Africa-Press – Botswana. The Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane, has raised a concern about Batswana who front for foreigners, thereby defeating government efforts aimed at empowering citizens.
Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Motopi on Monday, Mr Tsogwane said some foreigners owned major stake in businesses reserved for Batswana.
Mr Tsogwane also said some public officers also played a role in frustrating government programmes.
He pointed out that the Economic Inclusion Act provided for the implementation of existing empowerment laws and initiatives as well as the effective participation of targeted citizens in economic growth and development of the economy.
A targeted citizen, he said was a citizen whose access to economic resources had been constrained by various factors.
He urged the residents to familiarise themselves with the law as it had all opportunities that could benefit Batswana and all that was left was for them to change their mindset.
Mr Tsogwane, also Boteti West MP, added that Batswana should be part of the value chain across all sectors including diamonds for them to benefit.
Furthermore, he stated that government borrowed funds to support the national budget and boost the economy.
The vice president explained that the funds were borrowed from Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Japan International Cooperation Agency.
For his part, the Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Bathusi Kutoro called for more opportunities in the tourism sector for the benefit of residents.
He indicated that human wildlife conflict was increasing at an alarming rate.
Mr Kutoro also complained that people had lost businesses and job opportunities due to the closure of butcheries following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.
He said it was not easy to access ear tags services in their village as it was only available in Rakops.
Mr Kutoro also proposed that mines should invest in villages located in its peripheries.
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