20 Jun 2023

 There is need for Batswana to return to the spirit of self reliance, which is one of the principles that fashioned the country’s socio-economic path from a poor state at independence to the current upper middle-income status.

Francistown West Member of Parliament, Mr Ignatius Moswaane made the remarks during a kgotla meeting he addressed at Monarch customary court on Monday.

“I am especially concerned by the attitude of some of the youth who  spend a lot of time watching television and not doing anything to improve their livelihood,” he said calling on residents to take advantage of available government programmes to better their lives. 

He criticised some youths whom he said tended to be choosey on the programme they wanted to undertake saying, the attitude could only impoverish them further. 

The MP therefore called young people to be mindful of the harsh realities of the economy and engage in economic activities that could turn their lives around.

“Ke kopa gore re nne tshaba e e itirelang. A re boeleng kwa marakanelong a ditsela,” he told residents stating that Ipelegeng programme was not a permanent job but a relief meant to cushion people from abject poverty.

He said active participation in the economy of the country was the responsibility of every Motswana. 

“We expect you to register companies, bid for tenders and take a slice of the annual budget as citizens by way of doing business with the government,” he said. He said the tendency of some people to apportion blame on the government for their livelihoods needed to be shunned. On others isues, MP Moswaane said he was not happy with the unavailability of drugs at clinics, which he said was not commensurate with the budget allotted to the portfolio ministry.

“The same goes for the dire lack of stationery prevailing at schools,” he said calling for the need to improve the status quo by the relevant ministries. 

The increasing number of litigations by people contending for tenders, Mr Moswaane relayed, also worsened the situation.

On substance abuse, MP Moswaane implored parents to join hands with the police and nip the problem in the bud.  “The problem is that many of you turn a blind eye to the abuse of drugs. Report drug peddlers to the police,” he pleaded. Also, MP Moswaane implored Batswana to desist from holding expensive funerals that he said oftentimes left bereaved families broke. ENDS