07 Nov 2023

A value chain roadmap that was developed in 2023 to operationalise the Integrated Waste Management Policy of 2021 is meant to unlock economic benefits from municipal solid waste and electronic waste, which will open opportunities for enterprising ideas around recycling waste and generating income streams.

Delivery the State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said Botswana was resolute in her pursuit of environmental sustainability through the four priority areas being; a Healthy Environment for Healthy Nation; Sustainable Management of Natural and Cultural Resources; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, as well as Integrated Development for Sustainable Human Settlements.

He said the private sector was pivotal in designing products for reuse and repair using renewable and recycled materials

“We are already realising the benefits of these initiatives through private sector investment, for example, I recently launched a waste paper recycling factory in Mogoditshane.

The facility and the existing ones create value chains, job opportunities, and new markets,” he said.

In June this year, government installed automated water quality monitoring equipment along the Chobe and Okavango rivers for continuous monitoring of water quality to enable quick and speedy response to any pollution threat.

Meanwhile, a total of 57 880 residential plots were allocated to eligible Batswana by the end of June 2023 and an additional 72 095 residential plots across the country have been surveyed and will be allocated in various areas.

“The government has since independence used every available opportunity to reform our land tenure systems and the reform includes the acquisition of freehold land for village expansions, township developments and provisions of grazing land to communities,” he said.

President Masisi further noted that  the North East District was one of the districts which had experienced shortage of land due to the existence of free hold farms especially in the hands of the Tati Company Limited.

He announced that the government had made a decision to acquire the remaining land belonging to the company, measuring about 45 000 hectares.

The decision, he said, demonstrated  government’s commitment to avail land to Batswana for socio-economic development and attainment. ENDS