VP promises fair and prosperous Botswana
11 Feb 2025
The Vice President has assured Hukuntsi residents that government is resolute at positioning Botswana as the best managed country and a model of unity, fairness and prosperity across the African continent.
Addressing the residents in a kgotla meeting yesterday, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe, who is also Minister of Finance, therefore called on all to take part in resuscitating the economy and bringing the nation together.
“We need to understand that Rome was not built in one day. We will attain all our aspirations gradually,” he said.
He acknowledged that the new administration inherited government that was plaqued with systematic inefficiencies, which hindered progress.
Also, he said government was determined to resuscitate the Botswana Meat Commission through putting in place a strong management team, which would be able to secure partnerships to lead in the revitalisation of the commission.
Mr Gaolathe promised the residents that government would do everything in its power to nip corruption in the bud.
On issues bedeviling people with disabilities (PWDs), Mr Gaolathe said government was committed to reviewing and enacting disability specific legislation aimed at addressing challenges faced by PWDs.
He said there was a need for a holistic approach to addressing all their grievances and challenges.
“I have to admit that PWDs face challenges on their daily lives, which includes inaccessibility to public buildings and public transport, lack of financial assistance and lack of adequate health care which is an impediment to their lives,” he said.
He said current polices were outdated and out of sync with global trends on people with disabilities issues.
“This reduces PWDs into objects of pity and recipients of charity hence the need to focus more on their human rights not discretionary rights,” he said.
He said government was therefore on the process of creating laws premised on the principles of universality, equality and non-discriminatory, which were embodied mainly on human rights.
Meanwhile, the Vice President commended the district for the Zutshwa Salt Mine project, adding that the new government was keen on opening market for businesses in Botswana, adding that focus would also be aimed at seeking export market for the project.
For his part, Member of Parliament for Kgalagadi North, Mr Reason Lekhutlane thanked government for increasing the old age pension allowance from P830 to P1 400.
Though government had promised to increase the allowance to P1 800, he said he was optimistic that it would fulfill its promise once funds permit.
He also pleaded with government to assist in the expansion of Zutshwa Salt Mine project so that it became fully functional.
He said the mine had the potential to create more jobs for Batswana.
In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Merapelo Tshweneyagae decried shortage of water supply and implored government to expedite the plan in availing water in the district.
“We need this project to succeed in order to address the increasing water demand in our constituency, the current water bowsing plans are inefficient and unreliable,” he said.
On the poor state of access roads from Hukuntsi to settlements surrounding the village, he pleaded with government to construct the Ncojane-Hukuntsi road, saying it would connect Hukuntsi with other villages such as Hunhukwe, Ukhiwe, Maake, among others.
Kgosi Tshweneyagae also decried poor state of infrastructure at Hukuntsi Primary Hospital and clinic. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Thuso Kgakatsi
Location : Hukuntsi
Event : kgotla meeting
Date : 11 Feb 2025
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