14 Feb 2024

Plans for the construction of 200 housing units by Botswana Housing Corporation in Mochudi are at an advanced stage.

Contributing to the 2024/2025 budget proposals debate on Monday, Kgatleng West legislator, Mr Mmusi Kgafela said it was pleasing that the corporation had already secured land for the  housing units.

He said construction of the houses would boost the economic status of his constituency through job creation and the impact on the local businesses.

“The impact of infrastructure development on the economy cannot be over emphasised and the provision of infrastructure is equally essential as it creates a conducive environment for economic prosperity and efficiency,” he said.

He also commended his constituents for the spirit of self-reliance they  demonstrated through pledges and donations towards the construction of  the kgotla shelter in Mochudi.

Mr Kgafela urged government to fulfil its promise of relocating the Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital from its current location to a more customer friendly site.

He said the current location of the hospital was inaccessible to the elderly people and those with disabilities as it was on a hilltop.

Mr Kgafela added that the hospital was not only inaccessible, but was also dilapidated, saying there was need to align healthcare facilities to global standards and to improve conditions for healthcare practitioners.

Mr Kgafela, who is also Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, said  government remained steadfast in supporting local innovations by transforming the ideas into commercially tradeable goods and services through the provision of a conducive business environment.

He stated that Botswana was striving to be an Intellectual Property (IP) driven economy hence it enacted laws such as the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act of 2006 and the Industrial Property Act of 2010.

The acts, he said, would strengthen the protection of intellectual property and domesticate international conventions, treaties, protocols and agreements which provide standards for IP protection.

Additionally, Mr Kgafela applauded government for introducing reforms and creating a enabling business environment.

He said the efforts had led to the licensing of 47 large scale manufacturing companies in recent years.  

He also noted that the restriction on the importation of bottled water had yielded  positive results as over 48 new local companies trading in bottled water had entered the market following the restrictions. ENDS