18 Feb 2014

The Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Ms Dorcas Makgato-Malesu says government has been able to create employment, beneficiate the mineral sector and diversify the economy.

Debating the 2014/15 budget proposals on February 17, Ms Makgato-Malesu said all these had been achieved despite that the country faced challenges.

Ms Makgato-Malesu, who is also the Minister of Trade and Industry, said government had been able to create 16 900 jobs and P7.23 billion was invested in the local economy.

She said government had been able to transform the diamond industry such as all the sales in the diamond pipe line from mining to sales was done in Botswana resulting with creation of jobs.

About citizen economic empowerment, she said there was policy in place and government was able to diversify the economy as the non-mining sector had continued to register growth.

The government, she said, had through its Monetary Policy attained a low inflation rate which was within the Bank of Botswana objective range and also a favourable exchange rate. Ms Makgato-Malesu said foreign reserves were set aside for a purpose and cannot just be used.

She said given the small size of the economy, government was not able to create unemployment benefits hence establishment of Ipelegeng scheme. She however called for investment in infrastructure development saying this would be sustainable as there would be return on investment.

For his part, Nkange legislator, Mr Edwin Batshu said the government was not embarrassed by events at Morupule B saying they were also doing something about it hence another company had been roped in.

He said the intention of the government was to see ISPAAD benefiting farmers, hence its commitment to its promise to enhance the people’s welfare and livelihood. This, he added was also demonstrated by the President’s interaction with Batswana.

MP Batshu, who is also the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs said the amount of money spent on recurrent budget means students would be able to receive their education, more clinics would be opened, medication would be available for Batswana and peace and tranquility would continue.  
He welcomed backlog eradication saying hopefully schools in his constituency would benefit from it.

MP Batshu called on citizen contractors to keep an eye open if they are to benefit from the P12.24 billion earmarked for development. He however called on them to be patriotic and to ensure they complete projects on time and within budget.

He reiterated what the Minister of Finance and Development Planning Mr Kenneth Matambo’s said in his speech calling for parties to the Bargaining Council to conclude negotiations in order for public service salaries to be increased.

He said the Advisory Board would also meet to discuss minimum wage adding that if there were going to be increases in public service salaries, Village Development Committee (VDC), old age pensioners and Ipelegeng personnel also might benefit.

MP Batshu further said the government would continue to tackle unemployment adding that where foreigners are engaged, their work permits must not be renewed where there are qualified Batswana to do the job.

MP for Okavango, Mr Bagalatia Arone called upon the government to come up with programmes that would impact positively on the lives of youths. He said education is currently failing to give the country a return on investment due to the poor performance of the students.

MP Arone said unemployment amongst the youth was increasing and said there should be collaboration between the Minister of Education and Skills Development and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.

He said the budget should have an evaluative strategy; the finance minister must first brief the nation on the achievement of previous budgets before presenting new proposals.

The Okavango legislator said he was concerned that Ngamiland has been at the worst receiving end in terms of resource allocation. ENDS