12 Jan 2025

Pensioners will receive back pays for the delayed pension increment that was scheduled to start in November 2024.

This was revealed by the Member of Parliament for Francistown East who is also the Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Tiroeaone Ntsima, when addressing residents of Donga on Thursday. Mr Ntsima assured residents that all the promises that the new government made in their manifesto campaigns late last year will be delivered.

He added that the P1 800 promised to pensioners will be paid and all the arrears as from November 2024 will be settled. He also added that the P4 000 minimum living wage will kick start as soon as the government coffers recover as the funds available are not enough to sustain the country.

He further applauded companies such as Choppies Botswana for their efforts to improve the lives of Batswana by increasing the minimum wage of its employees to P4 000.

Mr Ntsima also stated that health would be improved so as to make sure adequate medical assistance is available to all Batswana. He also said services will also be dispersed to Batswana and those in rural setups so as to make sure that no one is disadvantaged.

“Service providers will reach all four corners of the country to better the lives of our people," he added.

Mr Ntsima highlighted that sports had proven to be an art and a source of income for a lot of people, therefore all sporting codes would  be revived in schools to nurture talent at a young age. He said infrastructure development would also be given priority so as to up the standard of the country’s infrastructure and attract more investors.

He noted that Francistown will be developed to a 21st century city standard so that people are interested in investing in the city hence creating better jobs for residents.

For his part, Donga Ward Development Committee chairperson, Mr Ernest Makopo, said illicit drugs like CAT are common in Donga. He added that there are bars in Donga that bring business to them but they also harbour negative activities like theft and car breakings.

Mr Makopo also said the Donga Clinic is next to Donga bars and criminals from the bars jump the fence into the clinic thereby compromising the safety of patients and staff. He advised that the clinic be electrified for security reasons.

He also added that Anti-Retrovirals (ARVS) are now dispensed at the clinic, an improvement worth celebrating. He complained that the Donga Clinic does not have a resident Medical Doctor though it services a lot of people thus asking the Minister to assist in availing one for residents.

Furthermore he said the rise in unregistered churches and people being robbed money from such gatherings and the owners disappearing into thin air is a concern. He advised the council to closely monitor churches and make sure only those licensed operate.

For his part, Mr Benedict Machola, a Donga resident, said the small businesses they try to establish are being evicted by the council, a practice that increases youth unemployment in the area.

He said the structures they use for businesses are expensive to construct and it will be a loss to them advising the council to help them legalise their businesses and operations.

Mr Mmoloki Mosutlha, a teacher, said unemployment is a major concern therefore early retirement should be considered to pave way for the unemployed youth. He also added that building a peaceful Botswana should be added as a core mandate of the new government to make sure social ills are avoided. ENDS