20 Feb 2024

Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile has expressed concern regarding the government’s ‘inability to deliver public projects efficiently’.

Debating the 2024/25 budget speech in Parliament last week, Mr Kekgonegile said despite the increased budget, he was unsettled by the government’s capacity to execute projects within the allocated budget and on schedule.

He said the ongoing Maun Water Works could have been completed in February last year.

He also cited the Nokaneng-Gumare road project, saying it could have been completed years ago.

On other issues, Mr Kekgonegile said although funding for sport and the creative industry had been increased, there were no protocols in place to ensure that the money would help sport development.

He said the absence of school sport created a gap in sport grassroots development, adding that the issue should have long been resolved.

Also, Mr Kekgonegile decried the contribution of the agriculture sector to the country’s economy and said more should be done. He said there was a need for roads, network connections and electricity to agriculture production areas.

While the MP for Gaborone Central, Mr Tumisang Mangwegape-Healy said the budget addressed national priorities such as infrastructure development.

However, he said government in its Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition (MICE) strategy should address the Gaborone storm water drainage, adding that while he was aware of the storm water drainage master plan, there was a need to respond swiftly to the challenge of storm-water faced by Gaborone residents.

He also said there was a need to address road infrastructure in the city as part of the MICE strategy.

He commended the introduction of the Chema Chema Fund as a noble idea, but said the money allocated was not adequate.

He described small and micro businesses as drivers of the economy and that they stood to benefit from the fund.

He added that small businesses were also important for job creation and reducing the unemployment gap.

Regarding political party funding, the Gaborone Central MP said he supported the initiative, noting that opposition parties had long advocated for it.

However, he said he hoped the money would not breed infighting within opposition parties.

He praised the ruling Botswana Democratic Party for having delivered on its mandate as contained in its manifesto such as the review of the constitution, declaration of assets and decentralisation of services. ENDS