09 Feb 2023

As the curtain falls on the National Development Plan 11, and the country readies to usher in the  two-year Transitional Development Plan (TNDP), government strives to promote fiscal prudence.

In his debate of the National Budget proposal, Gaborone North Member of Parliament, Mr Mpho Balopi said it was important for government to continue to implement prudent fiscal policy in line with international best practices as part of a broader macroeconomic management framework.

 Mr Balopi said the 2023/2024 budget allocation was in line with agreed government policies as well as attainment of Vision 2036 and Reset Agenda priorities.

To improve current revenue flow in government funds, Mr Balopi said, government would have to improve tax collection efforts in order to create a buffer against volatility in mineral revenue.

“It is commendable that government through Botswana Unified Revenue Services aims to put measures in place to improve tax revenue collection and expand the fiscal revenue base in the face of decline in mineral revenues,”Mr Balopi said.

He said Botswana had already made significant progress in laying the foundation for continued economic recovery and future resilience, with the 2022 estimation of economic growth at 6.7 per cent, thus putting Botswana among the fastest growing economies.

Such strides, he said, were testament of government commitment toward delivery on some of its mandate despite challenges by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia/Ukraine geopolitical instability.

He further commended government for introducing a new wealth creation policy programme which consolidated some of the existing economic empowerment loan and grant programmes.

Additionally, Mr Balopi said it was also pleasing to note that the 2023/2024 had increased the development budget 27.88 percent with the aim to invest in economic and social infrastructure necessary to support economic activities.

The increase in the development budget, he said, should be accompanied by a change of mindset in order to attain maximum economic growth.

“An increased development budget automatically translates in to a surge in developmental projects which requires high level of productivity and constant project monitoring, hence the need for those tasked to implement up their game,” he said.

Still in Parliament, Gaborone Bonnington South legislator Mr Christian Greeff applauded government for investing on upgrading Gaborone road networks particular the three interchanges along the Western Bypass.

Mr Greef however pleaded with government to budget for the construction of storm water drainage system in his constituency.

He questioned the logic of allocating more funds to Ministry of Defence and Security, the third largest ministerial recurrent budget, over the Ministry of Agriculture.

He said there was need for government to exploit agricultural value chains and envisage improved domestic food production to achieve a higher degree of food self-sufficiency in agricultural products . ENDS