Africa-Press – Botswana. Kweneng District Council principal economist, Mr Raphael Moatswi, on Friday made call for bold and innovative project submissions under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), as government intensifies efforts to reposition the economy for sustainable growth.
Addressing the full council meeting, Mr Moatswi invited individuals, entrepreneurs, institutions and investors both domestic and international, to participate in the 12-week Call for Ideas initiative.
He described the platform as a strategic move to place the private sector at the heart of Botswana’s economic diversification and competitiveness agenda.
“Whether you have a fully developed project or just a promising idea, we want to hear from you,” said Mr Moatswi and explained that the aim was to identify high-impact, transformative initiatives that could create jobs, stimulate innovation and contribute to the country’s long term resilience.
He said selected submissions would be refined through the BETP labs, a collaborative forum bringing together government, private sector stakeholders and technical experts to co-develop implementation strategies.
Mr Moatswi also allayed concerns over intellectual property, assuring councillors that robust data security and confidentiality measures were in place to protect submitted ideas.
Councillors welcomed the transformation initiative though several cautioned about familiar challenges around implementation and readiness of support structures.
Lentsweletau South councillor, Mr Thebeyame Molefe said he was greateful for the programme describing it as a potential game-changer for Botswana’s development trajectory. However, he emphasised the need for clear mechanisms to protect citizens’ ideas from being exploited.
Boribamo East councillor, Mr Thato Tatolo echoed the same sentiments, calling the BETP ‘a brilliant initiative,’ but questioned whether critical stakeholders such as land authorities were prepared to meet the anticipated demand.
“Most transformational projects will require land to take off, yet many people in our districts are still in desperate need of land,” he said.
His concerns were echoed by Lekgwapheng councillor, Mr Mpho Segwe and several others, who cited land access as the most significant barrier to the programme’s successful rollout. “The Kweneng Land Board must accelerate land allocations if we are to see meaningful participation,” he added.
Responding to their concerns, Mr Moatswi reiterated that land access challenges would not disqualify good ideas from consideration. “If a project has transformative potential, assistance will be provided including support with land access,” he said.
The Call for Ideas remains open for 12 weeks with submissions to be reviewed based on their scalability, value creation, innovation, and alignment with national development priorities.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
