In the National Assembly itself sat 57 legislators representing a kaleidoscope of sometimes competing interests at constituency level. In the public gallery were dozens of interest groups ranging from captains of the private sector, SMMEs, unionists and NGOs. In tents provided for the public outside, more interest groups and ordinary folks milled about, each with unique as well as shared expectations and hopes about the budget. Following the allegory, Matambo needs to be commended for a valiant effort in sharing a small cake among the numerous, often divergent and vociferous, interests. For the captains of industry in the private sector, a healthy P10.08 billion development budget on various ongoing public works, including road construction and village infrastructure, as well as numerous other projects such as the Walvis Bay dry port. For SMMEs, a P1.84 billion budget for the repair and maintenance of public facilities and assets, as well as bountiful opportunities expected in government's aggressive outsourcing project.
For ordinary Batswana, P530 million in the Ipelegeng programme, another P163 million in various poverty eradication initiatives, as well as numerous employment opportunities spinning off government's continued support to the private sector and foreign investors. This list of initiatives and allocations is not exhaustive nor the benefits mutually exclusive by any measure, with citizens being the ultimate beneficiaries of a well-resourced and growing economy.
