In the face of projected drought and projected food hikes, we want to call those in authority to do all in their power to save Batswana from the jaws of poverty, from which, if allowed to slip through, they actually may never recover.
More specifically, we call on government to take steps towards preparing for what will, no doubt, be the difficult stretch of month ahead before the rainy season comes again.
The poor are once again going to be the greatest victims.
With unemployment already at unbearable levels, it will no doubt be a very cold winter for many of our people.
Fuel prices are already too high, with that pushing all prices too high.
Even before the current drought, many people were already struggling to make ends meet.
It will only get worse.
What is important, however, is for government to continue to be steadfast and resolute in its effort to overhaul the agricultural sector.
Botswana’s agricultural potential remains very much below optimal levels.
While rain, climate and soils are a big issue, there also are other factors like underinvestment, hostile policies, corporate governance, ethical impropriety and misplaced priorities that all undermine the sector’s potential.
Early indications are that many countries in Southern Africa will be in a similar or worse position.
This will inevitably deny Botswana sources from which to buy.
Because demand will be high, prices will also go high.
The best we can do, as a country, is to raise sufficient money to be able to enter the international market in a position of strength.
Plans should also be put in place to make sure that the little grains and cereals that we have are preserved.
While we call on government to intervene to help the poor in times of crisis such as this that we are in, we want to call on Batswana to always remember the fact that the work of supporting poor people is best not done by government but by families.
There is no doubt that on account of many difficulties our social fabric has over the years encountered many strains. But still families should help those of their own who are hardest hit.
Where families are for any reason themselves unable to help, it should be the job of charities to assist.
As much as is humanly possible, the state involvement should be an article of last resort.
This is because other than politicizing the assistance, the state is often heavily laden with top-down bureaucracy which, instead of delivering assistance, is more concerned with its own upkeep.
Botswana government has a laudable history of cushioning poor people during times like these.
We are aware that, as a result of economic difficulties, government’s capacity to continue doing that like it did in the past has been significantly eroded.
But still there are many Batswana who, in times such as these, have nowhere else to look but to government.
In that regard, we once again call on government to scrounge around and do what can be done to save people from starvation.
