15 Feb 2016

The distribution of projects under the Economic Stimulus Programme will ensure that as many Batswana as possible benefit from the programme.

Vice President Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said this during the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) youth wing council held in Mosu on Saturday.

Mr Masisi, who is also the BDP chairperson, said particular attention had been given to the geographical spread of projects so that all sectors and regions of the country were impacted by the programme.

He noted that within a geographical location, the distribution of projects amongst companies would also be done to ensure that strong companies do not crowd out and exclude smaller ones.

The Vice President said deliberate and targeted actions had been made to make the delivery of ESP different from business as usual. The programme, he said, was intended to benefit and empower Batswana.

He said the programme objectives were to stimulate economic growth, accelerate job creation and promote economic diversification.

He noted that the private sector has been included in order to augment and complement the capacity of the public service, particularly with regard to construction projects,.

He also noted that some processes such as the Environmental Impact Assessment studies have been re-engineered and streamlined to improve turn-around times and facilitate infrastructure development.

Procurement guidelines, he said, have been revised by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) to make it easier and quicker to procure goods and services.

The Vice President said the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and the Financial Intelligence Agency have come up with guidelines to minimise opportunities for corruption and ensure that the fast tracking process was not used to bypass the necessary checks and balances as well as oversight processes.

Furthermore, he stated that successive BDP governments have played and continue to play a major role in creating jobs for Batswana.

The BDP chairperson said the government should play the role of a facilitator and allow the private sector to be the drivers in creating decent and sustainable employment.

The government, he said, has continued to develop policies and programmes geared towards creating employment opportunities for Batswana.

Some of the challenges that have necessitated the government to create more jobs, he said, include the 19.8 per cent unemployment rate affecting the youth.

He implored Batswana to come together with a shared commitment to a people centred development, saying local borders were open for international partners to come in and participate in making the Economic Stimulus Programme benefit  all.

He urged Batswana to partner with the government in creating new opportunities of growth as well as to improve their lives and dignity.

In addition, Mr Masisi said some unions have decided to defy the Public Service Act, adding that politics were not supposed to meddle with the country’s developments, hence the need for unions to consider looking into this reality. Ends