Gov’t secures P50m to electrify 33 villages

In his address, Moagi said electrifying the villages will contribute to the country's Vision 2036 which aims to improve the standard of living for its citizens. He said electricity is essential to the transformation of the nation’s economy from middle to a higher income status, adding that this is to ensure that the country’s gross domestic product rises from 4.3 percent achieved in 2016 to 5.7 percent. “This can only be achieved through digitalisation, value chain development, and mindset change as part of the country's reset agenda,” Moagi said. He remarked that it would be tragic if the villagers chose not to take advantage of the new development even though the government had lowered the installation cost. “The government took a deliberate decision to reduce the electricity connection fees to P2,500 so that everyone can have access to electricity,” he added. The government may eventually think about providing free electricity installation for low-income Batswana so that every home in the country gets electrified, he noted. According to Moagi, integrated plans for producing electricity using coal, wind, and solar energy are under development to serve the most isolated villages.