It�s elections, endear yourself to voters � Ntuane
Gothataone Moeng | Thursday March 27, 2014 12:47
In his response to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) budget proposals this week, Ntuane said there is nothing to be ashamed of in creating such programmes, as it is a common strategy the world over.
“The more programmes you finance, the more voters you get. It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Ntuane told Parliament.
Ntuane also commented specifically about the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), which, according to Minister Dorcus Makgatho-Malesu funded 139 projects at a cost of P203 million in the 2013/2014 financial year. In the 2014/2015 financial year, CEDA will be given a P340 million subvention.
CEDA grants citizens loans for the expansion of their businesses, from a revolving fund started with seed capital from government.
According to Malesu, 4,302 projects have been funded at a cost of P8.55 billion since the inception of the agency.
This week, Ntuane suggested that the agency should be given more funds; saying doing so may endear voters to the administration of the day.
“In an election year, people need to be given goodies,” he said.
He suggested that the P130 million that was earmarked for the acquisition of property in Walvis Bay, Namibia, a deal from which government has since withdrawn from, should be re-directed to CEDA.
Ntuane, who called CEDA the flagship programme of the MTI, also called for the agency to enlist ambassadors from successful beneficiaries of the programme, saying this would show the agency as effective and accessible to ordinary people.
“What’s wrong with having Honourable [Gibson] Nshimwe’s face on a billboard, saying I got a CEDA loan and my business has succeeded?” Ntuane, who revealed that he is also a CEDA beneficiary, asked. He also disclosed that he has noticed a question to be asked in Parliament that would seek to reveal legislators, judges and other high-ranking officials who have benefited from CEDA.
Ntuane also called for the establishment of a bridging micro-fund within the agency for small businesses who seek to graduate to the next level but do not qualify for poverty alleviation programmes.