06 Apr 2025

 Botswana’s economic growth has always been driven by diamond revenues, a commodity whose demand has slowed down.

This therefore calls for a paradigm shift and government must seek ways to actively pursue diversification efforts and reduce reliance on diamonds by promoting other sectors as agriculture, tourism and financial services that will stimulate economic growth. Vice President, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe said this when addressing a kgotla meeting in Ghanzi on Friday. 

He also underscored the importance of citizen participation in planning and implementation of economic development policies and programmes. He encouraged residents to explore different sectors and leverage on beef production, which Ghanzi was currently dominating.

Mr Gaolathe spoke of the importance of revenue collection by Botswana Unified Revenue Services and called on residents to do their bit and help the organisation achieve its mandate, adding that tax revenues fund infrastructure development across the country. He said prudent financial management would be ensured, to reduce wastage and over expenditure.

Mr Gaolathe also said government was committed to revitalising State-Owned Enterprises such as Water Utilities Corporation, Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) and Botswana Power Corporation among others by reviewing governing laws and regulations that would ultimately promote prudent financial management, to enable them to sustain themselves in the future.

He said government recognised the potential of Ghanzi farmers and others across the country, and would come up with operational changes at the BMC, to foster a more competitive environment that would increase participation from other players in the meat industry.

Village development committee secretary, Ms Keodiretse Tsenene had complained about BMC monopoly, lack of maintenance of Kuke cordon fence, inadequate storm water drainage system, poor academic results and delayed construction of Meriting Primary School and an additional junior secondary school.

Member of Parliament for Ghanzi and also the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salakae explained that government had not abandoned the school projects and would be constructed once funds were available together with others that were pending.

Mr Salakae further said government was working round the clock to find a permanent solution to Kuke cordon fence, to erect an electrical fence that would control animal movement between Ghanzi and Ngamiland districts. He stated that they would continue with community engagements to ensure that diverse perspectives were incorporated in economic development planning processes.

Kgosi Annah Rankho, for her part, acknowledged the ongoing infrastructure development in Ghanzi, which she said would facelift the township. Such she said included, serviced commercial and residential land, power supply, internal roads, water supply and distribution networks as well as wastewater treatment plant and sanitation services. She however, said social ills such as gender-based violence, bullying in schools, alcohol and drug abuse were on the rise in the areas hence called for collaboration with stakeholders to fight them. ENDS