02 Mar 2025

The National Assembly last week extended the Second Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP) by seven months effective April until October 2025, unanimously voting in favour of a motion presented by the Assistant Minister for State President Ms Maipelo Mophuting.

The Second TNDP was initially due to run from April 2023 until March 2025 and thereafter the twelfth National Development Plan (NDP 12) would commence with the start of the new government financial year in April this year. The amendment means the TNDP will now run until October this year and NDP12 will only be implementable from November.

Presenting the motion to Parliament, Ms Mophuting said the seven-month extension would afford the new administration a chance to prepare adequate additional planning for NDP 12 before implemention.

“The extension will provide the new administration an opportunity to engage in extensive and intensive consultations with key stakeholders taking into consideration the aspirations of the new government,” she said.

She said the extension would also accord the recently established Advisory Council of the National Planning Commission, whose role was to provide strategic direction in the preparation of national development plans, an opportunity to play their role.

Ms Mophuting added that the Advisory Council chaired by the Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe, comprised ministers from key portfolios responsible for Finance, Trade and Industry, Local Government, Land Management along with ten members from the private sector with expertise in various strategic development fields.

Debating the motion, Mochudi West MP, Ms Unity Dow said the newly elected government was not given sufficient time to draw a national development plan. She said elections normally take place in October and by the time a new government commenced work in early November it was too close to the period of preparing the first budget of the five year national development plan cycle.

Maun West MP, Caterpillar Hikuama agreed that there needed to be a transitional period after a new government was elected to allow for a time of adjusting to government and fusing in new ideas.

Chobe legislator, Mr Simasiku Mapulanga advised that the extension should be 12 months such that the upcoming budget cycle was completed and a new development commences with a new financial year on April 1, 2026.

In accordance with article 47.1 of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, Maun West MP, Mr Goretetse Kegonegile moved a motion of amendment “that this honourable house resolves to approve the extension of the TNDP by 12 months from April 2025 to March 2026.”

However, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Major General Pius Mokgware and Assistant Minister of Water and Human Settlements Mr Motsamai Motsamai countered that the seven months extension was agreed to by MPs during their closed-door meeting at the parliamentary general assembly.

Ms Mophuting said she could confidently allay the fears of MPs that seven months would be sufficient for making any additional plans to NDP 12, and that the 2025-26 budget would still stand. Parliament then voted for the seven-month extension as initially tabled. ENDS