23 Nov 2022

Farmers should take advantage of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s bull donation initiative to improve their breed and stand a better chance to explore lucrative markets.

Delivering his debate on the State-of-the-Nation Address Tuesday, Molepolole North Mr Oabile Regoeng noted that the initiative had the potential to bring good results.

He said the agricultural sector was showing potential for growth, hence the need to explore opportunities.

He said the recent import restrictions stimulated growth in local vegetable production, indicating that Batswana had full potential to expand production.

Mr Regoeng stressed the importance of meeting the local demand for self-sufficiency before exporting.

He said the revitalisation of the beef industry would help diversify the economy, especially the cattle sector and kill the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) monopoly thereby calling for efficiency on the part of BMC.

He said failure to timely pay for drought power and delays in seeds collection were some of the drawbacks that might frustrate good government intentions meant to uplift farmers.

Commenting on strategic infrastructure, Mr Regoeng appealed to government to build a bypass road that would link the east to the western part of the country in Molepolole.

He said Molepolole was strategically placed as business links between Ngami areas, Kgalagadi North and Namibia were done through the A12 highway that passes throughMolepolole.

Mr Regoeng praised government for the recent water distribution networks, which he said were the first in the history of the country.

He said Molepolole was hard hit by water scarcity, but with recent pipelines and distribution network construction, there was hope in sight.

Mr Regoeng added that the opening of mines recently called for the establishment of value chains in the mineral sector.

He pleaded with government to ask mining companies to open plants locally and not export jobs, especially during the processing stages of mining.

For his part, Palapye MP Mr Onneetse Ramogapi decried the poor state of the health sector in the country.

He said for an area such as Palapye that was servicing Tswapong and some parts of Bobirwa there was need to build a full fledged primary hospital rather than extend the current one, which was in a bad state.

Mr Ramogapi decried slow progression in the civil service, saying it was worrisome and led to poor work ethics.

He called for the implementation of the PEMANDU report recommendations to improve conditions of service. Mr Ramogapi appealed to government to set up a research fund to move towards a knowledge-based economy government, noting that countries advocating for the 4IR had research funds.

He urged government to trace exceptional students who were sent abroad to study and that if possible, their contractual obligations be eased such that they are allowed to seek ‘greener pasturers’ even abroad.

Mr Ramogapi pleaded with legislators to institute laws prohibiting big business enterprises from monopolising the local market.

He said some foreign investors were awarded big tenders at the expense of locals, but went on to produce shoddy workmanship with multimillion pula projects having structural defects. ENDS