17 Aug 2026

Chief of Staff, Dr Oupa Tsheko, has called for a comprehensive mindset shift in the implementation of the country’s social protection programmes to ensure that government spending results in tangible improvements in beneficiaries’ lives rather than perpetual dependency.

Addressing the Chobe District Development Committee on Friday, Dr Tsheko said government was not seeking to dismantle social safety nets, but would assess their effectiveness as part of the upcoming review of the social protection framework.

He said the ultimate objective was to ensure that beneficiaries’ lives were fundamentally transformed through the programmes.

Dr Tsheko said the issue of “government dipping” was multifaceted and extended beyond vulnerable populations, urging citizens to remain open-minded when scrutinising who benefited from state resources.

He advocated for increased local procurement, saying deliberate sourcing of goods and services from domestic suppliers could empower communities and stimulate sustainable economic growth.

Dr Tsheko also said community trusts would be thoroughly assessed during the review to determine how trust funds and other collective resources could be better reinvested in communities to create sustainable livelihoods.

Briefing the delegation, Chobe District Deputy Council Chairperson, Mr Mpho Sibanda, said restoring dignity to Batswana living in Chobe required a systematic approach to community upliftment.

“DDP 9 aims to directly improve the quality of life and livelihoods of our people, hence identifying universal access to healthcare services is a pivotal intervention of the plan,” he said.

Mr Sibanda said DDP 9 would focus on equitable service delivery, boosting regional productivity and fostering social cohesion.

He cited challenges in healthcare delivery, gaps in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and persistent supply chain deficiencies as some of the key hurdles affecting local governance and development.

Mr Sibanda said the Pandamatenga farms produced abundant grain annually, presenting an opportunity for local social services to procure food baskets directly from farmers. ENDS