Mogoditshane residents are set to benefit from the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), despite the absence of projects physically located within the village boundaries. 

This was revealed by the Vice President and Minister of Finance, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe, while responding to a parliamentary question on Monday from Member of Parliament for Mogoditshane East, Mr Letlhogonolo Barongwang. 

The minister emphasised that Mogoditshane was an integral part of the Greater Gaborone economic ecosystem, making its residents prime candidates for the opportunities generated by the initiative. 

Minister Gaolathe clarified that because Mogoditshane was one of Botswana’s fastest-growing areas, its workforce and entrepreneurs were well-positioned to tap into several transformative projects located within the Greater Gaborone region, including Lobatse and Thamaga. 

“Mogoditshane is indeed one of the fastest-growing villages in Botswana and forms an integral part of the Greater Gaborone economic ecosystem,” he said. 

He further noted that as economic activity expanded through BETP investments, the resulting labour market and service opportunities would naturally extend to Mogoditshane residents. 

The minister explained that the BETP was conceived and structured primarily as a high-impact economic stimulus and structural transformation initiative and its goals included economic resuscitation, value addition, export expansion, import substitution and large-scale job creation. 

Minister Gaolathe said the programme was developed following a rigorous analytical framework designed to reposition Botswana toward a diversified, export-driven and high-income economy where every citizen was employed, empowered and fulfilled. 

He clarified that project identification and prioritisation under the BETP were guided by economic criteria rather than geographic location. 

The criteria he said, included the scale of investment to be mobilised, contribution to GDP growth, potential for large-scale job creation, export development and import substitution potential, strengthening domestic value chains as well as readiness and feasibility for implementation. 

He noted that the programme had attracted 6 925 project proposals from across Botswana and internationally and following a rigorous filtration process, 186 high-impact projects were ultimately selected for implementation. 

Addressing concerns regarding specific locations, the minister emphasised that BETP projects were not categorised based on geography. 

“Approximately 60 per cent of these projects are private sector-driven investments proposed by investors who already possess land, infrastructure, or operational bases in specific areas,” he said. 

Consequently, he noted that project locations were often determined by where proponents already held assets rather than by a deliberate geographic allocation by the government. 

He indicated that the BETP was projected to mobilise over P14 billion in cumulative investment and create more than 500 000 jobs by 2036 across priority sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, financial services, infrastructure, energy and mining. 

Parliament also heard that the programme placed emphasis on skills development, industry-led training, apprenticeships and SMME participation and such interventions were designed to ensure that young people and job seekers across the country, including those in Mogoditshane, can access the opportunities generated by the programme. 

Mogoditshane East MP, Mr Letlhogonolo Barongwang, had asked for an appraisal of specific projects earmarked for Mogoditshane to address rising unemployment. 

He also sought clarity on targeted initiatives for the village, given its status as the fastest-growing village in the country with a high concentration of unemployed youth. ENDS