12 Feb 2023

Government remains committed to addressing unemployment in the country, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele has said.

“The fact that this year’s recurrent budget has apportioned about 52 per cent to personal emoluments is an indication that government is serious about job creation,” Mr Modukanele said in his contribution to the debate on the budget speech on Thursday.

Mr Modukanele, also Member of Parliament for Lerala/Maunatlala, said that such should therefore motivate civil servants to smoothly deliver services to Batswana.

“The Minister of Finance should also be applauded for ensuring that a large share of the development budget has gone to sectors that have the potential to create employment,” he said.

He, therefore, implored Batswana to be ready to explore businesses that could be supported by the existence of such infrastructure, such as setting up of camp sites, especially along long distance roads where travellers may need to rest.

He, however, advised government to put in place strict monitoring tools to ensure that such projects were completed on time as promised to Batswana.

“This year’s budget is more relevant because it considers the desires of Batswana and it was formulated after thorough consultations with them at different forums.

The inclusion of basics items such as sanitary towels and cooking oil in goods that have been VAT zero rated is one of the issues that Batswana pleaded for,” Mr Modukanele said.

In his contribution, Member of Parliament for Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Mr Mephato Reatile decried what he termed unfair treatment of constituents by government when distributing development projects.

Mr Reatile said he had requested for a clinic at Kanaku and Kutuku in his constituency, but such was turned down on the explanation that the two villages did not qualify for such a facility as their population was less than the required threshold of 1 000.

“I was, however, surprised to learn that Mogojogojo, whose current population is 800 has been promised a clinic with maternity.

Even worse is the fact that this village is closer to amenities at Good Hope, Mmathethe and Molapowabojang,” he said.

Mr Reatile also expressed concern on what he said was the tendency by government to make promises that were never kept, saying that most of the roads planned for the current budget were long promised as far back as 2019.

“I do not have a problem with roads being constructed in other parts of the country, what I want is for the projects to be completed on time so that we can focus on other areas that are equally in need,” he said. ENDS