28 Sep 2026

Ongoing social protection reforms are critical to transforming vulnerable Batswana from dependency on government assistance to sustainable livelihoods and meaningful participation in the economy, says Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, Dr Botswiri Tsheko.

Dr Tsheko said this during a special district meeting in Ramotswa recently, where stakeholders deliberated on social protection reforms and the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP).

“Aligning social protection programmes with the BETP and National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12) will strengthen efforts to achieve Botswana’s “True North” vision of becoming an empowered, high-income nation,” he said.

“Social protection should go beyond providing immediate relief by creating pathways through which beneficiaries could acquire skills, access economic opportunities and ultimately become self-reliant”, Dr Tsheko added.

Presenting an overview of the BETP, a representative of the secretariat Ms Gomolemo Tselakgopo said the programme sought to transform Botswana into a high-income, digitally enabled and economically diversified nation.

She said government was therefore modernising social protection systems through initiatives such as the Single Social Registry (SSR), which would help improve the targeting and coordination of social assistance.

Ms Tselakgopo said the reforms were also intended to strengthen the link between social protection beneficiaries and sustainable economic opportunities. Giving the district social protection report, chief social and community development officer, Ms Mannyana Nonong, said Gamalete District currently had 1 293 beneficiaries enrolled in various social safety net programmes. She said females constituted 53.6 per cent of the beneficiaries while males accounted for 46.4 per cent.

Ms Nonong said permanent destitute persons constituted the largest beneficiary category at 48 per cent, representing 617 beneficiaries. She attributed the high number partly to persistent drought conditions and prevailing socio-economic vulnerabilities affecting communities.

She further reported that 194 persons with disabilities were registered under Social and Community Development programmes, with 25 per cent falling under the permanent destitution category. Ms Nonong said the figures highlighted the need for targeted economic empowerment programmes and interventions responsive to the specific needs of vulnerable groups.

On the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA), she said 1 942 potential beneficiaries had been mobilised in the district while 912 had received business and technical skills. She cited the Taung Women’s Community Project, Mogobane Inclusive Centre, which is run by persons with disabilities and the Otse Dam Rehabilitation initiative as examples of community-based initiatives contributing to local wealth creation.

Ms Nonong also said the Ikageng Public Works Programme continued to contribute to local development with 44 graduates from its skills development component having been integrated into mainstream artisan work.

For his part, Gamalete District council secretary Mr Jimmy McKenzie said the district was ready to support community-led development and efforts to streamline social protection delivery. ENDS