries, update on transitional National Development Plan for years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 as well as deliberate on interventions required to address ETRP challenges. Ends