12 Feb 2014

The Member of Parliament for Bobonong, Mr Shaw Kgathi has said the present administration has shown commitment to youth empowerment and development.

Debating the 2014/15 national budget proposals on February 11, MP Kgathi said the recurrent budget allocation of P757 million for the next financial year was a clear demonstration that the government took issues affecting youths seriously.

The Bobonong legislator, who is also the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, said to show its commitment, government has over the years constantly increased Youth Development Fund (YDF) from P30 million to P120 million.

Standing on a point of clarification, MP for Tonota South, Mr Pono Moatlhodi said despite the increase youths found it difficult to access the funds and MP Kgathi said it was a surprise to hear that as MP Moatlhodi has previously told him contradictory remarks.  

MP Kgathi said 20 per cent of local government procurement has been reserved for youth businesses to advance their course, adding that the recurrent budget allocation of P757 million also shows government’s commitment.

He told the house that despite the economic difficulties the country experienced, the government took a deliberate decision to continue funding culture and sporting activities as it has realised they could provide a source of livelihood for the youths.

The legislator said it was during such difficult times and government remained committed and Botswana eventually managed to scoop its first ever Olympic medal.

About 110 youths have been sponsored in cultural exchange programmes and the government has also spent P3.6 million on President’s Day activities, he said.

MP Kgathi castigated Botswana Congress Party (BCP) saying its funding by Britain’s Labour Party was tantamount to a coup as it is aimed at unseating the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

Making his contribution, MP for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele said the Minister of Finance and Development Planning has issued contradictory statements as during the presentation of 2013/14 budget proposals he said Dikgatlhong and Thune Dams were completed in 2012.

However, the minister when he presented the 2014/15 budget proposals indicated that Dikgatlhong and Thune Dams have been allocated P200 million and P100 million for their completion respectively. He said the minister should have also updated the nation on the performance of the hubs.

MP Makgalemele said Parliament has adopted numerous motions calling for the fast tracking of establishment of sub districts and fast tracking of health services, but the minister’s budget proposals have not taken these into consideration.

He however said he was happy the minister has highlighted measures to be taken against poor project implementation as it has robbed Batswana the much needed developments.

MP Makgalemele said he was happy the minister has talked about priority on maintenance, funding of economic infrastructure such as water and energy and completion of ongoing projects.

He proposed that Ipelegeng should have a capacity building component to equip people engaged in the social welfare programme with necessary skills that would enable them to start their own businesses.

Mr Makgalemele called on local entrepreneurs to position themselves saying they should look into how they could benefit from the P12.24 billion development budget and the P220 million earmarked for backlog eradication. ENDS