Matambo exalts Khama

Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Kenneth Matambo paid tribute to President Lt. Gen. Ian Khama when delivering his last budget speech under the latter’s leadership on Monday. Matambo, an experienced economist who previously worked for International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) is one of the Khama’s chosen men who came into both cabinet and parliament through the specially-elected ticket. Although it was the last budget speech under Khama’s reign, it also happens to be the first budget speech parliamentary seating to convene in the morning. Speaking to

The Midweek Sun, Speaker of the National Assembly, Gladys Kokorwe said Standing Order No 24.1 and 24.2 allow the speaker to convene parliamentary seating at any time of the day. “I called for the seating on Monday morning because I had a very important official assignment on the afternoon of the same day. It is the kind of engagement that demands that I should not delegate, but rather attend in person.”

Matambo expressed gratitude for the support accorded to his ministry in general and to him personally. “I was fortunate to have a supportive head of state who understood that prudent economic management was part of good governance.” Switching to Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Matambo said he has no doubt that he too will “continue to support us” in the development of this country. Matambo said that under Khama’s leadership, Botswana was amongst the few countries which managed to withstand the impact of the 2008/9 global economic and financial crisis.

“By maintaining an expansionary fiscal policy stance, the government was able to save jobs, both within the public service and the private sector, while investing in critical economic and social infrastructure such as water, energy, roads, schools and health facilities”. He said that to ensure fiscal sustainability, the budget deficits resulting from the expansionary policy stance, were highly contained to the extent that instead of totalling P31,9 billion as originally projected over the entire NDP 10 period, the cumulative deficit was only P9.2 billion.

Further, the adoption of the Economic Stimulus Programme in 2016/17 aimed at boosting economic growth, promoting economic diversification and creating jobs amid weak recovery of both the global and domestic economy. He described this as an example of forward looking and bold leadership by the president.