19 Feb 2023

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi has emphasised the need for Botswana to improve on national productivity and competitiveness in efforts to realise the national vision 2036 and future prosperity. 

Minister Mokgethi, also  Gaborone Bonnington North Member of Parliament, said this recently in her contribution to the debate on the proposed 2023/2024 budget. 

She said the vision 2036 aspiration to transform Botswana to a high income economy status with an export-led economy underpinned by inclusive sustainable growth could only be attained through high levels of productivity. 

The minister said she was happy that the 2023/2024 budget proposals emphasised the importance of productivity as a critical catalyst in the implementation of infrastructure projects. 

Further, she highlighted the need for government to empower the Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC). 

“BNPC is body set up through the Parliamentary Act with a mandate to stimulate cautiousness and educate the public on productivity in Botswana and promotion of productivity in all sectors of the economy,” she explained. 

She said BNPC was however receiving minimal government support, saying 90 per cent of funds allocated to it was spent on staff remuneration, leaving only 10 per cent to carry out its mandate. 

She said the Minister of Finance should have mentioned, in the budget speech, the importance of productivity as a factor that would lead Botswana to attain a high income economy status. 

Ms Mokgethi, therefore called for adequate resourcing of BNPC to enable it to carry out its mandate. 

“Productivity is key to the monitoring of economic progress and high level of productivity is an assurance of the utilisation of resources to produce goods and services,” she added. 

Botswana, she said, had recently observed a decline in the levels of productivity levels, something she cautioned could threaten the country’s economic growth and job creation. 

“The recently released Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) report on productivity and competitiveness in Botswana painted a gloomy picture of the country’s productivity rate,” she said. 

For his part, Gaborone Central MP, Mr Tumisang Mangwegape-Healy commended government for continued efforts to recover the economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Government deserves the applaud for making significant progress in building the foundation for continued economic recovery through registering an impressive 11.8 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth post the pandemic,” he said. 

The legislator emphasised mindset change amongst Batswana, urging them to continually learn and apply new innovations that would contribute positively to the country’s economic status.  “There is need for Batswana to build, develop and encourage a culture of flexibility and innovation where individuals are results orientated,” he added. 

The MP applauded the finance minister for not increasing Value Added Tax on commodities despite the surge in inflation. 

He also implored government to revamp the Ipelegeng programme and introduce a universal social grant. Ends