16 Feb 2026

Bobirwa MP, Mr Taolo Lucas, has implored government to channel more resources toward fighting Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). 

Contributing to the debate on proposed 2026/27 budget recently, Mr Lucas argued that the P97 million allocated to the cause was far below par given the vastness of the country and the severity of the disease. 

He stated that agricultural demonstrators should be visible and alert across the nation, warning that FMD had the potential to paralyse the economy if surveillance remained lax. 

“To me, beef is one of the mainstays of this economy and we need to be shrewd in dealing with FMD,” he said. 

He further noted that most veterinary cordon fences and their associated control gates or pickets, had collapsed. 

He urged for their immediate repair because they were crucial infrastructure for combating the disease. 

Additionally, he highlighted that many pickets had been abandoned by officers who once monitored cattle movement. 

“An all-party conference should be called for FMD so that we can lock horns on this matter of public interest,” he said. 

Mr Lucas dismissed the budget as short-sighted, empty and lacking direction and timelines. 

He said he was surprised that the budget did not align with the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)’s manifesto, presidential policy pronouncements, the State of the Nation Address, Vision 2036 or National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12). 

“This budget does not resonate with the UDC promises and assurances made to Batswana, instead, it is just a motivational speech without any coordination,” he added. 

In contrast, Jwaneng/Mabutsane MP, Mr Omphemetse Kwapa, argued that the budget had ticked the right boxes given the fiscal challenges facing the country. 

Mr Kwapa stated that the UDC had laid its roadmap and was implementing it accordingly. 

He commended the finance minister for introducing measures for fiscal prudence, noting that expenditure controls, particularly the suspension of Government Purchase Orders (GPOs), had resulted in significant savings. 

However, he suggested that the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs should have received a larger share, as it was central to supporting rural communities. 

He also advocated for increased funding for education ministries, noting that many school buildings were dilapidated and that learners in his constituency still travelled long distances to attend classes. 

Mogoditshane East MP, Mr Letlhogonolo Barongwang, supported the 2026/27 budget for its thoroughness, arguing that government was on the right track despite the economic challenges the country continued to face. 

While acknowledging that the economy had not fully recovered,he  said there was a clear resolve to move forward. 

He noted that while GPO enforcement had successfully controlled expenditure, it should be loosened in the future for small service-based businesses that has been negatively impacted. 

He praised the 2026 budget for its shift away from diamond dependence, prioritising enterprise through the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) and private sector-led growth. 

He further suggested that government should strengthen measures to prevent financial haemorrhaging by implementing sound governance and utilising Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). 

MP for Shoshong, Mr Moneedi Bagaisamang, also supported the budget, describing it as well-packaged. 

Mr Bagaisamang explained the rationale for continuing some Development Manager (DM) projects, clarifying that those currently underway were initiated before the programme was suspended. He also commended government for initiatives aimed at revitalising rural economies. ENDS