President Mokgweetsi Masisi delivered his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the 2024 general election this week. A cursory observation of what most of his listeners wanted to hear from the speech suggest that Batswana are interested in job creation, with unemployment rate at a staggering 26%. The President’s speech was 83 pages long populated with 280 paragraphs and 16 200 words.

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The word ‘jobs’ or ‘job creation’ was mentioned 15 times; while the word ‘employed’ or ‘employment’ was mentioned 7 times. At the 99% of specific instances the words were mentioned, the President referenced with specific number of jobs created or to be created.

The President’s speech was anchored on four pillars of the National Vision 2036, namely: Sustainable Economic Development; Human and Social Development; Sustainable Environment; and Governance, Peace and Security.

For context as to where the jobs mentioned by President Masisi will come from, he shared that Government has developed a National Transformation Strategy for the effective implementation of the long-term Vision. Masisi said the strategy prioritises Mining, Tourism, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics, Trade, Sport and Creative Industry, Financial, Knowledge and Technology, Real Estate and Business Services sectors. “Their prioritisation is based on the potential for high economic growth, competitive advantage, job creation, as well as value chain development, and their positive spill-over effects on the overall economy,” he said.

The President’s speech makes mention of a cumulative figure of 52 460 jobs created since his last address to the nation. The bulk of the high value jobs are mentioned under the mining sector which accounts for17 965 direct and indirect jobs. There a huge chunk, 19 682 jobs which were generated through 29 social welfare and economic programmes. Other jobs drip in from other sectors such as construction, creative arts, power generation, manufacturing, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) among other sectors.

According to the speech on paragraph 7, Mining and Services sectors contributed the most to domestic investment, as well as to FDI. The total number of jobs created through the FDI, Domestic Investment and Expansions stood at 4,229 during the 2022/23 financial year.

Paragraph 45  gives an elucidation on 15 citizen youth owned companies, at a total value of P60 Million in 2022, P100 Million in 2023, and expecting yet another P100 Million in 2024, have been contracted for the development of e-services; Masisi proclaims that this has created high-tech jobs – he did not share specific number of jobs created.

Paragraph 84 discusses the Debswana Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme of 2019, of which a total of 11, 233 direct and value chain jobs have been created. “So far, P17 Billion against a target of P20 Billion) by the end of 2024, has been spent on fuel, lubricants, drilling, crushing, repairs and maintenance of equipment,” the President says.

Masisi punctuates the Debswana CEEP in paragraph 85 when he elaborates on the other positive spin off in that Botswana will no longer import PVC pipes as Flo-Tek in Ramotswa will be producing them. “We will no longer import flocculent as plant will be set up in Jwaneng and Orapa, Tyre pyrolysis factory will be set up in Jwaneng. The two 28 projects will create two thousand four hundred (2400) jobs at inception.”

Continuing to demonstrates how mining is pushing the employment creation agenda, President Masisi in paragraph 87 shares that Morupule Coal Mine has supported six hundred and forty jobs from their citizen spend of Three Hundred and Forty-Two Million Pula. He says since inception in January 2022, the citizen spend stands at P491 million.

There are more jobs pronounced in paragraph 90 of the SONA. President Masisi says Tshukudu Metals Botswana has secured the extension of their mining lease in September 2023, and will in 2024 embark on the expansion of the mining project, including the upgrading of the ore processing plant capacity from 3.2 million tonnes of ore to 5.2 million tonnes of ore per annum. The expansion project is estimated to cost P1.2 Billion and will create more job opportunities.

In paragraph 91 it is explained that currently, Tshukudu Metals Motheo Copper Project has a total of 1,500 employees and contractors, 97 percent of whom are Batswana. President Masisi says the project has an initiative to empower communities through training and upskilling, and has thus facilitated employment of 160 persons from communities around the mine, particularly Gantsi and the surroundings areas.

Masisi proclaims in paragraph 93: “… there is a budding, albeit huge coal mining project in the Mmamabula area comprising Jindal and Mookane Coal Mine. The companies are expected to produce 4.7 metric tonnes and 2 metric tonnes of coal per annum as well as electricity respectively. These are modularized and scalable even for possible exports.”

Ventilating jobs in paragraph 94, President Masisi says once completed, these projects whose construction has begun, are expected to create a combined minimum of 1,500 permanent jobs and other economic activities in the area. He says the project is expected to contribute to energy security, as well as generate export revenue for Botswana.

Paragraph 95 of SONA further speaks to jobs in the mining sector. According to President Masisi, in the past two years, Botswana has observed the establishment of diamond cutting and polishing companies increasing from 23 to 46. He says this has increased employment in the sector from 2 207 to 4,239, as at September 2023. This is a growth of almost 93 percent. “Citizen participation in the upstream, mid and downstream diamond industry is still Government’s priority,” he says.

The President mentioned other sectors that are contributing to job creation, such as the commercialisation of the creative industry which presents a huge opportunity for Batswana creatives to generate employment and wealth, especially for the youth.

In paragraph 101 Masisi says the National Arts Council has started its operations by issuing grants to winning proposals in various categories of arts and crafts. In his words, “This has resulted in the engagement of 19 Youth Production Companies in the Industry. During the 2022/23 financial year, P15 Million was spent on local Content 32 Acquisition, as a way to continue creating economic activity in the Film and Television Industry.”

Furthermore, paragraph 102 says 27 programme series sets have been acquired thereby, creating employment for 220 people within the creative industry value chain, such as production teams and actors. Masisi says more local content will be acquired in the financial year 2023/24 to be played on Btv 3, the readiness of which is at 85 percent.

In paragraph 138 President Masisi makes mention that Government has entered into a 30-year strategic agreement with an Independent Power Producer, Jindal Energy Botswana for 300 Megawatts Power Plant, with scope to expand to 600 Megawatts. He says the agreement entails opening of a new coal mine and power station in Mmamabula. The ground breaking ceremony was conducted on 6th October 2023.

Furthering this theme in paragraph 139 Masisi says this is one of the largest single foreign direct investment in Botswana, estimated at over Twenty-Eight Billion Pula (P28 Billion), covering development of the mine, power plant and associated infrastructure. Speaking directly to employment creation, he says during the construction phase, it is expected that five thousand (5,000) jobs will be created, followed by one thousand (1,000) permanent jobs during operations.

Another job spinner is enunciated on paragraph 145 wherein the North West Transmission Grid Connection Phase 2 Project, an extension of Phase 1 that was successfully completed in 2021, is discussed. The President says the Project will connect the North West region and Chobe region to the Botswana Power Corporation main transmission grid. “The Phase 2 Project promises not only to provide reliable power supply, but also to catalyse economic growth and support critical regional development initiatives,” he says.

In paragraph 146 Masisi explains that the project represents a significant step towards ensuring sustainable and prosperous communities, especially for the Chobe region that has a huge potential in agriculture and tourism. He says the Project is estimated to be completed in December 2026, and will create over five hundred (500) jobs during the construction phase.

29 social welfare and economic programmes are discussed in paragraph 150 of the SONA. These aim to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and mitigate the vulnerabilities of the citizens, by availing options for earning a decent living, Masisi says. Community development based programmes such as, cooperatives, Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) and Local Economic Development are examples of such programmes.

For emphasis, in paragraph 151 President Masisi indicates that Government has invested over P2.85 billion in the Constituency Community Programme to fund 4,929 projects across all 57 constituencies since its inception five years ago. According to the President, these projects have employed a cumulative total of 19,682 Batswana. These include public infrastructure projects such as classrooms, recreation and internal roads.

Masisi says this programme will continue to be implemented for all constituencies including the new ones, but will be restricted to internal roads. He says particular attention will be given to ensuring that local resources including equipment are mobilised for greater Batswana participation. We will continue monitoring and evaluating the projects to ensure timely and quality delivery. “This is part of our broad strategy to fight youth unemployment,” he declares.

In paragraph 173 President Masisi shares on the Youth Development Fund which he says continues to be utilised to fund youth start-ups across multiple industries and sectors. He says between 2021 and 2023 approximately P157 Million was disbursed in support of youth projects. He states that this created a total of 264 jobs in the corresponding years. Since its inception, the Fund has disbursed One Billion, One Hundred Million Pula, (P1.1 Billion) and in the process creating about twenty-two thousand eight hundred and twenty (22,820) jobs, Masisi says.

203. In September 2023, highly specialised spinal operations took place at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital as a first step in the provision of complex surgical procedures. Eight spine operations were successfully conducted on patients in collaboration with an American company, CTL AMEDICA, which is seeking partnership with Botswana Government to manufacture artificial spinal parts. More opportunities, jobs, research, knowledge economy, transfer of skills, value chains, export led economy!
204. We are already realizing the benefits of these initiatives through private sector investment. For example, I recently launched a waste paper recycling factory in Mogoditshane. The facility and the existing ones create value chains, job opportunities, and new markets.

Security sector will also create job opportunities. “It is, however, regrettable, that the country has experienced a wave of violent, intrusive and gruesome crimes in recent years resulting in the need for more urgent interventions. As I indicated in the last SONA, the Botswana Police Service recruited one thousand (1,000) trainees who completed their training in March 2023,” says President Masisi.

In paragraph 251 Masisi indicates that an additional cohort of 1,000 recruits is currently undergoing training and is expected to graduate in April 2024. He says this increase, in human resources will provide for the introduction of City Policing Units in Gaborone and Francistown, fully fledged Kgomo-Khumo policing, 28 police station across the country.

In conclusion, Masisi makes sure that he makes mention of the international relations as the Chief Diplomat. He says to date, a total 100 Batswana are employed by regional and international organisations such as the Southern African Development Community and the World Bank. He says by the 31st July 2023, Batswana filled 10 out of 28 positions at the African Union (AU); this includes senior positions such as Director of strategy, more opportunities especially for managerial positions remain available for Batswana, he declares.

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