Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy adopted

LERATO MALEKE
Correspondent | Friday August 10, 2012 00:00

Last week the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Margaret Nasha even suggested that the debate on the policy be closed, as Members of Parliament (MPs) were taking too long on the issue.However, a sizeable number of MPs, mainly from opposition parties that Mmegi spoke to yesterday, felt that the issue was crucial and could not be decided in haste.

Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development Keletso Rakhudu said it was imperative for the Minister of Finance and Development Planning Kenneth Matambo to come up with a policy first before implementing a law.He also said the minister needed to sensitise civil servants on the policy first before going to Batswana, as they were the drivers of the said policy. 'All have to know what we mean by empowerment and the civil servants shouldn't be only those from the Ministry of Finance. Other ministries should be taken on board and that is when Batswana can be sensitised regarding the policy,' he said.

Rakhudu cited the Rural Area Dwellers (RADS) under his ministry, which he said was doing very well and hence empowering children from the disadvantaged families. Further he revealed that his ministry is working hand in hand with that of Local Government to ensure that the needy children are offered best education and at the same time taken care of by the Ministry of Local Government through the food packages and clothing that they get.He said afterwards his ministry ensures that different stakeholders, particularly government, absorbed them by giving them sustainable jobs. 'As soon as they graduate, we make sure that they get employment so that they can sustain their lives and also take care of their families,' he revealed. The minister said this is a clear indication of citizen empowerment. Among other things the minister raised a concern about the escalating number of cases where Batswana win tenders and later sell them to others because they are not capable of starting their own businesses. He said this should be discouraged and that the people responsible for awarding tenders should make sure that those who won them exactly do the jobs. He also complained about the licensing of chain stores in Botswana, which are owned by foreign companies mainly from South Africa. Instead he said government should consider giving Batswana money. He cited chicken outlets like Nandos and KFC, arguing that the chicken they sell comes from South Africa, while Batswana have obtained loans from the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) to start poultry farms.

Rakhudu's argument is that Nandos and KFC should get their supply from Batswana and stop importing from South Africa. 'What is important is for our own people to be taught the recipe for Nandos and KFC chickens. I am aware that the chicken pieces sold always have to be equal in size and therefore our own people can be taught those different recipes and hence start supplying them and sustain their lives,' he said.Meanwhile, South East North MP told the minister that the youth end up selling the land they have been allocated by land boards due to the fact that they don't have money to develop the land. 'For a sustainable human empowerment, there has to be a sustainable human capital,' he said. He also appealed to government to stop harassing Batswana who study outside, forcing them to return after completing their studies. 'Leave them to gain experience, if they get jobs, and later come back home and establish their own business and impart skills,' he asserted.