SONA falls flat in Phikwe
Imi Mokgethi | Thursday December 8, 2016 17:07
Lesego Moffat said he had expected President Khama to give a detailed report on the government’s measures that are in place to address the situation in Selebi-Phikwe and to ensure that the town does not turn into a ghost town.
He added that though the President mentioned that there is an economic revitalisation strategy for SPEDU region, he should have gone into details of how exactly it is going to provide solutions.
“The current economic situation in Selebi-Phikwe is a countrywide problem that is highly likely to have an immense negative impact on the whole county’s economy. It is for this reason that I feel the SONA should have given it more attention and take us step by step on exactly how the economic recovery plan is going to work. The President has just left us with more questions than answers,” he said.
Another resident Chedza Samuel-Moyo shared the same sentiments, indicating that she was disappointed, as her expectations were not met. She explained that she had expected to hear how the planned economic recovery plan was going to benefit the retrenched workers as well as the local business community who have been affected by the mine’s closure.
“When exactly is this economic recovery plan going to be implemented? Were the residents thoroughly consulted before it was finalised, as they are the key stakeholders? I hoped to get these questions answered today, but unfortunately I did not and I wonder if this plan’s implementation will be successful?” she wondered.
Thakadiawa ward councillor Evelyn Kgodungwe also expressed disappointment saying the expected job opportunities from the economic recovery plan would not cater for the retrenched BCL mineworkers.
“This recovery plan that the President talked about has left out the ex- miners. We had expected the President to tell us the future of BCL as it’s re-opening is the only solution to Selebi-Phikwe crisis,” Kgodungwe said. Councillor for Botshabelo South, Molefhe Molatlhegi pointed out that the President’s remarks were the usual utterances by ministers that do not give many details about how the planned job creation initiatives will cater for all residents in the region. He highlighted that it is not only former BCL mine employees who are affected.
Molatlhegi explained that he had expected the SONA to outline government’s measures to attract private investors to Selebi-Phikwe whom he said are critical stakeholders in the economy.
“SPEDU has been here for a very long time but we still do not see what they have done to improve the region’s economy and I doubt if this time around they will be able to effectively implement this economic recovery plan,” he said.
In his address on Monday, President Khama highlighted that, to secure Selebi-Phikwe’s future, government is implementing a robust economic recovery plan coordinated by the former Bank of Botswana governor Linah Mohohlo.
Khama further noted that the plan includes provision for the accelerated implementation of the SPEDU economic diversification framework coupled with further public and private investment.