12 Nov 2025

The Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) is a rural development strategy aimed at promoting equitable access to socio-economic opportunities for remote area communities covering currently 73 settlements across the 31 districts.

The programme seeks to improve living standards through the provision of essential services such as education, healthcare, water, housing and infrastructure.

Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said this  on Tuesday when responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Tati East, Mr Tlhabologo Furniture, who had asked the minister to state what the Rural Area Development Programme entailed and the government’s intentions regarding the programme.

Mr Motshegwa said that the programme promoted economic empowerment through livelihood support, skills development and income-generating initiatives.

To strengthen its implementation, he said government introduced the Affirmative Action Framework for Remote Area Communities in 2014, which guided targeted interventions to ensure the inclusion and meaningful participation of the communities in national development.

“As outlined in the 2025 State-of-the-Nation Address, the government’s current intention regarding RADP is to undertake a comprehensive review of the programme and to formulate a policy for indigenous people in Botswana,” he added.

Mr Motshegwa further stated that such initiatives were aimed at addressing long-standing social and economic marginalisation particularly among indigenous communities such as the Khoena-ne who had historically faced displacement, exclusion and limited access to essential services.

Through the review and the new policy, the government, he said sought to promote social justice, affirm the rights of remote area communities and ensure their full inclusion and participation in national development.

The minister highlighted that the review of RADP was expected to take six to 12 months followed by six to nine months for the formulation of the policy for indigenous people. Overall, the process is anticipated to take 12-18 months. 

He said the review would start in December this year while the programme was expected to conclude between December 2026 and June 2027.

Mr Motshegwa also noted that transport assistance for officers in RADP designated remote settlements was provided as needed for official duties depending on operational requirements, settlement accessibility and available budget. ENDS