20 Nov 2025

Government is working on stabilising the economy and will ensure the national economic cake benefits all citizens, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ignatius Moswaane has said. 

Debating the State-of-the- Nation Address (SONA) on Wednesday, Francistown West Member of Parliament (MP) Mr Moswaane said having inherited an economy that had depleted coffers, it would not have been prudent to immediately implement social spending. 

“But, after working on stabilising the economy, the government would make good on their promise to implement a P4 000 living wage, P2,500 students’ allowance, P1,800 old age pension scheme and P300 child grant among other social benefit initiatives.”

Mr Moswaane said the government was also working on ensuring that the country’s economy broadened its income revenue streams in order to become more sustainable. He called on government to invest in making Francistown more economically viable as the second city in the country. 

He said there was adequate land in Francistown and the surrounding areas, including an empty land at Gerald Estates and the Tati land that had been acquired by the state. 

The designation of Francistown as a transport and logistics special economic zone should lead to the relevant investment to generate jobs, income and wealth, Mr Moswaane said.

Rural areas in part such as Ngami, Okavango, Chobe, Ghanzi and Kgalagadi, he said were poverty stricken, but had strong potential if the right investments were made. 

Letlhakeng MP, Brigadier  Domcaza Mokgwathi said the Botswana Economic Transformation Plan would be the goose that lays the golden egg of job creation, economic regeneration and poverty reduction that would be pursued through the 12^th National Development Plan (NDP 12).

He said government sought to make meaningful political, economic, social and technological change, which would be addressed through NDP 12. 

Brigadier Mokgwathi said land reform and the Bonno National Housing Programme, as well as the distribution of water and solar energy countrywide would also uplift the livelihood of rural communities such as those in his constituency.

He expressed delight at the proposed Letlhakeng Primary Hospital project and Letlhakeng-Kaudwane road, which had long been sought by the constituents. Brigadier Mokgwathi said the residents of the villages to be connected by the road, Diphuduhudu, Hatsalatladi, Ngware and Botlhapatlou were excited at the proposed development. 

He said better healthcare and social protection would be realised through proposed policies such as the national health insurance that the government had committed to pursuing, to ensure that all citizens had access to quality health. ENDS