15 Feb 2023

 Member of Parliament for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi has called for establishment of a budget and research office that will allow Parliament to effectively engage and make substantive contribution to Appropriation Bills.

Mr Mmolotsi made the call in his contribution to the debate on the proposed budget for the 2023/2024 financial year on February 14.

“Not a single budget proposal has ever been amended in Parliament, thus Parliament’s role in the budget process is non-existent due to lack of capacity,” he said.

Mr Mmolotsi, who is also leader of the minority parties in Parliament said as an independent institution, the National Assembly should be able to counter with solid proposals and provide an alternative budget to the one presented by the executive arm of government.

As such, he proposed that P50 million be reallocated from the Ministry of Defence and Security’s development budget towards the establishment of a Parliament budget and research office.

The Francistown South legislator indicated that in line with the proposal for a new economic development path, government should also establish Botswana Construction Company to undertake mega projects, not only nationally, but also globally.

That, he said was a tried and tested development strategy and revenue mine as well as job plant for many developed countries.

He said Botswana’s development path should emulate that of the Asian Tigers who had registered rapid economic growth that was inclusive, having lifted millions of their citizens out of poverty and created environments that made it possible for entrepreneurs to thrive.

“Their strategy has been nurturing and attracting Multi-National Companies, first through earmarking some of their best-performing parastatals for global dominance,” he said.

Mr Mmolotsi said his political party, Alliance for Progressive (AP), also suggested that Botswana took advantage of its central location and establish itself as a transport hub for the over 370 million people in the SADC region.

“The AP has over the years proposed for the improvement of the rail backbone, through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) by constructing inter-country fast trains connecting Johannesburg and Central Africa through Gaborone,” he said.

He further implored government to establish an economic development board to serve as a strategic hub and act as a nerve centre for the country’s growth plans to attract investment.

“Our transformation depends not only on establishing strong political institutions, but also on establishing strong economic institutions,” he added.

He noted that the P85 million proposed budget for wealth creation programme was not adequate, hence recommended that a catalyst for wealth creation of sector funds be established in the different sectors of the economy.
The sector funds, he said, did not only avail capital, but most critically attracted top talent and technical skills to the sectors that would have already been identified as potential economic engines.

Conversely, Mr Mmolotsi warned against the impact of high unemployment rates on government’s efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods and building resilience.

“Botswana finds herself in a challenging economic climate, grappling with high unemployment rate with over 250 000 people unemployed, 80 per cent of whom are graduates,” said the legislator. ENDS