11 Feb 2024

Government should consider project implementation and monitoring as a catalyst to the realisation of broad-based transformation and the creation of economic opportunities, Serowe North Member of Parliament, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe has said.

Debating the 2024/2025 budget proposal, Mr Mathoothe said project implementation was of paramount importance to the country’s aspirations of becoming a high-income country by 2036.

He applauded government for allocating a large share of the budget towards infrastructure development, but complained about poor implementation of projects.

“The 2024/2025 budget proposal sounds good on paper, but needs strong monitoring in order for it to produce tangible results and stay relevant to the current economic needs,” he said.

He said the development budget, which he said was the ‘economic growth driver’ should provide opportunities for employment creation. 

He said the  lack of capacity to deliver project needed a critical review as government aimed to empower citizen owned companies.

Mr Mathoothe urged the relevant ministry to ensure that projects were awarded to citizen owned companies and to reserve some constituency community projects for contractors in the immediate locality.

He said poor implementation of government programmes and projects continued to be a challenge, and that projects were experiencing cost overruns and delayed completion, which resulted in government  overspending.

He said government needed to strengthen project management, monitoring and evaluation, adding that the proposed project management division was a welcomed initiative.

On other issues, MP Mathoothe complained of rampant corrupt practices within government, saying it negated efforts to attain economic growth. 

He added that if left unchecked, corruption could destroy the country’s economy hence he urged Batswana to be part of the fight against corruption.

For his part, Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Sam Brooks hailed the 2024/2025 budget proposal, saying it would propel the country’s transformation journey.

Mr Brooks also said he was hopeful that the budget would enable government to implement some of the delayed projects.

On his constituency, Mr Brooks decried the shortage of land around the Bray area and pleaded with government to purchase some freehold farms along the Molopo-Bray area. 

He said some landowners in the area were willing to sell and that it was up to government to make an offer.

Additionally, Mr Brooks expressed support for  the proposed Thuo Letlotlo programme and pleaded with the relevant ministry to consider Kgalagadi for the launch  of the programme.   

He said the district was renowned for quality livestock breeding and that it was fitting for the area to host the programme launch. Ends