01 Dec 2024

The Development Manager Model, which was used by the previous administration for various development projects across the country came with great costs.

Selebi Phikwe East Member of Parliament, Mr Kgoberego Nkawana said when debating State-of-the-Nation Address on Thursday that the model drained the country’s coffers.

He said through the model, project costs were inflated which came at a huge cost to the country.

Further, Mr Nkawana said deserving and qualifying Batswana and their companies were overlooked in favour of foreign contractors hence, the  suspicions that the model could have been used for corrupt practices.

He supported that the model be halted for evaluation.

Also he said programmes introduced by the previous government needed to be assessed and suggested that Chema Chema loans be cancelled because beneficiaries were given far less than what they applied for, which hampered implementation of businesses they wanted to engage in.

Mr Nkawana said there was need for the country to invest more in the agriculture sector in order to be self-sufficient.

For instance, he said farmers should be assisted to drill boreholes, to enable them to provide water for their animals and crops.

Shoshong MP, Mr Moneedi Bagaisamang said the country was on a transformative journey from the policies of the Botswana Democracy Party and such was a process and not an event.

He thus appealed for the nation to be patient with the Umbrella for Democratic Change as it would eventually fulfill its election promises.

Mr Bagaisamang said his constituency which included Mosolotshane, Otse, Mokgenene and Poloka villages  as well as settlements for underprivileged communities would benefit from the government’s affordable housing scheme.

He said Shoshong Constituency also stood to benefit from government economic revitalisation programmes.

The constituency has great potential as it is home to three mines, what has been lacking is political will to develop it, Mr Bagaisamang said.

 He said the past government had many programmes that exploited young people such as Tirelo Sechaba, National Internship and temporary teachers, and called on government to employ those engaged  under the programmes.

Mr Bagaisamang said there was too much wastage in government which could be stopped and funds channeled towards job creation, to address unemployment. BOPA