Matsheka bemoans mistreatment, Lobatse challenges
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday November 28, 2023 06:00
Opening his address, Matsheka extended his regards to the people of Lobatse, Barolong, and the nation at large. He began with a sombre reflection on his service, asserting "it will forever remain a blemish and a clear sign of leadership and institutional failure" in reference to the treatment he experienced from his own government.
"The painful irony about Lobatse is that its past is celebrated more than its future. It remains a true victim, if not an example, of underdevelopment," Matsheka expressed concern for Lobatse. He said the trust and belief in him was further demonstrated over the kgotla meetings that he held recently. “It is at these meetings that one gets to appreciate the gap between what the government is doing and the expectations of the people. It is when one really gets to appreciate the development gaps in our country.
The meetings are uncomfortable as you know, but we can actually do better. I humble myself and confirm that the best of our people are not in this house. They are not here. We are, therefore, challenged to do more as we are watched and listened to by the best who are not here. We have to remain humble and know that we are servants of our people. We are not the best of our people,” he said. Speaking on the National Planning Commission and NDP 12, Matsheka expressed disappointment.
"It does not excite me that the plan would be aligned to election years," and calling for a "complete mindset change to national planning." His dissatisfaction extended to the approach of constituency-based planning, saying, "We have not moved an inch... It is still a constituency-based planning scheme." Matsheka drew attention to the economic challenges, asserting "venturing into uncharted territory" and expressing concern about the impact of subsidies on government revenue. "When we adopted efficient government spending as a cornerstone of the ERTP [Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan], it was a call for a critical eye on programmes that will have value for money," he added. On private sector development, he emphasised the need for balance. "It's a delicate balance between citizen participation and private sector development. "Citizen inclusion and empowerment should not constrain the entire private sector but grow it," he urged.
"The bedrock of any democracy is strong institutions," he said, highlighting reported cases of judicial interference. "Judicial independence is threatened by judicial interference," Matsheka declared, expressing worry about the state of key institutions. In his concluding remarks, Matsheka thanked the Kgomo Khumo Operation for cattle control and addressed border security. "The fences are gone and thus no control. The police commissioner, we need protection for our businesses and farming projects," he said.