20 Dec 2022

Members of Parliament were encouraged to embrace policies and strategies presented by various ministries under the Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP) prioritised for implementation during the next two-year plan period.

The sentiments were expressed by Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane who is also MP for Boteti West when contributing to debates on the public investment programme presentations by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Kgotla Autlwetse in Parliament on Monday.

He said social development programmes should reach these areas adding that the re-engineered Ipelegeng programme could come in handy for rural communities. He said the recently launched programme was meant to assist in skills development.

Mr Tsogwane thanked government for assisting areas such as Kedia, Makalamabedi and Mopipi, especially in the health sector where some facilities had been developed.

He said internal roads were vital for places such as Boteti which were lacking thus denying communities access to services.

He said the single social register should be implemented to avoid double dipping by some individuals on some programmes aimed at assisting Batswana fairly.

He said despite the challenges brought in by COVID-19 government was able to assist communities through a strong social protection net which cushioned the tough economic strain.

For his part, Maun West MP Mr Dumelang Saleshando said it was important for government to establish the reason for having an old age pension fund.

He said the current wage was not enough to bring dignified lives to old people in Botswana.

He said Namibia paid N1 300  and had an extra cheque for the festive season which was almost double what government of Botswana was paying.

He said old people joining programmes such as Ipelegeng was a sign of desperation to cushion the impact of economic strain.

He said it took government two years to revamp Ipelegeng which was defeating the ideals of the RESET agenda. Mr Saleshando said Ipelegeng was also failing to develop the skills that it intends to develop.

He said the constituency community projects (CCP) programme had varying priorities and it was improper for government to suggest development programmes.

He said in areas such as Ngami some wanted boreholes because they wanted water.

He said ungazzetted settlements such as Bojanala could not benefit from the set programme of paved roads.

Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development Mr Aubrey Lesaso said the Shoshong constituency was awarded land and funds permitting planned to develop an old age centre.

On the affirmative action plan, Mr Lesaso said areas such as Otse and Mokgenene deserved to be assisted as the communities were hard hit by poverty.

He applauded the revamped Ipelegeng and said programmes such as SHHA could be utilised under the re-engineered project.

Mr Lesaso said supervision must be prioritised as half of the projects from those earmarked for the ministry were from the past development plan.

He said the upgrade of subordinate authorities was a welcome development which would bring economic activities to the area.

He urged government to consider establishing Shoshong as a trade hub as trading in the sub Saharan region started in Shoshong.

For his part MP for Sefhare-Ramokgonami Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang said the promised pilot project of Ipelegeng has not been fruitful.

He said the low wages of old age pension were below the required standards globally.

He said they were some people who were now unable to graduate from destitution and were permanent destitute. He pleaded with government to consider adjustment for inflation for old age pension wages. ENDS