Ideally, this budget presentation is supposed to be in billions of Pula as many sectors of the economy look to the government for stimulus packages, as well as providing a safety net for the vulnerable citizens who have lost jobs due to the effects of the global economic downturn. This has been happening in well-endowed economies as well. Unfortunately ours is a different world, where government revenues have been seriously depleted, possibly leading to what could be the thinnest budget in Botswana's recent history. Instead of announcing a salary increment for civil servants, Matambo may instead announce more belt-tightening measures, reducing expenditure and chopping off certain projects and programmes to focus on priority areas like education and health.This is where President Ian Khama should be seen to be realistic in the interest of prosperity. Indeed, Khama has come into office with a number of ambitious, desirable ideals that would surely take us somewhere as an economy if pursued to the letter, and may God prosper those plans for the good of us all. However, we do not want to be seen to be singing praises blindly in this hour of need and ahead of the budget presentation, we request the President to consider suspending the Constituency League, which over the last financial year gobbled up well over P40 million. Certainly the nation can do without constituency leagues more so that social football, which keeps young people busy, is played in every village and settlement in this country, making it unnecessary to reinvent the wheel. We learn that tens of millions of Pula are also to be poured into yet another initiative for constituencies, this time to be known as Constituency Arts Competitions. While the initiative may indeed be proof that the President cares much about our cultural heritage and works hard to promote the arts and sports, the timing of the programme is unfortunate, and we implore the President not to spare the axe on these programmes, so that these millions can be used to increase allowances for the Ipelegeng programme, which is both putting bread on the tables of many Batswana in urban areas, as well as helping councils and the central government to save money in certain key projects.We hope Matambo's budget will go down in the annals as yet another balanced, thoughtful and inspiring budget for the common good of the people of Botswana.
