EU calls for more aid for Botswana

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Wednesday December 9, 2009 00:00

In a press conference, the head of delegation of the European Parliament's Committee on Development, United Kingdom MP, Michael Cashman, said that Botswana should not become a 'victim of its own development success, as donors discontinued their financial assistance due to the high level of the country's per capita GDP,' he said.

Cashman urged donor countries to allocate more financing for development to Botswana to allow the country to sustain and develop the substantial gains it has made.

The EU MPs also pointed out that during the economic downturn, development aid for Botswana is crucial as it would help in mitigating the impact caused by the decrease of diamond income and the subsequent revenue loss.

In a joint statement, the members of parliament who also included Netherlands MP Judith Sargentini, Cyprus MP Eleni Theocharous and Polish MP Filip Kaczmarek, said that they met government officials, executive secretary of SADC-Dr Tomaz Salomao and various stakeholders where they discussed the need for economic diversification and human resource development as a means to lessen economic vulnerability, promote employment and consequently alleviate poverty.

They expressed support for the government's efforts in strengthening the private sector, promoting foreign investment, supporting local production and developing of local manufacture as well as the tourism industry.

The MPs, said Cashman, consider regional integration and trade cooperation with other countries as essential for further developing Botswana's economy, and therefore, support Botswana's decision to conclude the interim SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

The EU delegation has also applauded Botswana's government for the country's democratic credentials. They have credited Botswana for her democracy and good management of resources as well as allowing reinvestment of the country's profits for the benefit of Batswana.

This they said has transformed the country from one of the poorest in the world to a middle-income country with good social programmes and policies, particularly in education and health care.

The legislators also commended the Botswana government for its dedication in reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence and the good treatment policies put in place.