29 Aug 2019

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Eric Molale has promised electorate that if voted back into power, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)-led government would continue to facilitate an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and thereby create employment.

Mr Molale, who is BDP parliamentary hopeful for Good Hope/Mabule said during political debates.

The debates that pitted six panelists from six political parties were held in Francistown on Wednesday touched on pertinent issues among them, employment creation, mining as well as economy.

Mr Molale said that already, the BDP-led government had moved with speed to formulate and change laws aimed at creating a conducive environment.

“We have formulated a number of laws with a view to creating an enabling environment for the private sector to find its footing and create jobs for our people,” he said.

He cited the recent amendment of the Trade Dispute Act, Assets and Declaration Bill, amendment of the Land policy as important vehicles that would go a long way at bolstering the private sector, which he said had to be at the forefront as far as job creation was concerned.

Government, he said, was charged with the primary responsibility to facilitate an enabling environment for the private sector to blossom with a view that it would in turn create employment for Batswana.

Mr Molale said further that results were coming forth fast as mines such as Khoemacau had been opened and that Cut 3 and 9 projects in both Orapa and Jwaneng mines, which were about to be commissioned, would also help create the much-needed jobs.

“We are also in the process of expanding Morupule Coal Mine in Palapye,” he said.

Real Alternative Party (RAP) National Messenger, Mr Onkemetse Lerubisi said his party believed in the notion of government establishing industries that would, in turn, employ citizens and give them decent wages.

RAP, according to its national messenger, will give P6 500 universal basic income to citizens.

He also said that the RAP-led government would have the responsibility to give people who would not be absorbed by the job market P3 250.

“People who will not be absorbed by the job market and are citizens of Botswana deserve to have a piece of the national cake and be dignified,” he said.

According to Mr Lerubisi, Botswana’s economy, which is the envy to many, has money to ensure the entire citizenry lead descent lives.

Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF)’s Mogoditshane parliamentary candidate hopeful, Mr Bruce Nkgakile said looking at the current situation, Botswana was faced with a national disaster when it comes to employment creation.

The BPF’s Youth League secretary said there was need for urgent diversification and transformation of the economy.

The policy, according to Nkgakile, could have helped increase the money supply, lowered interest rates, increased aggregate demand and boosted the growth of the economy.

Mr Nkgakile said also that there was a need to try and give incentives to investors who create jobs through the establishment of tax haven. Ends