Bame Piet
13 November 2009
analysis
President Ian Khama is delivering his first State of The Nation Address as the head of a government elected under his leadership this morning, BAME PIET looks at some of the issues Khama is likely to -or should -cover in this important speech
Justice and Security
With 191 cases reported since the beginning of the year to-date, compared to 184 reported for the same period last year, the latest Weekly Police Report shows that murder is on the increase. The number of people who have died in road accidents has gone up to 378 from 365 for the same period last year. However, rape and theft of motor vehicles have gone down significantly. Armed robberies where guns and knives WRE used have also gone down slightly with 1,808 cases reported this year compared to 1815 reported for the same period last year. Passion killings also need the President's urgent attention and deserve the setting up of a team of experts to investigate the causes."Criminals come from all backgrounds, as do their victims," said the President on November 3 last year. "We shall continue to fight crime, including corruption, through better strategies that are being developed for prevention, policing and prosecution. I am pleased to report that we are already seeing success as a result of these strategies."
Fourteen suspected robbers have been shot dead by police since the beginning of the year, including unarmed suspects. The President promised to employ 2 ,050 additional police last year, but at the beginning of this year, an announcement was made to the effect that that would not be possible because of the economic recession. The purchase of three helicopters for the new Police Air Support branch should have made a difference that the President should reflect upon. Corruption? We shall be listening. The President perhaps forgot to mention during his inaugural address that his government would do things in a transparent manner. The President should also make a statement on the achievements of the Judicial Case Management System introduced two years ago.
HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse
By this time last year, there were over 110,000 people on ARVs and a reported reduction in mother-to-child HIV transmission from 40 percent 10 years ago to 4 percent at the moment. President will definitely recognise this improvement."These programmes have come at a great cost - last year we spent over P 1.4 billion, of which almost 90 percent came from our own resources," Khama said. "No amount of money, however, can compensate for the need for greater commitment. Drugs can only do so much. Discipline will do the rest." The recent report of the Botswana Aids Impact Survey III conducted by the National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA) shows that the AIDS-related mortality rate has gone down, although prevalence is still a challenge.
Minerals, Energy, Water Resources
The global recession is likely to have impacted on government's intention to make Botswana a major international diamond centre, after a slowdown in diamond demand worldwide. Debswana was forced to close some of its mines to cut costs. The establishment of a diamond hub to increase benefits from beneficiation initiatives is underway. It is hoped that the hub will create jobs and contribute to GDP growth by encouraging such downstream processes as cutting and polishing, jewellery manufacturing and local trade in rough and polished diamonds. Diamond exports are said to be recovering steadily, which the President should reflect upon. According to latest figures, diamond exports totalled P9.3 billion below the forecast of P13.9 billion while the previous year's exports were P21.3 billion. Other mineral exports were similarly affected.
Botswana's foreign reserves depreciated by 11.1 percent over 12 months to July, but are also said to be recovering. The foreign debt stands at P12.3 billion. Progress made on the connection of households to the national electricity grid, especially with regard to the 98 villages that were earmarked for connection over the past 12 months, and the standardisation of electricity connection fees last April, should also find a way into the President's address. The President will also report on progress made at Mmamabula and Morupule II Power Stations. He might also say something about the likelihood of electricity tariffs going up because Eskom, from where we source much of our power, wants to increase tariffs by 100 percent in next year. How many Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have so far shown interest in Botswana? The President should say something.
Works and Transport
The end of Botswana Railways' passenger train service in April this year was a blow to travellers between the north and the south of the country. The President should state if there are any plans to re-introduce the highly popular service, even by private operators.
Progress on major projects, among them the Kazungula Bridge, the Dry Port at Walvis Bay, the Trans-Kalahari Railway, and the Mmamabula-Ellisras-Mosetse-Kazungula Rail Links must attract the attention of the President's address, as should the upgrading of the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport as well as airports in Francistown, Kasane, and Maun.
Agriculture
This is one field where the President will report good news because of the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) introduced last year to develop commercial farming and reduce food imports. With the coming of an Agricultural Hub, many people are now showing interest in agriculture. Another major initiative to be reported on is the Zambezi Agro-Commercial Integrated Development Project whose objective is to develop agricultural production on a large commercial scale in northern Botswana. Fortunately, there was no large-scale outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease this year, while the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Neo Moroka, reported a growing demand for Botswana beef in Europe. The President is likely to announce more programmes to encourage livestock agriculture.
Health
There should be a progress report on the establishment of a Health Hub to identify projects and programmes aimed at making Botswana a centre of excellence in the provision of healthcare services. "There is no doubt that we have excellent health facilities, but we lack the human capital to optimise their quality of service," Khama said last year. "It is owing to this that we rely heavily on our neighbour, South Africa, for some of the specialised care we require." The government recently announced the opening of a cardiac clinic at the Scottish Livingstone Hospital in Molepolole. President Khama should encourage young Batswana health professionals in the diaspora to return home on the basis of better salaries and generally improved conditions. "Not many Batswana can afford medical expenses for complex ailments requiring organ transplants and specialised therapies," the President has noted. Will he now call for an all-embracing health insurance law?
Education and Skills Development
The mid-year fiasco that rocked the sponsorship of students at tertiary institutions should be explained in this address. Progress on the Education Hub should also be reported. Its intention was to reduce external placements and to promote quality education, training and research into such fields as science and technology, business management, mining and hospitality and tourism.
Labour and Home Affairs
The minister attended the official opening of a Seventh Day Adventist Church building last Sunday in Tlokweng where he expressed concern at the mushrooming of churches in Botswana, especially in and around Gaborone, as a result of schisms in established denominations. He said the emerging trend of commercialisation of the gospel was disturbing. The occasion came only a few weeks after the government cancelled the exemption of work and residence permits on non-citizen pastors. The President should also report good news regarding the security of Botswana passports.
Youth, Sports and Culture
This is one of the areas where the President will say a lot about progress made and his intentions for the coming year.
Environment, Wildlife and Tourism
Environmental degradation is a source of serious concern. Illegal sand mining is rampant in Kumakwane, Thamaga, Ramaphatle and in the Metsimotlhabe River, just a few kilometres west of Gaborone, leaving dangerous burrow pits and no land for ploughing or grazing land.
Public Service
"If government is to be truly 'for the people', its public service must be efficiently staffed with men and women who appreciate that their vocational existence is premised upon the expectations of their customers - the public," Khama said last year. "I also have quarterly briefings with all ministries. I have further warned that failure to perform, at both the political and official level, will have consequences." Immediately after winning the 2009 elections, he said: "Jaanong Ke tlile go ba kgarametsa go re ba baakanye. I do not want to be a President who just shows off his power. You are my witnesses, that I have been interacting with you in humble ways, including coming here riding on a bicycle. I have already started my job as the President. I am adding another 'D' to the Four Ds I introduced when I took over last year. I am introducing the fifth 'D' for Delivery. You are going to see us deliver; you shall be the witnesses."Some people are in trouble. Word is out that some permanent secretaries will be shown the door in the next few weeks if they fail to deliver. A meeting with US President Barack Obama should definitely have impact on the way Khama approaches some things.
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