15 Nov 2022

Government must make it their duty to ensure the success of government initiatives aimed at emancipating Batswana from poverty.

Mabutsane, sub council chairman, Mr Poloko Mokwaise said this when opening the sub-council session Monday.

He said such initiatives included the procurement of government goods and services from locals, which was encouraged under the new Public Procurement Act of 2021.

“This Act is a watershed. Let us all continue to familiarise ourselves with it and support its full implementation. It is a powerful tool for service delivery, transparency and most critically, citizen economic empowerment,” he said.

Mr Mokwaise said supporting government poverty eradication initiatives would also go a long way in job creation and service delivery.

He also said the Economic Inclusion Act was another critical act, which the council continued to implement vigorously. “This Act also requires your aggressive support and commitment to achieve citizen economic empowerment and inclusion of previously excluded citizens,” he said.

He therefore advised profiling of local companies in the sub district for purposes of procurement of goods and services.

“I therefore appeal to all registered companies within the sub district to register with the procurement unit of council,” he said.

Mr Mokwaise urged farmers in the area to prepare for the upcoming season and take advantage of the revised ISPAAD programme, which he said had the potential to impact positively to an export-led economy as desired by the government.

On other issues, Mr Mokwaise applauded good samaritans who continued to assist the sub district.

These included Debswana Jwaneng mine, which constructed 15 market stalls at the Mabutsane show ground; Majwe Mining, which constructed a classroom block at Mokhomma Primary School; Orange Botswana Foundation, which donated 50 tablets, a laptop and a projector Thankane Primary School; Cummins PTY LTD, which donated 13 executive chairs and tables to Betesankwe Primary School and Epiroc which donated material amounting to P33 000 to Mahotshwane Primary School reception class. Mr Mokwaise said that the donations would go a long way in improving education in the sub-district. ENDS