20 Dec 2022

In welcoming Group three presentation of the Public Investment Programme covering the budget estimates of the Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP), MP’s have called for speedy implementation of development projects in their various constituencies.

Molepolole North legislator, Mr Oabile Regoeng commended government for a proposed 25 kilometres of tarred road in Molepolole, which he said should be mostly used for the main road which was the busiest in the village.

He also called for the proposed national agro-processing centre to be located at Molepolole for job creation to reduce migration to cities such as Gaborone.

Mr Regoeng called for more research to be put into agricultural development to boost food security. He welcomed the proposal of cluster development farming which he said was feasible if government could speedily assist farmers to fence their farming fields.

Takatokwane MP Tshoganetso Leuwe said slaughter slabs facilities should be constructed, approved and licensed by authorities for the purpose of slaughtering closer to those engaged in livestock production in the countryside instead of them having to sell to abattoirs at a much further distance.

Mr Leuwe further called for the speedy availing of seeds and fertilisers in the farming season and better waste management in his constituency. Additionally, he said the Takatokwane-Kaudwane road should be constructed as it was currently in a poor gravel state.

He said the Maboane clinic donated by De Beers was the only one in his constituency which was in a good state and called for the upgrade of health posts in the area into clinics.

Palapye MP, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi said government had long promised a meat regulator which he said could assist in pricing concerns for the country’s key beef industry.

Mr Ramogapi also said professional sports organs such as the Botswana Premier League under the ambit of the Botswana Football Association lacks sponsors, and the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture needed to work with other line ministries to come up with incentives such as tax rebates to encourage sports funding.

He said Palapye had long been promised a horse race track, and government needed to fulfil the promise. Ghanzi South MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai called for the construction of a stadium as well as recreational infrastructure in his constituency.

Mr Motsamai also urged government to invest in the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) to revive the beef industry in the country. ENDS