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YOUR VOICE IN PARLIAMENT

THE FIRSTTHE SECOND MEETING MEETING OF THE OF THE FIFTH FIFTH SESSION SESSION OF THEOF ELEVENTHTHE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAYWEDNESDAYTUESDAY 13 0727 NOVEMBER NOVEMBERFEBRUARY 2018 2019 2018

ENGLISH VERSION HANSARD NO. 192

DISCLAIMER Unofficial Hansard This transcript of Parliamentary proceedings is an unofficial version of the Hansard and may contain inaccuracies. It is hereby published for general purposes only. The final edited version of the Hansard will be published when available and can be obtained from the Assistant Clerk (Editorial). THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER The Hon. Gladys K. T. Kokorwe PH, MP. DEPUTY SPEAKER The Hon. Kagiso P. Molatlhegi, MP South

Clerk of the National Assembly -- Ms B. N. Dithapo Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly -- Mr L. T. Gaolaolwe Learned Parliamentary Counsel -- Ms M. Mokgosi Assistant Clerk (E) -- Mr R. Josiah CABINET His Excellency Dr M. E. K. Masisi, MP --President

His Honour S. Tsogwane, MP. (Boteti West) --Vice President

Hon. F. S. Van Der Westhuizen, MP. (Kgalagadi South) --Minister of Local Government and Rural Development

Hon. D. K. Makgato, MP. (Sefhare - Ramokgonami) --Minister of Transport and Communications - Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Hon. N. E. Molefhi, MP. (Selebi Phikwe East) - Administration

Hon. S. Kgathi, MP. (Bobonong) --Minister of Defence, Justice and Security -Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Hon. O. K. Mokaila, MP. (Specially Elected) - Tourism Hon. B. Arone, MP. (Okavango) --Minister of Basic Education Hon. M. N. Ngaka, MP (Takatokwane) --Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs

Hon. O. K. Matambo, MP. (Specially Elected) --Minister of Finance and Economic Development

Hon. V. T. Seretse, MP. (Lentsweletau - Mmopane) --Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development

Hon. T. Olopeng, MP. (Tonota) --Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Hon. Dr U. Dow, MP. (Specially Elected) --Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation -Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Hon. T. Mabeo, MP. (Thamaga - Kumakwane) - Development Hon. Dr A. Madigele, MP. (Mmathethe - -Minister of Health and Wellness Molapowabojang) - -Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Hon. E. M. Molale, MP. (Specially Elected) - Security Hon. K. Mzwinila, MP. (Mmadinare) --Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Hon. T. S. Khama, MP. ( West) --Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development

Hon. P. P. Ralotsia, MP. (Kanye North) --Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security

Hon. B. J. Kenewendo, MP. (Specially Elected) --Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Hon. B. M. Tshireletso, MP. (Mahalapye East) --Assistant Minister, Local Government and Rural Development Hon. M. M. Goya, MP. () --Assistant Minister, Investment, Trade and Industry -Assistant Minister, Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Hon. D. P. Makgalemele, MP. () - Development -Assistant Minister, Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Hon. F. M. M. Molao, MP (Shashe West) - Technology

Hon. K. K. Autlwetse, MP (Serowe North) --Assistant Minister, Local Government and Rural Development

Hon. G. B. Butale, MP. (Tati West) --Assistant Minister, Health and Wellness

Hon. T. Kwerepe, MP. (Ngami) --Assistant Minister, Basic Education

-Assistant Minister, Land Management, Water and Sanitation Hon. I. E. Moipisi, MP. (Kgalagadi North) - Services -Assistant Minister, Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Hon. M. R. Shamukuni, MP (Chobe) - Administration

Hon. K. Markus, MP. (Maun East) --Assistant Minister, Agricultural Development and Food Security MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND THEIR CONSTITUENCIES

Names Constituency

RULING PARTY ( Democratic Party) Hon. Dr P. Venson-Moitoi, MP Serowe South Hon. S. M. Guma, MP Tati East Hon. C. De Graaff, MP South Hon. P. M. Maele, MP Lerala - Maunatlala Hon. L. Kablay, MP Letlhakeng - Lephephe Hon. S. Lelatisitswe, MP Boteti East Hon. J. Molefe, MP Mahalapye West Hon. P. Majaga, MP Nata-Gweta Hon. M. I. Moswaane, MP West Hon. B. H. Billy, MP Francistown East Hon. E. J. Batshu, MP Nkange Hon. S. Kebonang, MP Lobatse Hon. K. S. Gare, MP Moshupa-Manyana Hon. M. R. Reatile, MP Specially Elected OPPOSITION (Umbrella for Democratic Change) Hon. Adv. D. G. Boko, MP (Leader of Opposition) Gaborone Bonnington North Hon. G. S. M. Mangole, MP West Hon. A. S. Kesupile, MP Kanye South Hon. N. S. L. M. Salakae, MP Ghanzi North Hon. Dr. T. O. M. Mmatli, MP South Hon. S. Ntlhaile, MP Jwaneng -Mabutsane Hon. M. I. Khan, MP Molepolole North Hon. Kgosi Lotlamoreng II Goodhope - Mabule Hon. D. L. Keorapetse, MP Selebi Phikwe West Hon. S. O. S. Rantuana, MP Ramotswa Hon. K. M. Segokgo, MP Tlokweng Hon. B. M. Molebatsi, MP Mochudi East (Alliance for Progressives) Hon. W. B. Mmolotsi, MP Francistown South Hon. Maj. Gen. P. Mokgware, MP Gabane-Mmankgodi Hon. N. N. Gaolathe, MP Gaborone Bonnington South Hon. S. Kgoroba, MP Hon. Dr P. Butale, MP Gaborone Central Hon. H. G. Nkaigwa, MP Gaborone North (Independent Member of Parliament) Hon. T. Moremi, MP Maun West TABLE OF CONTENTS THE SECOND MEETING OF THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY, 2019

CONTENTS PAGE (S)

SPEAKER’S ANNOUNCEMENT...... 1

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER...... 1 - 4

Appropriation (2019/2020) Bill, 2019 (No. 1 of 2019) Committee of Supply Organisation 0300 - Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (Resumed Debate)...... 5 - 9

Organisation 0800 - Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development ...... 10 - 29

Organisation 0500: Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security...... 30 - 34

Wednesday 27th February 2019 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Wednesday 27th February, 2019 Convention of 1951 which states that they have an equal right to elementary education and subsection THE ASSEMBLY met at 2:00 p.m. 2 of the same Article 22 (ii) that affords them the (THE SPEAKER in the Chair) right to education other than elementary education;

P R A Y E R S (ii) how many of them have received Government sponsorship for tertiary education in the last 10 * * * * years; and if none, why.

SPEAKER’S ANNOUNCEMENT Later Date.

MR SPEAKER (MR MOLATLHEGI): Order! Order! ADVERTISEMENT FOR RE-ALIGNMENT OF Honourable Members, good afternoon. Good afternoon THE GAMBLING AUTHORITY STRUCTURE Honourable Members? MR D. L. KEORAPETSE (SELEBI PHIKWE HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Good afternoon Mr WEST): asked the Minister of Investment, Trade and Speaker. Industry to state:

MR SPEAKER: Today, we have very important (i) whether there has been an advertisement calling visitors in the public gallery. They are from the National for companies to bid for the re-alignment of the Assembly of Wales; from the Welsh Parliament. Gambling Authority structure; and

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… (ii) if there are plans to change the scope of the project to restructure and the number of jobs targeted for MR SPEAKER: Hold on; hold on. They are led by the scrapping off. Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly of Wales, Madam Elin Jones. If you may rise Madam or show ASSISTANT MINISTER OF INVESTMENT, some indication. She is accompanied by Honourable TRADE AND INDUSTRY (MR GOYA): Thank you Rehuun ApLorwerth, a Member of Parliament and very much Mr Speaker and a very good afternoon to the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary you. Association (CPA) Branch in Wales, and their official, (i) Mr Speaker, in July and August 2017, the Mr Aldavies. You may now welcome them to Parliament. Gambling Authority published an advertisement HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… in the local newspapers requesting companies with the relevant experience to undertake the MR SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Members. Let re-alignment of the Authority. A total of eight us do questions. companies responded to the tender. The tender was awarded to a citizen-owned company. The work of QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER this company is planned to be completed by 31st GOVERNMENT SPONSORSHIP FOR March of the year of our Lord, 2019. STATELESS PERSONS AND (ii) Finally, Mr Speaker, there are no plans to change REFUGEES the scope of the project to restructure. The Authority will be guided by the outcome of the MR M. R. REATILE (SPECIALLY ELECTED): Report. I thank you Mr Speaker. asked the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security to state: MR KEORAPETSE: Supplementary. Thank you Mr Speaker, thank you Honourable Member. Honourable (i) how many stateless persons and refugees qualified Minister, I just wanted to find out why is there a need to re-align the Gambling Authority structure when it is a for university and tertiary education after relatively new parastatal? completing the Botswana General Certificate in Secondary Education (BGCSE) in the last 10 years MR GOYA: Thank you very much Mr Speaker. There given that the Convention relating to the Status of is a need to re-align this company, new as it is, because Stateless Persons of 1954, Article 22 (i) read with we have realised that there are some issues that need to

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be addressed and these issues, we can only get those ACTING MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND with the technical know-how of how we should address COMMUNICATIONS (MR MOKAILA): Mr these issues within the Authority. I thank you. Speaker, my ministry has never undertaken any investigation to establish the impact of using unqualified NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES SENT FOR FURTHER STUDIES AT THE MINISTRY OF land surveyors against the variations in bill of quantities ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES and therefore, we have no findings of the kind sought by CONSERVATION AND the Honourable Member.

TOURISM Mr Speaker, we do not have unqualified land surveyors in our establishment. I thank you Mr Speaker. MR M. R. REATILE (SPECIALLY ELECTED): asked the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources STATUS OF DRONE TECHNOLOGY IN Conservation and Tourism to state the number of BOTSWANA employees who have been sent for further studies at Masters level and provide the breakdown by MR A. S. KESUPILE (KANYE SOUTH): asked the departments: Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology to state: (i) if none; why employees are not being sent for further studies; and (i) the status of drone technology in Botswana; and

(ii) the amount spent on consultancy services for the (ii) agencies that are destined for its initial acquisition past five years. and use.

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL ASSISTANT MINISTER OF TERTIARY RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND TOURISM EDUCATION, RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND (MR MOKAILA): Good afternoon Mr Speaker. I am TECHNOLOGY (MR MOLAO): Mr Speaker, sure from the question, you know it is a very involved answer, but I will summarise it by saying, over the (i) As the Honourable Member probably would past five years, we have sent 33 people for Master’s know, drones are flying robots. They are also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), that level training, and we have spent around P541,531.22. is, they fly without a pilot on-board. Two of my I have provided the detail in tabular form by year by institutions are doing some work on drones and department in terms of who went for further studies. these being the Botswana Institute of Technology, Thank you Mr Speaker. Research and Innovation (BITRI) and the MR KEORAPETSE: Supplementary. Honourable Botswana International University of Science and Minister, are these trainings normally preceded by Technology (BIUST). BITRI has a drone which is licenced. Their plan is to use it in Agriculture training needs assessment? related research, specifically for crop harvesting MR MOKAILA: Well, it depends on what the job purposes. wants Mr Speaker. As we develop, as a ministry and (ii) Mr Speaker, BIUST meanwhile has a joint departments in various fields and the need arises, then research project with the Botswana Defence we send people based on the needs. Thank you Mr Force (BDF) on the development of drone Speaker. technology from scratch. Let me point out that IMPACT OF USING UNQUALIFIED LAND BIUST is delivering teaching and research on SURVEYORS AGAINST THE VARIATIONS IN robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, THE BILL OF QUANTITIES mechatronics, computer engineering, et cetera that are essential for the development of drones MR N. S. L. M. SALAKAE (GHANZI NORTH): and other robotic technologies. It is anticipated asked the Minister of Transport and Communications that the collaborative effort between BIUST and whether any investigation has been undertaken to BDF will result in the development of drones that establish the impact of using unqualified land surveyors can be used for diverse purposes such as anti- against the variations in the bill of quantities and if so, poaching, border patrol, delivery of medicines, what are the findings. just to mention a few. I thank you Mr Speaker.

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NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES SENT FOR (ii) I am quite aware of the importance of linking FURTHER STUDIES AT THE MINISTRY OF Omang, Passport, Driver’s License and Birth DEFENCE, JUSTICE AND SECURITY Certificate, hence my ministry’s commitment to develop an integrated person’s identification MR M. R. REATILE (SPECIALLY ELECTED): system that will include the biometric data of a asked the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security person, starting next financial year. to state the number of employees who have been sent for further studies at Masters level and provide the (iii) Mr Speaker, this notwithstanding, Omang is breakdown by departments: currently interfaced with the Passport, Driver’s License and Birth Certificate. Once the integrated (i) if none; why employees are not being sent for system is in place, it will be linked to the Integrated further studies; and Patient’s Management System (IPMS) that will (ii) the amount spent on consultancy services for the have full details of the person’s medical data, past five years. including blood group information. I thank you Mr Speaker. Later Date. MR KGOROBA: Supplementary. Honourable MR SPEAKER: Minister of Land Management, Water Minister, there are people whose Omang have been put and Sanitation Services! Are the responsible Ministers on hold for over two years now. I think their issues have still not here? a lot to do with these Bills that are being drafted. What HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… do we say about them because without an Omang, one’s life stops completely? MR SPEAKER: Okay, let us go back to question number two by Honourable Molebatsi. Honourable MS TSHIRELETSO: Mr Speaker, I did not get his Molebatsi, you came in late, this question could have question properly, he is talking about the Omang that has been dealt with. If you have a question on the Order been put…, I do not know. Put where? …(Inaudible)… Paper, make sure you are on time. Why? All Batswana are free to have their own Omang. Any Motswana who applied for Omang has been given PROGRESS REGARDING DUAL CITIZENSHIP their Omang, so maybe he can clarify his question. Thank you Mr Speaker. MR B. M. MOLEBATSI (MOCHUDI EAST): asked the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender MR SPEAKER: Try again Honourable Kgoroba. Affairs to state: MR KGOROBA: Yes, Honourable Member. There are (i) progress regarding dual citizenship as some people some Batswana … are yet to make decisions on their citizenship status; HONOURABLEMEMBER:…(Inaudible)… MR KGOROBA: No, I am not confused. Those whose (ii) if he is aware of the importance of linking Omang, Omang expired have been confiscated, it has been over Passport, Driver’s License and Birth Certificate; two years now, and their issues have a lot to do with this and Bill which is being drafted. Therefore, we are saying, without Omang, your life stops completely. This Bill has (iii) if it is not opportune to consider including blood halted a lot of things even depriving some from getting group type on identity cards. Omang. ACTING MINISTER OF NATIONALITY, MS TSHIRELETSO: Mr Speaker, may I repeat my IMMIGRATION AND GENDER AFFAIRS (MS answer; (i) the Citizenship Amendment Bill dealing TSHIRELETSO): I am standing in for him Mr Speaker. with dual citizenship has been put on hold for further (i) The Citizenship Amendment Bill dealing with consultations. Then I said, this is because it has been dual citizenship has been put on hold for further observed that dual citizenship would affect 34 pieces of consultations. This is because it has been observed legislations. That is, with this Bill, if there is an issue that dual citizenship would affect 34 pieces of maybe I am now 21 or 18, I want to change my citizenship, legislations. I will wait because you will need some people who will

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certify that you now want to be Motswana, and maybe MS TSHIRELETSO: We are saying, if there are there are some other issues, but without that, when you relatives who can vouch for them, then there is no apply for Omang, there is no how we can refuse to give problem. Our challenge concerns those who have no one you your ID. Thank you Mr Speaker. to vouch for them. Let me leave it, I have explained that if all evidence is made available, then they are issued MR MMOLOTSI: Further supplementary. Minister, with Omang. Thank you Mr Speaker. this issue of 34 pieces, I am wondering what makes it difficult for them to be brought to Parliament for PROMOTION PROCEDURES AT LETLHAKANE amendment because the main aim is to have dual SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL citizenship in Botswana. As Parliament, we are responsible for making and amending laws, what makes MR. S. LELATISITSWE (BOTETI EAST): asked the Minister of Basic Education to apprise this Honourable it hard for them to be brought here for amendment? House on the promotion procedures at Letlhakane MS TSHIRELETSO: Mr Speaker, there is nothing Senior Secondary School and to state: difficult. We are in the process of further consultations (i) why for the past three to four years no promotion before we come to Parliament because sometimes when was effected at the school; we come to you after finishing, you ask us if we have consulted with the nation and others. Thank you Mr (ii) how many officers were recommended for Speaker. promotion during the said period but were never considered when compared to other schools in the MR MOLEBATSI: Supplementary. Thank you Mr Central Region; Speaker, thank you Minister. Our main concern is people (iii) whether it is in order that the recommended who marry foreigners. Their children are disadvantaged. promotion at Letlhakane Senior Secondary School They should be issued with Omang that can indicate that was the only one declined during the past four they are waiting to be 21. Thank you Minister. years; and

MS TSHIRELETSO: Although it was not a question, (iv) the relation between the School Management and I can say, we all know here that those are the challenges Central Region Office and whether the relationship of children whose parents die and they are told to leave has a bearing on the promotions at Letlhakane the country. We address that issue because we all know Senior Secondary School. as Honourable Members that these people will have no relationship with those either in Zimbabwe, South Africa MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION (MR ARONE): Mr Speaker, my apologies for coming late, I or Namibia. We cannot say that since one is Moherero wanted ‘first year’ to learn how to apologise. and both parents have died, no one can vouch for you therefore go back. Where is that child going to? That Mr Speaker, since 2016 the ministry’s promotion child will suffer yet he/she grew up in this country. We procedures require schools to recommend deserving address it, we gather several evidences and rectify that. officers to the ministry for promotion. Deserving officers Initially it was a serious challenge, even with the affidavit refer to those who have been in their current post for at from Kgosi, that child is still sent home. Currently, when least two years and who are excelling in their work and Kgosi and you as Honourable Members have provided whose classes are also performing. evidence then everything is rectified. Thank you. (i) Mr Speaker, our records reveal that three teachers were promoted following recommendations from MR REATILE: Supplementary. Thank you Mr Speaker. the school since 2016. These are Senior Teachers I Mr Speaker, I want the Minister to assist us on this one, in English, History and Guidance and Counselling. we have people who were born here whose Omang are being confiscated on the basis that they should provide (ii) 22 teachers were recommended for consideration evidence of whether their parents renounced South for promotion from the school and were all African citizenship. Madam Minister, when do you presented to the ministry during the same period. intend to fix this since we are going for elections? We These teachers were considered together with want those votes because we have relatives who are other teachers from Central Region schools and across the river on the South African side and it is a three were promoted and the remaining 19 were challenge. When are Batswana getting their Omang? unsuccessful.

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(iii) Mr Speaker, all teachers are competing for the Later Date. few available positions and only those who outperformed others were promoted. It is not only MR SPEAKER: Let us proceed Honourable Members. Letlhakane teachers who were declined. ASSEMBLY IN COMMITTEE

(iv) Mr Speaker, my ministry is not aware of any (CHAIRPERSON in the Chair) relationship issues between the Director and the School Head which could have a bearing on APPROPRIATION (2019/2020) BILL, promotion of the officers. Thank you. 2019 (NO. 1 OF 2019)

LABOUR INSPECTION AT MENDEL WELDING ORGANISATION 0300 - MINISTRY AND ENGINEERING OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MR H. G. NKAIGWA (GABORONE NORTH): asked the Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity (Resumed Debate) and Skills Development to state: MR CHAIRPERSON (MR MOLATLHEGI): (i) when the last labour inspection was done at Honourable Members, order! Honourable Members, we Mendel Welding and Engineering; are back at the Committee of Supply. Yesterday when the House adjourned, Honourable Minister Matambo (ii) if he is aware that employees are working under was responding to the debate and he is left with 23 compromised health and safety conditions; and minutes 42 seconds. Honourable Matambo, you may if so, what is being done to protect the lives of wind up your response. employees; MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC (iii) what is being done to protect employees from DEVELOPMENT (MR MATAMBO): Thank you the verbal abuse they continue to endure from the Managing Director as reported to the District very much Mr Chairperson. I wish to continue with Labour Office; and my response to the Honourable Members. I want to indicate Mr Chairperson that I am going to utilise all the (iv) what is being done to protect the health and safety 23 minutes that is left at my disposal for my response. of some employees who had their mouths affected I will utilise much of these 23 minutes responding to after using galvanized material without proper the issues that were raised by the Leader of Opposition care and safety precautions. yesterday who is not here, as it is common for him to do. MR SPEAKER: Who will be standing in for He just comes in here, makes his usual noise and then Honourable Mabeo? It seems like the Minister did not he goes away. When we respond, he is not available to ask anybody, we will therefore pass this question. listen to our responses. I do not know if it is proper Mr Later Date. Chairperson…

PROGRESS MADE IN CONSOLIDATING LAND MR KEORAPETSE: On a point of procedure. We RELATED ACTS know there are many people on the other side of the aisle who are truant and we never talk about them, one MR E. J. BATSHU (NKANGE): asked the Minister such is Honourable Kenewendo. Mr Chairperson, I of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services to just wanted to make this clear that it is election year, apprise this Honourable House on the progress made in there is no public funding of political parties nor consolidating land related Acts aimed at harmonising campaign funding. The Leader of Opposition, you must land administration and establishing land authorities understand, hear it now, it must sink in your heads that to manage land at local levels as promised through the ministry’s Committee of Supply speech of March 2016. he will not be sitting on this chair from 2 o’clock until 6 o’clock. He is busy out there looking for funds for MR SPEAKER: Who has been assigned by the two the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). It must be Ministers who are absent? I also do not know where clear to you. Your President is never here. they are. That means we shall defer the questions to a later date. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)…

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MR KEORAPETSE: The procedure is that, he is out of MR KEORAPETSE: I am rising on a point of procedure to be singling out the Leader of Opposition, procedure because I think the Leader of the House is when His Excellency the President is so contemptuous imputing improper motives on the Leader of Opposition. of Parliament that he only comes here when it is Budget Speech and State of the Nation Address. MR CHAIRPERSON: No Honourable, that is what I was saying, you do not have access to him. MR CHAIRPERSON: We are not out of order. When I was listening to you I realised that you were cementing MR KEORAPETSE: No, if I am not on the floor, I what Honourable Matambo was saying, that Honourable cannot stand in Parliament and misbehave… Boko is not in. Proceed Honourable Matambo. MR CHAIRPERSON: No, let us not go there. He is HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… not holding the floor; you do not have access to him. You will talk outside. MR MATAMBO: Thank you yet again Mr Chairperson… MR KEORAPETSE: Mr Chairperson, but when somebody is not holding the floor, and they are… MR CHAIRPERSON: Order! Hold it there Honourable Matambo. Honourable Salakae and Honourable Olopeng MR CHAIRPERSON: Did you hear what I said? if there is something that you want to discuss may you do so outside. You should stop exchanging words it is MR KEORAPETSE: What did you say? not good, more specially you, Honourable Salakae. That is not allowed. Can you please be serious as we continue MR CHAIPERSON: I said he is not on the floor. with our business. MR KEORAPETSE: Yes, I say so. HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… MR CHAIRPERSON: So, you do not have access to MR CHAIRPERSON: You are still shouting even him. You can only talk to Honourable Matambo. though I have ruled that you stop doing that, stop it. MR KEORAPETSE: Yes, I was saying these MR MATAMBO: Thank you once again Mr insinuations about the Leader of the Opposition are Chairperson. I must say I am very happy Mr Chairperson worrying because it is imputing improper motives that that when people like Honourable Keorapetse stand on a point of procedure, they do not eat into my time. I will the Leader of the Opposition is truant. Since we opened, nevertheless ultimately use my time; 23 minutes. the only time that the Leader of the Opposition was not here, you Mr Chairperson, knew very well where Mr Chairperson, yesterday in his intervention… he was. The Chairperson knows, he is an executive member of Southern African Development Community- HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF). Occasionally he has HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR to go there. So Honourable Chairperson, I think you must TSOGWANE): On a point of elucidation. I will not eat talk to the Finance Minister about this issue because I do much into your time. I just wanted to elucidate that I not think it is true that the Leader of the Opposition is do not know why you seem to be concerned about the truant, you cannot compare him with His Excellency the absenteeism of the Leader of the Opposition because for President who is very contemptuous of this Parliament; us it is normal. It is only abnormal when he is here, but never comes here, only comes here twice in a year. So, his absence is normal. who is worse between the Leader of the Opposition and MR MATAMBO: It could not be better, you put it very the President? well sir. You are laughing when I sit down, he is my MR CHAIRPERSON: Order! No Honourable boss! Keorapetse, you are wasting our time by calling MR KEORAPETSE: On a point of procedure. for procedures. Do not worry. Just leave him, when Honourable Boko comes to Parliament, he will respond MR CHAIRPERSON: You cannot stand on a point of and tell us where he has been. If you keeping calling for procedure and comment on what was said by Leader of ‘procedures’ you are wasting time and we still have two the House, he is not the one holding the floor. Continue Heads to debate today. Allow the Minister to finish his with your procedure so that I hear what you want to say. response so that we proceed with our business.

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MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC of opposition. When he talks about the response of the DEVELOPMENT (MR MATAMBO): Thank you Leader of the Opposition, we do not belong to the same very much Mr Chairperson. organisation, so he must differentiate.

MR KGOROBA: Point of order. Mr Chairperson, I MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Matambo, they are want to say that other Umbrella for Democratic Change saying you should differentiate them and not attack all (UDC) MPs make Honourable Keorapetse to defend of them. alone, it is like he is the only one. MR MATAMBO: Thank you Mr Chairperson. Mr HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!) Chairperson, that is precisely what I was doing. I think Honourable Kgoroba was not listening. When I talked MR CHAIRPERSON: No, I cannot meddle, those are about agenda, I mentioned opposition as led by the your issues. Proceed Honourable Matambo. Leader of the Opposition, and then when I talked about MR MATAMBO: Mr Chairperson, I proceed, and in who makes constructive suggestions, I talked about doing so, I want to assure you that I am only here to leader of your own party. talk facts, and one of the facts is that the Leader of the MR MOLEBATSI: Point of order. Thank you Mr Opposition is not in this House, fact; there is nobody Chairperson. I can realise that you are biased. You can who can query that. see that we are being attacked and you are saying that, One of the things that right at the beginning the Leader we are being attacked by a Specially Elected Minister of the Opposition yesterday said, was to try and lecture who does not have a constituency? to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development MR CHAIRPERSON: No Honourable Member, I as to what his responsibility was. So, I want to put it on never said you are being attacked. (go tlantliwa) record that he can do that lecture to some other Ministers of Finance. This Minister here knows his responsibility MR MOLEBATSI: What did you say? Repeat that. very well. So, I do not need any reminder from Leader of the Opposition. MR CHAIRPERSON: I said you are being attacked. (go tantiwa). I realise that it is also a fact that the opposition especially as led by the Leader of the Opposition has got an agenda MR MOLEBATSI: What language is that? against the Government, maybe obviously so because MR CHAIRPERSON: Let us leave it. Proceed we are going for elections. It also appears to me that Honourable Matambo. maybe there is also an agenda against the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. Why? I do not HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… know, but I proceed. MR MATAMBO: Mr Chairperson, let me also take I want to indicate that I personally as current Minister of the opportunity to respond to a comment made by Finance and Economic Development, have no problem in principle of receiving suggestions from anybody Honourable Molebatsi, regarding “Specially Elected provided those are constructive suggestions such as Minister.” I want to say it very publicly here, but I have those which are usually given by Honourable Leader of no problem personally that I am a specially elected Alliance for Progressives (AP); Honourable Gaolathe. Minister. As a matter of fact, my view is that any When they are constructive suggestions, I admit them Minister of Finance and Economic Development will as I will indicate later on, but otherwise I will run the do his job better if he does not have a constituency, that Ministry of Finance and Economic Development while is the way I feel; and I feel I am doing my job better I am still the Minister, the best way I can, but I shall not without a constituency. Yes, thank you very much. run it the way that the Opposition may want me to do. As a matter of fact, Mr Chairperson, we have got other I was just indicating that we do not have to be assessed people, international professionals, organisations… by Leader of the Opposition, we have got professional MR KGOROBA: Point of order. Mr Chairperson, I bodies which are international in nature such as Moody’s, request Honourable Matambo not to generalise and talk and they have assessed us accordingly as a country, and about us as the opposition, we are two different entities they have indicated that we are running the affairs of

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this country very, very well, including the management the officers who are responsible for these losses. So, that of the economy which includes the management of the is put there so that everybody, the Auditor General and resources such as finance and so forth. They say this the public can see. So, we do not hide anything. objectively, rather than the subjective comments made here. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification.

The Honourable Leader of the Opposition was saying that MR MATAMBO: Quickly Sir. the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development is MR KGOROBA: Clarification. Honourable Minister, not reporting money lost, money stolen and corruption. I how do you say the Auditor General is independent want to indicate that this is not true. I will put the record when it still falls under the purview of your ministry? straight. The fact of the matter Mr Chairperson, I will start with that which has been put in the papers so often MR MATAMBO: Again, Honourable Chairperson, including even this morning, it was still being talked facts. What the Honourable Member has just said, about on the radio, this issue that some Four Billion that the Auditor General’s department falls under my Pula (P4, 000,000,000) is missing in Government. We ministry, it is not true. The fact of the matter is that will harp on this to put the record right until you know the Auditor General is independent. I think it is one of it is correct. There is no such Four Billion Pula (P4, those principal officers mentioned in the Constitution, 000,000,000) missing. There is a misinterpretation of and it has got its own law, the Auditors’ law. The link the report of the Auditor General because they say that between the Office of the Auditor General and Office is where it came from, that the Auditor General said the of the President is that when we come here in order to Four Billion Pula (P4, 000,000,000) was missing from receive an amount through the Budget from yourselves, Government or from Bank of Botswana, there is no the Minister responsible for Presidential Affairs, such. I have said it here before in answer to a question by Governance and Public Administration has to come Honourable Moremi, and today I am more than happy here and speak for them, but the Minister responsible Mr Chairperson, because the Auditor General herself for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public has now issued a Press Release today, it is on Page 14 of Administration does not give directions to the Auditor the Daily News, denying completely that they ever said General. Absolutely no! there was Four Billion Pula (P4,000,000,000) missing. I want to talk about this issue of stolen money. If there is This was a question of reconciliation of the accounts. any money that is stolen, we report it to the police; that Okay! So, I hope that now that it has been said by the is what we do and everybody should do that. Auditor General herself, this matter is now buried, we shall never hear about it. I want to talk about the National Petroleum Fund (NPF).

The issue of not reporting loss of cash and so forth, HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification before this again is not true. As you know Mr Chairperson NPF please! and Honourable Members, at the end of each financial year, the Accountant General who is under me, prepares MR MATAMBO: I am running out of time. the financial statements; the accounts at the end of the MR KEORAPETSE: Clarification. What would year, and they are submitted to the Auditor General be your response to our suggestion this side, that the who is independent to audit. As you know, the report Auditor General ought to be appointed on a fixed term of the Auditor General is then put to a Parliamentary contract until they retire as the Constitution provides, Committee called Public Accounts Committee (PAC). rather than a contract which is subject to renewal by the Members are yourselves and it is even chaired by the Office of the President, Directorate of Public Service opposition for that matter, so we have nothing to hide. Management (DPSM), as it is the case now? In other I want to indicate that in this report of the Accountant words, she does not have tenurial security. General being submitted to the Auditor General for audit, there is a specific statement in those financial MR MATAMBO: I personally have no objection to that statements, Statement No.22 which reports specifically in principle, but I do not believe that even if she or he on losses of cash and other supplies of the Government, is appointed on contract, it hinders his or her work but that this ministry would have observed during the if what you suggesting can be done, I have no problem course of the year and would have taken action against with that.

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I want to say, because people seem not to know… The other Members, while I still have seven minutes, Mr Chairperson… HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Kebonang, there is MR MATAMBO: On the other side of the aisle peace in this House when you are absent. Honourable they say that, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Rantuana, minimize your noise. Development or the Minister of Finance and Economic Development does not care about corruption, he does MR MATAMBO: I simply want to say, in the respect of not report it, he never talks about it and so forth. I want the comments by Honourable Gaolathe, as usual, I have to give an example of the NPF. If you did not know, it found them to be constructive comments and we do not was us, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development have a lot of disagreement between us. I have taken note who actually observed and then reported to the Auditor that you are still looking forward to a time when we General that this particular Fund here is not presenting can do something about capacitating Parliament. I think the Annual Statements of Accounts (ASA). We are the in principle, we had agreed. I would also like to see a ones who did this and you know where it is now; at situation where Parliament is given necessary resources. the courts and those people are being followed up. In addition, I have made a statement here and I will keep on HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. repeating, the ministry is not mum. I made a statement MR MATAMBO: I have come to a point where I am as to what we were doing, as soon as we discovered that not allowing anymore clarification; especially from you the money was not being used properly. Honourable… I must finish because when I give you Generally, we report corruption to the Directorate on time for clarification, you debate with me. You are not Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC). As I have asking for clarification. said before, I encourage all of you whenever… Honourable Molao, you were talking about financial HONOURABLE MEMBER: DCEC! inclusion. I am glad that you support our efforts in this regard. The fact that we are blacklisted somewhere in MR MATAMBO: Yes, DCEC. I encourage all of you to Europe, yes, it is true. We are doing our level best and I also report. So, where we have institutions, do not expect want to assure you Honourable Molao that sooner than the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to later, we will get out of that list. BURS should work on be running all over the country looking for people who compliance, I agree with Honourable Molao. It is what are corrupt. No! this particular Minister would not do we are encouraging in addition to collecting directly. We that. We will give the matter to DCEC. are encouraging them to make the procedures simple so that people can comply and just pay tax voluntarily. Finally, with regard to the response of the Leader of Opposition. He talked about the role of Botswana Finally, Honourable Nkaigwa, you are saying that the Unified Revenue Service (BURS). I want to publicly Budget is going to foreigners. It is not our intention, but say that, as far as I am concerned, BURS is doing its where we have open competitive bidding in this country, job excellently. An excellent institution. Somewhere in foreigners are allowed in that process, if they win a tender the Budget Speech and somebody made reference to or they have won a tender but otherwise, you are aware that yesterday, saying that we have indicated that they that we have a lot of reservation schemes meant precisely are under collecting. Yes, otherwise the budget deficit and solely for citizens. The issue that, when we tender would not be the P7 billion we are talking about, it as a Government, then the services or products being could have been much very lower. Therefore, they are supplied to the Government are more expensive than now awake and doing their job; they are collecting. I if bought off the shelf, it is true Honourable Nkaigwa, encourage them to work hard on people who are owing we have observed that too. Sometimes it is also done tax so that they can pay. Pay, whether they are here or by citizens even where we have made a reservation for not, they should work hard on those people so that they citizens, to enjoy the particular tender. It is just that pay tax. As far as I am concerned, there is no political people think Government has too much money when motive about it here. Yes! If you are owing tax, you must pay it. I think that is all I wanted to report. they are asked to supply Government, and you must put the price there. It is wrong, I agree. Together, let us think HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… as to how we can deal with the matter so that in the

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future, we do not see any such. Mr Chairperson, let me children under the Destitution Programme (categorized end here and as I should end with the Motion, I move as needy students and children in need of care), 25,920 that the sum of Nine Hundred and Fifty Million, Nine are orphans, 113,617 are Old Age Pensioners, 1,408 Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Four Hundred World War II Veterans (48 live veterans and 1,360 and Seventy Pula (P950,923,470) for Recurrent spouses), 1,242 are community home based care patients Budget, and Five Hundred and Fifteen Million, Seven and 7,085 people living with disabilities. Hundred and Thirty Thousand Pula (P515,730,000) for Development Budget be approved and stand part of the Mr Chairperson, currently, cash allowances for social Schedule of the Appropriation (2019/2020) Bill, (No. 1 welfare beneficiaries stand at P430.00 for Old Age of 2019). I rest my case there. Thank you very much Mr Pensioners, P550.00 for World War II Veterans, P250.00 Chairperson. for destitute persons and P400.00 for people living with disability. These allowances were last increased by a flat Question put and agreed to. rate of P100.00 across board in April 2017, to cushion against inflation ORGANISATION 0800 - MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL Destitute Housing DEVELOPMENT Mr Chairperson, from a target of 630 destitute houses MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Members, 2 hours planned for the current financial year 2018/2019, 177 15 minutes have been allocated to this ministry. I shall units have been completed while 453 are at different call upon the Minister to reply to the debate at 1705 stages of construction. hours today, and the question would be put at 1735 hours. Honourable Minister, you have 20 minutes to Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) present your Budget proposal. Housing

MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND From a target of 352 houses in the seven RADP RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MR VAN DER settlements during the financial year 2018/2019, 136 are WESTHUIZEN): Thank you Mr Chairperson. complete and have been handed over to the beneficiaries Mr Chairperson, it is my pleasure to present to this while 216 houses are at different stages of completion. Honourable Committee, the 2019/2020 Recurrent and Ipelegeng Programme Development Budget proposals for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Organisation Mr Chairperson, in August 2018, the Ipelegeng budget 0800 for consideration by this House. was increased by P110 million as a mitigation measure due to the declaration of drought during the financial Before I proceed with the 2019/2020 Budget proposals, year 2018/2019. The amount was to cater for increase allow me to give this Honourable House a brief in the Ipelegeng quota by 5,000 slots to accommodate overview of my ministry’s progress in implementation referred eligible beneficiaries as well as inclusion of of major projects and programmes carried out during running and material costs for new projects, to enable the 2018/2019 financial year. efficient implementation of the programme. The monthly employment quota was increased from 68,813 to 73,813 I am happy to inform this House that my ministry slots per month. Since April 2018, a cumulative total of developed a five-year Strategic Plan 2018-2023, which 716,253 beneficiaries have been engaged, consisting of is aligned with Vision 2036, National Development Plan 522,700 females and 193,553 males. (NDP) 11 and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Of the 2,802 planned projects during the 2018/2019 Development Goals (SDGs). financial year, 349 have been completed while the rest SOCIAL PROTECTION are at different stages of implementation.

Social Welfare Programmes Remote Area Development Programme (RADP)

Mr Chairperson, as at November 2018, support was Mr Chairperson, significant strides have been made in given to a total of 223,019 beneficiaries. Out of this, tertiary education, which has recorded a cumulative 37,307 are destitute persons, 36,440 are vulnerable number of 1,167 students sponsored at local universities

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and colleges. 1,929 formal and 365 informal jobs were financial year 2018/19. Of the 68 staff houses planned created by 292 economic empowerment projects. In for maintenance, 51 houses have been maintained. Five addition, for financial year 2018/2019, P 5,304,500 of nine offices have been maintained and electrical was secured to develop six communal farms in Khawa, works for 22 facilities have been completed. Malatswai, Kedia (one of the HIMA ranches in the Boteti Sub-District), Kanaku, Moralane and Central Kgalagadi Strategic Framework for Community Development Game Reserve (CKGR) Trust Farms. The projects are at During the financial year 2018/19, a total of 1,221 different stages of completion. projects were approved for constituency community Rural Development Council (RDC) projects with a budget of Five Hundred and Seventy Million (P570, 000,000.00) for the 57 constituencies. Mr Chairperson, for the year under review, RDC Out of these only 46 projects have been completed. monitored the performance of Mogobane Irrigation Slow take off of these projects is mostly attributable to Scheme, Zutshwa Salt Mine and the National Agro an array of issues being change of the projects scope, Processing Project in Selebi Phikwe. These projects were delayed land acquisition, increased number of appeals funded with the aim to improve the livelihoods of rural by unsuccessful bidders and delayed disposal of appeals. communities. As part of the initiative to grow the small The slow implementation of this Project is worrisome stock industry in Botswana, the council has facilitated since some districts are still implementing the 2017/18 the resuscitation of Lobu Farm in the . projects.

Food Relief Decentralization

Mr Chairperson, my ministry will continue to provide As part of Government’s commitment to providing food relief to 22,778 persons residing in drought stricken effective service through decentralized governance, my communities, as recommended following the recently ministry is in the process of finalizing development of conducted drought assessment. Affected communities the Decentralization Policy. The development of the include; Okavango, Mabutsane, Ngami, Kgalagadi and policy is currently at first draft and it is expected that North East Districts. These are inclusive of the recently the draft policy be completed during the first quarter added 108 beneficiaries from North East District villages of 2019/20 financial year. Development of the policy of Ditladi, Matshelagabedi and Matsiloje. is supported by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) and United Nations Development LOCAL GOVERNANCE Programme (UNDP).

Bogosi and Nation Building IV. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

During the 2018/19 financial year, my ministry was Primary Education Facilities allocated funds to pay monthly allowances for 665 Headman of Arbitration. To date, 530 posts of Headman Mr Chairperson, my ministry planned to construct 401 of Arbitration have been filled while the remaining 135 classrooms, 1,280 cubical toilets and 486 teachers’ are at varying stages of consultation. quarters spread across 123 primary schools countrywide over the entire three year Economic Stimulus Mr Chairperson, for the 2018/19 financial year, Programme (ESP) period which began in the 2016/17 funding of Twenty Million Pula (P20, 000, 000.00) financial year. For the first phase, my ministry did very was budgeted for construction of 16 Customary Courts well and completed the planned 130 teachers’ quarters, offices to address shortage of office accommodation and 120 classrooms, and 500 toilet blocks in 39 Primary improve working conditions of Dikgosi. The budget also Schools throughout the country. catered for better quality designs reflective of cultural Mr Chairperson, the second phase of the ESP Backlog and customary courts offices in Molepolole, Maun and Eradication Programme commenced in the 2017/18 Mochudi. These projects are behind schedule primarily financial year and targeted projects in 55 primary schools due to late procurement. comprising 161 teachers’ quarters, 149 classrooms and A total of Thirteen Million, Thirteen Thousand, Four 496 toilet blocks. As at January 2019, 112 projects had Hundred and Eighty Pula (P13, 013,480.00) was set started and 87 were complete, whilst the remaining 25 aside for maintenance of such facilities during the projects were at various stages of implementation.

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The third phase of the ESP comprises of 131 classrooms, 738,793,010) for Local Authorities’ Revenue Support 296 toilet cubicles and 120 single teachers’ houses in Grant and Six Hundred and Fifty-Nine Million, Seven 103 primary schools. As at January 2019, 46 projects Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred and were at various stages of progress and 52 are at different Thirty Pula (P659, 726,530) for food supplies. The stages of the procurement process. remainder of Eighty Million, One Hundred and Ninety- Three Thousand and Sixty Pula (P80, 193,060) will be Village Infrastructure shared amongst other items.

Mr Chairperson, construction works for village The Department of Social Protection is proposed to get infrastructure projects at Kang, Gabane and Tutume, the second largest share of One Billion One Hundred which include construction of internal roads, storm and Sixty-Five Million, Two Hundred and Eighty- water drainage and solar street lighting, commenced Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ten Pula (P1, during the 2017/2018 financial year and are planned for 165,289,810) or 18.13 per cent of the budget. These completion by March 2020. Construction progress for funds will cater for Old Age Pension at Six Hundred Kang stands at 72 per cent, Gabane at 49 per cent and and Twenty Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Three Tutume is at 57 per cent. Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Pula (P620, 753,160), Orphan Care Programme at Two Hundred and Fifty- V. PROPOSED MINISTRY BUDGET FOR Five Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand, 2019/2020 Two Hundred Pula (P255, 368,200); and Destitute Cash Allowance at Ninety-Four Million, Six Hundred and Mr Chairperson, guided by my ministry’s strategic plan, Sixty-Two Thousand (P94, 662,000). Furthermore, my a total of Eight Billion, One Hundred and Ninety-Eight ministry proposes an increase of P50.00 monthly for Million, One Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand, One Social Welfare Cash allowances for destitute persons, Hundred and Twenty Pula (P8,198,155,120) is proposed People living with Disability, World War II Veterans for both the recurrent and development budget for my and Village/Ward Development Committees while ministry. This amount is made up of Six Billion, Four for Old Age Pensioners, the proposed monthly cash Hundred and Twenty-Eighty Million, One Hundred allowance be increased by P100.00. The remainder of and Fifty-Five Thousand, One hundred and Twenty One Hundred and Ninety-Four Million, Five Hundred Pula (P6,428, 155,120) for the Recurrent Budget, and and Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty Pula (P194, One Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy Million Pula 506,450) will be shared amongst other items. (P1,770,000,000) for the Development Budget. The third largest share of my ministry’s budget is Recurrent Budget proposed for the Department of Tribal Administration. This, Mr Chairperson, is Five Hundred and Ninety-One Mr Chairperson, the proposed 2019/2020 Recurrent Million, Five Hundred and Two Thousand, One Hundred Budget for my ministry is Six Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy Pula (P591, 502,170) which translates to and Twenty-Eighty Million, One Hundred and Fifty- 9.2 per cent of the budget. Out of this amount, the sum Five Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Pula of Five Hundred and Four Million, Three Hundred and (P6,428,155,120) (Refer to Appendix A). This reflects Thirty-Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty Pula an increase of 2.31%, that is, One Hundred and Forty- (P504, 334, 760) will be used for personnel emoluments Five Million, Three Hundred and Fifty-One Thousand, and the remainder of Eighty-Seven Million, One Seven Hundred Pula (P145, 351,700) more than last Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and year’s budget. Ten Pula (P87, 167,410) will be shared amongst other items. Mr Chairperson, from the proposed Recurrent Budget, Mr Chairperson, the remaining balance of my ministry’s the Department of Local Government, Finance and proposed Recurrent Budget being One Hundred and Procurement Services gets the largest share of Four Ninety-Two Million, Six Hundred and Forty Thousand, Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million, Seven Eight Hundred and Ninety Pula (P192, 640,890), which Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand, Two Hundred and is 3.0 per cent of the budget, will be shared by the Fifty Pula (P4, 478,722,250) or 69.67 per cent of the five Departments of Corporate Services, Community total ministerial budget. This amount includes Three Development, Local Governance and Development Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million, Seven Planning, Rural Development and Local Government Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand, and Ten Pula (P3, Technical Services.

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Development Budget Pula (P6,428,155,122.00) be approved and stand part of the Schedule of the Appropriation (2019/2020) Bill, Mr Chairperson, under the Development Budget I 2019 for Head 0800 and that the Development Budget propose that a total of One Billion, Seven Hundred and in the sum of One Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy Seventy Million Pula, (P1,770,000,000) be approved Million Pula, (P1,770,000,000.00) be approved and for Development Programmes and Projects in the stand part of those Estimates. I thank you. 2019/2020 financial year, a decrease of 21.3 per cent MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Minister, I did not less than the 2018/19 year’s budget. hear those figures, I seems like you have not read it out Mr Chairperson, the proposed Development Budget properly. will be shared amongst the ministry’s programmes as MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: Did I not read it out follows: (i) Ipelegeng – Six Hundred and Thirty-Five properly? Million, Pula (P635, 000,000), or 35.8 per cent of the budget MR CHAIRPERASON: Yes, it is Recurrent, it seems like you did not read it out properly. (ii) Constituency Community Projects – Five Hundred and Seventy Million Pula (P570, 000,000), or 32.2 per MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: Should I repeat? cent, MR CHAIRPERSON: Yes please.

(iii) Development of Primary Education Facilities – MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: This concludes my Two Hundred and Twenty-Four Million Pula, (P224, ministry’s presentation for the 2019/2020 financial year 000,000), or 12.6 per cent, budget proposals. I therefore move that the 2019/2020 Recurrent Budget in the sum of Six Billion, Four (iv) Local Government Infrastructure Investment and Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million, One Hundred and Services - One Hundred and Ninety-Two Million Pula Fifty-Five Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Pula (P192, 000,000), or 10.8 per cent. Out of these funds, (P6,428,155,120.00) be approved and stand part of the a total of One Hundred and Eighty-Five Million Pula Schedule of the Appropriation (2019/2020) Bill, 2019. (P185,000,000) will be used for the ongoing village MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION (MR infrastructure projects at Gabane, Kang and Tutume ARONE): Thank you Mr Chairperson. I stand in support internal roads and storm water drainage, while Seven of the Minister’s budget proposal. Mr Chairperson, Million Pula (P7,000,000) will be for the Feasibility I wish and request that when we approve the funding Study of Gaborone Transfer Station and Sorting Center. for Ministry of Local Government, it should focus on (v) Social Welfare and Development Programme (Social areas which are facing challenges. I wish that a larger Single Registry, Countrywide and RADP destitute share of the funds and resources can be taken to villages housing and the Development of the Smart Card) - One like Okavango, Ghanzi and Kgalagadi. This Ministry is Hundred and Five Million, One Hundred Thousand Pula our backbone at rural areas. Okavango Constituency is (P105, 100,000) or 5.9 per cent. facing many challenges even though it falls under this ministry. For example; primary education, we only have (vi) Tribal Administration infrastructure development– two RADP hostels for primary schools. The other one is Forty-One Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Pula (P41, at Nxaunxau and the other one is at Xhakao. Nxaunxau 900,000.00) or 2.3 per cent. is 120 kilometres from the service centre which is Gumare. The problem we are facing is that children (vii) RADP projects – Two Million Pula (P2, 000,000) are kept at Nxaunxau hostels where there is no vehicle or 0.1 per cent. which can assist the matron and the principal to make Conclusion sure that children are in safe hands more so that they have a tendency of escaping from Nxaunxau to Qangwa Mr Chairperson, this concludes my ministry’s and Tsodilo even though it is not safe. The same applies presentation for the 2019/2020 financial year budget to Xhakao. We are aware that students once escaped proposals. I therefore move that the 2019/2020 from Xhakao hostel and unfortunately one of them lost Recurrent Budget in the sum of Six Billion, Four her life. The response time was delayed because Xhakao Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million, One Hundred and hostel does not have a vehicle. Honourable Minster I Fifty-Five Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty-Two request that you look into this matter.

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When we get into the issue of social workers, my wish The Okavango community is grateful for the response is that the villages with challenges can be provided to the request which was made by the Bayei tribe even with more social workers because we are currently though it is not completely resolved. Kgosi is there, but experiencing shortage of resources like vehicles. An area he is still not welcomed at Ntlo ya Dikgosi due to the like Okavango North cluster, there is only one vehicle fact that there is an issue which needs to be resolved. from Mohembo to Gudingwa and this hinders social The issue is that Kgosi has to be inaugurated first before workers from assessing the community challenges as being admitted at Ntlo ya Dikgosi. I request you to… well as the government programmes they can register under in order to try and help them. For example; HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… Gonutsoga is a large village and it is very difficult for MR ARONE: Yes, you will keep on correcting. I a single social worker to attend the whole of Seronga speak Segweriku, Sembukushu, Seyeyi and Sesarwa looking at the fact that there is also shortage of vehicles. languages. You will not understand what I am saying Minister, my request is that we should have a social if I can change my language. Honourable Chairperson, worker who will attend and or be responsible for people today I will try to speak Setswana because I wanted at Gonutsuga area. to shortly request the Minister to look into the Bayeyi You were talking about the provision of office space. We chieftaincy issue so that we can finish it and get into other issues. I will save the three minutes. Thank you. are grateful that you have built offices at Samochima and Etsha 1 through Economic Stimulus Programme MINISTER OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS (DR (ESP). Minister, the only challenge is that these offices MADIGELE): Thank you Mr Chairperson. I want are not a complete package when it comes to issues of to take this time to applaud the Minister of Local accommodation. Honourable Minister, where are these Government more especially since he is new at that officers who are being taken to Samochima going to be Ministry which is very important in our country. This accommodated since offices do not have accommodation ministry oversees Councillors, rural areas and its package? councils. This means that Local Government is very important in the running of Government. We are grateful that you have approved the proposal to build Tribal offices at Kauxwi and Tobela. I request Minister, I want to commend you for your programme that you make evaluations so that those offices can have of Constituency Fund. It has helped a lot because our accommodation packages for the officers. There are villages were behind in developments. When you areas at my Constituency which have never had offices, allocated us the P10 million per constituency, we I request that you look into them urgently. Etsha is one managed to push projects such as entertainment areas in of those villages. It is a large village for that matter our villages at Mmathethe and Digawana. We managed with a population of close to 1000 people but there are to install street lights. There is a lot of crime that goes currently no offices where Kgosi and other tribal officers on especially at night but the installation of these street can work in. I always debate in favor of Skondomboro lights at Molapowabojang and Mmathethe has helped village because it is my home village. Skondomboro is to reduce crime rate. We ask that going forward, since a large village Mr Chairperson. this is a helpful programme, maybe you can think of increasing to P15 million or P20 million. We have HONOURABLE MEMBER: you? realised that the stumbling blocks we encounter which MR ARONE: Yes, Skondomboro. This area requires include laws made in this Parliament like Public Tribal offices. Mokgacha, Xhaoga and Tsodilo were Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) are formed after it. These are the villages which I am not there at constituency level, therefore, we do not requesting you to evaluate as we will be getting into experience delays. allocation of development funds. Minister, your programme of, “one village one vehicle,” Honourable Minister, lastly I want to thank the current I have not heard that you have stopped it, yet it seems Vice President, Honourable Tsogwane for addressing like you did. This programme was quite helpful in our the chieftaincy issue at Chobe concerning the Basubiya. villages. When you released a vehicle to be used, it They made a request and he responded to them. The vice helped a lot especially given the challenge that we had, president was then the Minister of Local Government. including even the police service and health department

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where this vehicle would come in handy. Minister, we are There is a big village by the name of Gopong. I heard concerned that somehow we must know when Dikgosi Honourable Arone talking about a village of 1000 do not treat Dikgosana properly in this programme of residents, this one has over 1000 residents of which it “one village one vehicle.” Let me give an example, at has been the case for a very long time but it does not Digawana, their vehicle has since been taken to Kanye, have a complete primary school. We are asking you this is the second year. The same applies to Digawana. Honourable Minister …, this village is surrounded by Minister, you should try to mediate in such cases so farms. Since there is no school that they can go to, the that other villages which are not perceived to be big, children end up as hired hands in these farms. There be given these vehicles. If a village has been given a used to be two classrooms, later on three classrooms; vehicle from Gaborone, this vehicle should arrive there these people are asking for a full school which can and not Kanye on the basis that there is no driver. give them and their children dignity that services like education has been brought to them. Moving on to talk about the roads in our villages, I believe Honourable Minister is aware of our challenges Lorwana is another big village, its population must be at Molapowabojang that this village has almost 10,000 around 1,500. I am requesting a Kgotla office for this or more residents but there is no road leading to Kgotla. village because I ended up having to pop out money from my own pocket so that they may have a place This village is built on a stream. Every year we are of operation. I think this initiative shows that they affected by deaths caused by torrential water that passes desire to at least have Kgotla offices where they can through the village at a high speed. I am asking you to provide services with Kgosi or Headman of Records consider this issue, atleast just fund a small portion of manning the office. Right now these people end up tarred road leading to Kgotla. Not forgetting other big crowding Digawana and Lobatse because there are no villages which are in need of these roads; we need a developments at Lorwana. Thank you Mr Chairperson. road from Mmathethe to a junior school located in a MR MANGOLE (MOCHUDI WEST): Thank you water logged area which makes movement very hard Mr Chairperson. Let me also comment on this important especially during rainy season. ministry and touch on a few points since time is not on our side. I wanted to welcome the President but he has Minister, I wish that maybe you can look at how you can just rushed out. I wanted to say to him that, since out broaden your services especially in sub-districts which there they are giving him stress, he should feel free are in South. Let me cite an example, the main concern to come and rest a bit in this House, but he has left. I about a village like Kanye, all the offices of the southern believe that Vice President (VP) will relay this message district together with sub-district are in Kanye. This is a to him. disadvantage to us as neighbouring villages because you find that all developments are taken to the headquarters I want to indicate that I am more interested in a point of the district. Villages such as Molapowabojang end up raised by the Minister under social protection where he overshadowed. Mmathethe has a tarred road leading to mentioned that they wish to have a proper programme Kgotla but I am talking about roads which are a major where people who are able yet under social protection concern. I am wondering why you fail to move this sub- because of poverty do graduate. This initiative is long district of Kanye Administrative to Molapowabojang overdue; the only problem is that the programme is where there are buildings available which can benefit made in such a way that it encourages people who nearby villages such as Mogojogojo, Digawana and are capable to continue being lazy. The initiative to Gasegwagwa to enjoy services there. remove those who are capable from this programme is really appreciated. I suggest that if you take part in this In continuing, I will talk about Headmen of Arbitration. programme for a period of a year, it should be made I do not understand what is so difficult that these people very clear from the beginning as to whether the person cannot attract a salary like every worker because the is capable. The arrangement should be that if you get the allowance they are getting is not enough to meet their opportunity this year, the following year you should give needs. This allowance does not allow them to take up others a chance, you will qualify again after five years. loans or have a sense of financial security enjoyed by That alone will allow a person to take advantage of that all. I want you to hasten to attend to this so that these programme, after a year he would have benefitted from people can be offered assistance in the form of payslips it and be able to graduate. Otherwise people will never and so on to be able to secure bank assistance and so on. want to leave this programme, so I support the idea.

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The other point you mentioned was to increase that it is only connected at the Kgotla and the school, allowances for the Village Development Committees people do not afford it. Minister is there any way you (VDCs), destitutes and the pensioners. I want to could find any programme through the affirmative action concentrate on VDC, maybe it is high time we appreciate that you could use to connect electricity in their homes, what the VDCs are doing. Honourable Members, being not for them to pay P5 000. By so doing, you will be a member of the VDC is no longer a voluntary work, it making their lives easier because with electricity, life is a permanent job. The poor people work everyday. If becomes easier. So is there a possibility that something a Minister, Member of Parliament, Kgosi, and Council could be done, otherwise they will appreciate it from Chairperson has to address a Kgotla meeting, it is their a distance. Constituency community projects; Just like responsibility to prepare, even if it is the President, it is the rest, we appreciate that we have that programme, always VDC. Maybe it is high time we give them special however we feel there is need to increase the budget. treatment Minister and maybe increase their allowance, Considering the fact that the money is effective, there are just for motivation. a lot of developments that have been done in our villages We appreciate that nowadays our VDC members are with this money, it is important that it is increased. people with high self-worth, they know the importance There is one component that I wish could be included of the VDCs and so they promote them. I have a Motion in this Constituency Community Fund. This component that still has to come to Parliament God willing, it is is about Members of Parliament offices. Everyday mainly about the VDCs, it seeks to request that the VDC we welcome customers, the youth, Non-government allowance matches their roles because they play a major Organisations, youth organisations coming to request role as compared to others. for P20 000, P30 000 and even P100 000 sponsorship. These projects would be viable; their expectation is that We appreciate that you mentioned that you are going to build Kgotla offices in Mochudi. We are however not the Member of Parliament can sponsor them with the convinced that you will keep the promise as you always money from his pocket. It becomes very difficult for break promises, one moment you will be planning to start us to assist and maybe if there was that component in a project in Kgatleng, the next it will be removed from this P10 million, or maybe if it was increased to P15 the plan. We have so many examples that we can give. It million, the P2.5 million was going to be used for such has been 30 years since the Mmamashia-Sikwane road proposals. Poverty is rife amongst the youth. They was included in the plan and taken out. The same thing might be willing to engage in programmes that are happened with the hospital, so we shall only commend available like those brought by the likes of Honourable you for the good work once you start putting up the first Tshekedi, but they do not qualify. We therefore would brick at the Kgotla. It is very important that we have firstly request that the budget be increased because it is Kgotla offices in Mochudi. being effectively utilised in different areas. Also, there I want to cement what was said by Honourable Dr should be a component in which there will be funds that Madigele about Headmen of Arbitration. We are will be given out at the discretion of the Member of thankful that at long last they are going to be given Parliament, Council Chairman and other stakeholders to an allowance. Minister, those people are Old Men and see how the community is assisted. Old Women even though most of them are men, they That is all I wanted to say Minister, I support your do not deserve allowances, the banks do not recognise request. Thank you. allowances. Maybe you can find a way in which you can change these allowances and make them wages so MINISTER OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, that they can be able to apply for services at the bank RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY using the advice slip. We plead with you, actually we (MR OLOPENG): I thank you Mr Chairman. I too stand to support the Minister considering the reasons are relaying the message from them as they feel they that he has put forward together with his children. I was are not able to do anything to help their children with actually looking at the mandate of their ministry. I then the allowance. said…

Remote Area Development Programme (RADP); I want DR MMATLI: Point of order. Thank you Mr Speaker. to indicate that as much as we feel that these people are We have once complained in this House that it is special, we should ensure that they are given special disrespectful to refer to the public officers as Minister’s treatment. Like I said last time, in Kgomodiatshaba, children. We said that here, I therefore feel you have to electricity is connected in the village, but you will find make sure that this stops.

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HONOURABLE MEMBER: Is he referring to them? At my Ministry, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, we have a lot of DR MMATLI: When he says “Minister and his expertise through the Botswana Institute for Technology children” he is referring to them. Research and Innovation (BITRI). If you could consider HONOURABLE MEMBER: Really? I thought he this, you can call us and we will be able to develop an was referring to his biological children. appropriate software that will handle the affairs of your ministry at district level and sub-district level. DR MMATLI: We then do not know if the Minister works with his children at his office or what do you You should have qualified personnel who can do their job mean? You should put an end to that Mr Chairperson. exceptionally well. You have to assess the effectiveness of each and every sub-district. Sometimes you hurt us, MR CHAIRPERSON: You decided to remember your for example, the Tonota sub-district got number one complaint and forget how I responded at that time. If in 2017 in the Central district. As I speak, it is leading you were to remember my response, this comment was in implementation and in other things. The leader was never going to be a problem. transferred, number two was also transferred. And what MR OLOPENG: I thank you Mr Chairperson. Let does that mean? This is weakening the department and me take this opportunity Mr Chairperson to thank the I am against that Minister. I urge you to look into these officers in your ministry morespecially those in the things. You cannot transfer the captain and the co-pilot Tonota Sub-district. If you can refer to your books, you after passengers give feedback that those children are will find that every year they have been performing well doing well no matter the turbulences that they come when it comes to delivery since the past three years or across. In that way, you would be facilitating the fall four years, they have been doing well in service delivery. of the airline. I request that you seriously look into this There is a reason for that. It is because we have formed matter because we do not want to seem as if we train for a formidable team in the Tonota Sub-district since the other Ministries. establishment of the Constituency Development Fund. Minister, I request that the Licencing Department… Minister, we are thankful that there are many projects that you are doing in different places representing HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order. different departments. Every Ministry that has a project to undertake works with you and this is why I request MR CHAIRPERSON: Who? that when it comes to human resource, you should be given more so that you can hire more personnel HONOURABLE MEMBER: Myself. in all districts because all of them are dependent on you. When it comes to implementation of projects MR BOKO: On a point of order. We both come from in our constituencies, we look up to your Ministry. Madiba, how can you forget my voice? I am worried Therefore, I wish you could improve the Information by this issue whereby public servants are occasionally and Communications Technology (ICT) system in your referred to as children. This condescending attitude Ministry. should be stopped. Stop that! It is demeaning to our officials. These are adults! These are professionals! Stop When officers have a lot of work and they work manually, there is a possibility of delays of projects. calling them your children! There is a possibility of misappropriating government MR OLOPENG: Mr Chairperson, I am annoyed by the funds without realising how that happens. This could way Honourable Boko does not know the procedure of be a result of an overwhelmed work force as they do Parliament. it manually. At the moment, there are reports that the public service has over employed; I do not want to agree MR CHAIRPERSON: Order! Why are you fighting? to such a study until the person who undertook it comes Honourable Boko, do not fight. Your child has been to Botswana and tells us the country which they are showing concern, so there is no problem. It depends comparing us to. We have remote areas and when there on how the word ‘children’ is used. I am Honourable are 500 people in such areas, it is declared a village and Kokorwe`s child, you are Honourable Boko`s children, resources should be availed. This again points to your those are Honourable Tsogwane`s children. All is well. personnel to assist and that is why I request you to look We are not angry, so calm down. Proceed Honourable at your ICT system. Olopeng.

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MR OLOPENG: Thank you Mr Chairperson. I was have to assess money for Ipelegeng without minding still saying Mr Chairperson, I am annoyed by the way in the elections or anything that usually scares people. We which Honourable Boko is never in the House when you have to determine whether that money in terms of value make rulings on these issues. When he comes, he makes for money carry out permanent developments which noise. You should reprimand him. we will be able to show our children, Batswana and Botswana tomorrow. Minister, I request your Licensing Department to always update other regions. Sometimes you amend policies at I know that we are looking at famine, jobs and other headquarters level and the information does not trickle things but it is time for us to make some tangible projects down to the sub-districts. There are delays and people which we will be able to show tomorrow, I know that we especially the youth become impatient when they do not already have some, but it is really time to improve our get licences in a long time. Ipelegeng programme such that we somehow help the Government with this large sums of money. We must Minister, there is a licence that you give to some see our rural villages as I once said, having mini-labour businesses which you call ‘scrapyard.’ If this is a policy, offices in our Dikgotla. If you are looking for someone, it it should be brought to Parliament so that we amend should be like an Ipelegeng programme. As an employee it and stop this business. Government has lost money who wants to hire, you have to pay, maybe half, they because of this business. Telephone cables, traffic lights you can take that particular person to the farm, cattle cables are being cut off as people want copper to go and post or anywhere else, not as we see them as Ipelegeng employees where they are managed by Ipelegeng. The sell at the scrapyards. If you are the one who licences way we do things, people in many villages spend the people to collect waste and sell at the scrapyards, please whole day in different Dikgotla. Some of them end up stop it. If it is not you, then pardon me. I do not like this sweeping Dikgotla. Those are some of things that we licence because it is like Government has lost millions have to see. When you go to rural villages, there are because of this cables. no roads, people fail to clear roads. They will tell you Minister, coming to the last point; on your maintenance that we do not have equipment like axes and pickaxes budget, we urge the private sector to help sponsor our but they have to clear roads just like Namola Leuba did wards. For example, in Tonota, we built a lavish shelter in the past. If we can fail to deal with this Minister, a and now we are bothered by the maintenance of this time shall come where Batswana will ask us what we shelter because we spent a lot of money building it. We were looking at, some will say that we were influenced sourced funds via sponsorship from the private sector by elections. Maybe you will find out that they are not and it is like your officials never get enough to maintain lying, but we will always have elections, they will never this shelter. The shelter has showers, toilets, Wi-Fi and end. It is not something that can frighten anyone who is so on. You cannot find anything like this shelter not a politician. Whether you win or lose, they will always even at Honourable Boko`s constituency, for instance. be there. I thought to address that issue of Ipelegeng In Selebi Phikwe where Honourable Keorapetse comes that, if we can manage it well, it can turn out to be from, there is nothing. I thank you Mr Chairperson. something great. Mr Chairperson, the developments are failing. As I MR MAJAGA (NATA-GWETA): Thank you Mr explained that we need supplementary, councils do not Chairperson. Let me indicate that I support the Minister’s carry out developments. Development funds which are budget proposal. I completely support him. supposed to create small roads within villages, what Firstly, let me explain that the only challenge is that are they doing, they are failing. These days, councillors we do not have money otherwise we could increase seem to have forgotten about this constituency fund, it money for Local Government and Rural Development appears like it will soon be called council fund. It is the only one which exists, someone once did something because of the reasons that we all know in this House. with it. This Ministry oversees many departments which needs money for developments so that they can assist Let this development fund for council, because councils Batswana, especially in rural areas. Mr Chairperson, are responsible for these roads in rural villages, pave looking at Ipelegeng money which usually supplements them, make some mini-storm water drainage and your budget, we have to start today, not tomorrow. We culverts, let us see them. Other developments in towns

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we know that the main Government gets involved, but it Masters if at all you want Masters, take him to Nata, is the responsibility of councils there, which when you we have a few offices, so that they can start working. look at their budgets, maybe it is money which is meant Ever since I became a Member of Parliament, I never for their salaries only so that they can pay Councillors see the District Commissioner, I only see him when the and their staff. You will then wonder, where we are Minister comes, but there is a District Commissioner in really going. As a House, we have to come with all the Sowa. On the other hand, Sowa is very small and they measures. say that it cannot be expanded to the other side. I do not know how we plan or how we think. The issue of Nata Let me add this, let the Minister and us as Members of has great problems. If you fail to see it, maybe some of Parliament, stand up, and make sure that this collection us as residents of Nata, you will hear about where we that we are supposed to do for councils is done. It is not will go. That is straight and forward. Even if you can done, we have got all departments of bylaw and others go there, they will tell you that we are only left with a where we have to collect rentals, for waste and others, few minutes. let us take action just like BURS which we talked about I hear them discussing Rakops, but the way in which yesterday so that it can increase. Let us not burden the they were arranged, Serowe Administration and Government. We should come up with new programmes Palapye, I know how they were arranged, Tutume was which can help there so that we can increase money the first one. But I do not want to talk about that because so that we can carry out developments. Otherwise, I can talk about it for a very long time. My people do not Batswana will give up on us. get services. We do not have a service centre manager. Mr Chairperson, I will not be doing myself justice, in We are tired of a situation where Dikgotla will be built, my constituency, it is even worse. I want to tell the new I am grateful for Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) Minister that I will not leave this House until you build a because it has tried. We do have Dikgotla and we are Council for Nata because it now causes tribalism. If you grateful for your department Minister. You will see them do not build it, I will keep winning elections until. If it buying a car but they will not give us a driver. If it is will be built, I will leave, I will leave my position and full, whether you go to Matobo or anywhere at all, you become a head boy. The council for Nata Sub-District will wonder; if this person is a Director, why does he which has been there for a very long time, they have not resign and help us in politics so that we can form been doing this and that; we know because we were a Government. Because it was not budgeted for. Why councillors. But now I do not know what is delaying did he not ask for supplementary if he is a Minister? He it. Three constituencies; Tutume Sub-District, Nata- has to come here and ask for supplementary so that we Gweta, 350 km as a constituency on its own, before can give him money for a driver, instead of sending a entering Shashe West, they are failing to take District car without a driver, they make people to fight. You will Commissioner and Council Secretary to Nata so that hear them saying that a car for Maitengwe, Nkange or they can start working. Does it mean that we do not have Manxotai does not have a driver, but it was given as a educated Batswana who can fill those positions? We package. No, a time has come to form a Government but never asked for houses, we want employees to go there. you want votes. All of us who are Directors, Permanent If you go there, you will find a white elephant of a Secretaries, Members of Parliament, have to ask for service centre which is called Nata. You all know that support from the people who are voting. So, we cannot we have got the seven villages of RADS in villages like just stand here without doing anything. Let us stand up Manxotai, Sepako and Tsokatshaa. They are not able to against those issues Honourable Members. go to Tutume because they do not have money. We are I need a culvert in Matare. As I speak, my people are living in floods as you know it. Now what is the problem? transported with boats, Nata river has water, since that Aah! I am tired! I only came for Nata but it seems like it week and we need a culvert which Central District is impossible, it is a person who refuses but we will take Council or the ministry can build so that people can actions against that person because members of Zion cross. Christian Church failed. I do not know what is making it difficult to take Assistant District Commissioner MR CHAIRPERSON: Your time is up Honourable from many of our educated children, those who have Member.

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MR MMOLOTSI (FRANCISTOWN SOUTH): I brought a Motion in this Parliament, where I requested Thank you very much Mr Chairperson. I would like the Government to build old age facilities. Currently, if to straight away address the budget of the Ministry of you look at our cities; taking Francistown as an example, Local Government and Rural Development. Honourable we have elderly men and women who have no children Minister, I would like to point out that your ministry is and they are also destitute. They do not have anyone to capable of making or breaking Batswana because it is assist them with taking their medication. They do not a Government that is found in rural areas; a ministry have anyone to cook for them, or give them the general that is closest to the nation. Having said that, if a budget assistance that they need. These kind of people are the is like this, we have to look deeper into it and check ones who are admitted to old age facilities in other whether it is able to change the lives of our people, countries that are serious with taking care of their people. improving them from where they are now and moving The Government did agree that they were going to build them forward. Mr Chairperson, this is what we have to these old age homes. Last time I talked to Honourable seriously look into. Minister Tshireletso, reminding her that at that time the then Honourable Minister Siele went to the Molemo Honourable Minister, I do not know whether it is wa Kgang television programme, and explained to the because your budget is not enough or what. If you may nation that the Government is working on that idea and refer to the past, your officers were deregistering many they have identified some houses in Gaborone that they people from the destitute programme. The elderly, the were going to use in piloting this programme. We are destitute and orphans who were assisted by Government asking for old age homes in Botswana, to take care of were deregistered in large numbers; they were exempted our parents who do not have their own children, who from being assisted by the Government. As I am talking have no one to take good care of them. There is no now, these people are starving because they have been Government that can ignore people in such a situation. deregistered from these programmes. Honourable Minister, please probe deeper into this issue; go and Honourable Minister you are aware that our budget also verify it. At the moment, we are still in talks with the has to address some of the things that we believe border leadership of the Council who did this. We are trying to on our security in Francistown. You see this issue of get them to clarify how they arrived at this decision. I storm water, it is now a problem. In the past years, even mean this thing… before Honourable Buti Billy was Mayor of Francistown I think, they did something called a Storm Water MR CHAIRPERSON: Only one can go out. Honourable Drainage Master Plan, and its objective was to see how Keorapetse, if you go, the quorum collapses, even you the storm water could be controlled, so that it would not Honourable Molebatsi. be hazardous to the lives of people inhabiting the city. Currently when it rains, people in Francistown become MR MMOLOTSI: If you go to all the constituencies in so nervous because their yards become flooded, their Francistown, this is something which is truly bothering houses collapse, and many things happen. Honourable us. Members, we are requesting that these budgets should try to address these problems, which are endangering Honourable Minister, we are also concerned because the lives of our people. in 2012, some of the people who were given Poverty Eradication projects, that were approved and they were We have sewerage problems. In Francistown, we still trained; after being trained, they were supposed to be have areas in Francistown where the drainage of sewage given… water is still not complete. People are still using pit latrines in the city and this is posing a serious threat MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Molebatsi, the to the lives of our people. If we are going to continue quorum is going to collapse if you go outside. like this in the 21st century, still using pit latrines in the second city of Botswana, no, there is no progress. It MR MMOLOTSI: …the assistance that they needed. seems we are rather regressing. Honourable Minister, these people have been waiting to be funded, from 2012 up to now and now there are many Honourable Minister, the Ipelegeng programme stories that are said. Honourable Minister, consider your assists us to a certain extent, but we need to look at budget, so that these people in the backlog could be the sustainability of some of these programmes. Right funded because they were approved and trained. The now we are talking about a budget of P700 million. I best thing to do would be to assist them. remember that in the 10th Parliament, the budget for

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Ipelegeng was around P500/P600 million. If you look at know where it has gone Honourable Minister. Please the time Ipelegeng has been running, and look at the funds assist us here. I was hoping to see funds that were going that have been used so far, you would realise that if the to build the Phase 4 Customary Court. What happened Government was to be serious with creating permanent for it not to be here? jobs that can generate income for this country, and assist Lastly, Honourable Minister, in our cities of Gaborone people to be gainfully employed, the economy of this and Francistown and others, we have plots that belong country would be very far. What is scaring me is that a to the Council. The Council has plots, houses and other day will come, when the Government will not afford the structures that are not being used which could have P700 million to pay the people engaged at Ipelegeng. If generated income for the cities if rented out to people, that becomes the case, what is going to happen? It would but we are not doing that. So, let us try to update our mean the 78 000 people that are employed at Ipelegeng inventory; and find out how many plots and buildings every month would become grossly impoverished. we have that are not used, so that we can see how we That is why I think what we should be doing now, is could utilise them to create the revenue that could assist to look at the current 700 million of the budget, and our Councils to continue rendering services that people see what we could do to progress while transiting to need. full time employment, to manufacturing industries, to Honourable Minister, we would like you to come up projects that could bring something for purposes of with funds such as the sewage fund. sustainability. I am afraid when the day we are not going to manage comes, what are we going to give the many MR CHAIRPERSON: Your time is up Honourable people who are dependent on Ipelegeng? Mmolotsi.

Someone was talking about the allowances given to MR REATILE (SPECIALLY ELECTED): Let me Ward Development Committees (WDCs), Village thank you Mr Chairperson. I stand to show support to Development Committees (VDCs). Honourable Honourable Frans... Minister, these people have long requested that MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Kgoroba, quorum. they should be given a little something. Honourable Minister, I have shifted from the proposal of giving MR REATILE: …when we try to say the surname we them allowances. I believe these people are elected mess up so it is best we stop at Frans, even us who can leaders; they are elected anytime for a three-year term. speak Afrikaans, sometimes it is not possible Honourable Just like a Councillor and a Member of Parliament, they Chairperson. The issue is that I stand to show support to have been elected; they are earning, let our WDC and the Minister’s request for funds. I know the problems VDC be given a salary or wages every month because he is facing at rural and urban areas because there is they are serving. Their job might not be equivalent to no place without needy people and their lives are all that of Councillors or a Member of Parliament, but they in his hands. Those who are working are the ones not are serving the nation in an amazing way. These days I dependent on him and he extends to the needy who pass would call them, the next day the Mayor would also call away overseas and if their parents are in the Social and them; the next day they would be engaged in something Community Development (S&CD) you transport the body from the place of death so that they can be buried else again. These people are full time employees, they next to their parents. We have to thank you because not are currently volunteering, but I propose that if each one most countries do what you are doing and thank you of them could be given P2000 as a start, it is a drop in again because you are responsible for Batswana who the ocean. Ask Honourable Matambo what it means to are small in number but in an open land, it is 582 000 the 10 WDC members in 57 constituencies. Can this do square kilometers. If we are to persecute you that you any damage to our fiscus? No! Honourable Ministers, are not doing anything in comparison to countries like let us try to ensure that we pay these people because Singapore; which is 637 square kilometers, it would they are working; they are serving this country and if not be fair. We cannot compare with it because it has they are paid better, their services would also improve. a population of 5.6 million. There is congestion and I am concerned because last time we had Phase 4 there is nothing like taking resources to a certain place. Customary Court, it was there in the plan, as one of Everything is in one place. You go to Rwanda, it is Dikgotla that were going to be built. My concern is that 26 000 kilometers and at Burundi it is 27 000 square the Phase 4 Customary Court has disappeared; I do not kilometers…

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MR SPEAKER: Order! Honourable Members, I will queue long lines and people would be asking who they stop the debates here, we will come back at 4:30 p.m. are? To be answered ‘they are Ipelegeng workers they please adhere to the time so that we continue with the have come to get their payments’. Why can we not debate. Let us go. make sure that we start using technology available that will show that we respect people in Botswana? If banks PROCEEDINGS SUSPENDED AT 4:15 P.M. FOR are available and you have not had any complaints, we APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES have no risk of hearing that money disappeared, like PROCEEDINGS RESUMED AT 4:35 P.M. at Molepolole we know that everything at Kweneng is running smoothly. A person goes to the bank at their MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Goya, Honourable own time knowing that their phone has communicated Majaga, time is up, remind them to hurry this side. Order! with them… Honourable Members, take your seats. Honourable Boko, sit down. Order! Order Honourable Members! MR KGOROBA: Clarification. No, I am correcting. Honourable Reatile, continue from where you stopped. Not Kweneng Honourable, maybe it is parts of Kweneng because at Mogoditshane they still queue like slaves. MR REATILE: Thank you Mr Chairperson. MR REATILE: Thank you for correcting me because HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Inaudible)… they have done it at the headquarters. Is it not like mini governments in councils, so you find that the MR REATILE: You like coming to sleep in Parliament, mini government at Kweneng has done that and saying we should lower our voices. the Mogoditshane one has done something else? At Mr Chairperson, I was still showing how the Minister Southern they have refused altogether, there is nothing that happened. I am wondering what you are benefiting has a challenge across this country and having to be because every time when banks try to ease the load for present in all places where there are people residing. you, you keep yourselves busy with nothing. People get I was giving examples with countries like Burundi their salaries around the 7th, 10th while you have long got because they have minerals just like Botswana. They yours around the 22nd. Why are we tormenting people fail to mine them and be processed because of reasons so much? of unrest unlike in Botswana. Like you see in Botswana there is democracy, the likes of Honourable Boko HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. enjoying it and time and again he talks of swiping, MR REATILE: What do they owe so that we pay for showing that indeed there is a democracy. them so that they get the relevant services?

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Murmurs)… MINISTER OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS (DR MADIGELE): Clarification. Thank you very much Mr MR REATILE: Mr Chairperson, I should mention the Chairperson. Are you talking about Sandulela? Why are issue I wanted the Minister to confirm to doing it; that of you not specific that you are talking about Sandulela? Ipelegeng workers country wide. People who work for Ipelegeng who are employed every month in all regions, MR REATILE: No Sir, Sandulela is for the elderly your council administrators are refusing they are still on people, I am talking about Ipelegeng. Sandulela is that 1900 mentality. Commercial banks have advertised for the elderly people and it is advanced after we themselves saying these Ipelegeng workers need to be reprimanded them, now it has network. Let me pass it paid on time. They requested to be allowed to service with great sadness, that you hear me talking with, that these people by adding them to their systems hence we have made a decision at your Ministry, we want to keep ourselves busy at the councils with an easy job, we crediting their money. They were advised to take the could take 4 million to banks and it distributes to the salaries to the banks which will later distribute it to their accounts of people who were employed. accounts.” They have refused, Molepolole has done it. The council where I once worked did not do anything Another issue I want to comment on is that of Headmen because when you are a politician in councils, you are of Arbitration. Their appointments are not going just a clown there. When you try to advise it is assumed accordingly because you will find that it has been agreed you have deals with banks, it is like every time you at a certain ward by the members of that council and the lower the dignity of an Ipelegeng worker. The people name is forwarded. Now, if there is a misunderstanding

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between him and some of the Dikgosi at a senior level, Minister, you have to make sure that these people are the ward will not be appointed with an arbitrator. Please provided with services so that they can be comforted. tell us the criteria that can be used if there is this type Your Ministry emphasises on putting people first. of conflict and which office we can go to so that you Comfort them because they are complaining about the can go and appoint the Headman because those people treatment they are getting from people who are supposed have rights just like every Motswana. We cannot have to be their supervisors. Since there is jealousy at rural jealousy prevailing all the time, people pushing agendas areas surrounding issues of Headsmen of Arbitration, of petty and small talk at the rural areas. It is the issues maybe it is not there in other villages, the Member of I would like you to look at especially the Headmen Parliament for Francistown should be worried because of Arbitration because people always ask about them. he does not know what a Headman of Arbitration is When they get to headquarters if it is in Serowe, they supposed to do. are told to go back to Manxotai to find a solution. When they get to Kanye they are told to back to Thankane MR KABLAY (LETLHAKENG-LEPHEPHE): for a solution and so forth. They go back and forth not Thank you very much Mr Chairperson. We are grateful knowing that when they leave here going there, who for this ministry because it is a huge ministry. It is one makes the final decision. These are the issues that we ministry which services Letlhakeng-Lephephe; my encounter when we get to your ministry, we are told that constituency. The government and councils provides the one who is there is not relevant to assist us. When them with basic necessities. those people make a decision that I should be their Mr Chairperson, the problem is that I do not know why Headman of Arbitration and then I am not appointed, Ipelegeng does not operate like the poverty eradication you just leave it like that without making a follow up programme we had in the past which constructed on why the appointment has not been made. I request buildings. Sometimes there is a need for a storeroom that you take action on this issue so that people who construction at schools or a toilet, these are some of the have been chosen to be Headmen of Arbitration can be things which should be built by Ipelegeng people. If this appointed before the end of the financial year. Minister, could happen, we were going to see major developments I have a list of names of many people. I can give you in our areas. the list right now so that you see how Batswana are suffering. I am so unfortunate to have been at the council I have a challenge regarding orphans at my Constituency. where complaints are being directed to. These are some Orphans do not have clothes and food. We once had a of the issues which your Ministry is challenged with. Minister of Local Government by the name Margaret Nasha who was given the Mmabana nick name looking MR MMOLOTSI: Point of procedure Mr Chairperson. at how she cared for the orphans. She never wanted to I believe that the Honourable Minister is absent minded hear that an orphan sleeps with an empty stomach or because he just said that he is unfortunate to have been has nothing to wear. Mr Chairperson, right now when at the council. I do not know if I understand him clearly you get to schools, you come across situations where but is being at the council a misfortune? I think that orphans are wearing old clothes. Social workers are very he is out of order because we choose our councillors slow to assist orphans with clothes at our constituencies. looking at the huge responsibilities they have. Why did When students go to school, it is always easy to notice he not reject that opportunity since he regards it as a an orphan by the old clothes they are always wearing. misfortune? Mr Chairperson we do not know what to do anymore. MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Mmolotsi, there is Minster let us treat this matter with seriousness because nothing not procedural in this House. You could have the government promised to take care of the orphans. asked for clarification and or correction instead of The needy people; the council recently removed a group stopping us. Honourable Reatile, proceed. of less privileged people from the database through a MR REATILE: Honourable Chairperson, this one process called mass assessment. People are complaining is always lost. I do not know what his problem is but because they do not know why they have been removed Honourable Majaga is here. We have a traditional doctor from the database. The council does not have answers as here who can attend to this matter starting with this one. to why these people were removed. Honourable Minster, You said that you will attend to some people but this one how did the Letlhakeng Council come to a decision to right here needs your urgent attention. remove some needy people from the database? There

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are no jobs where we come from. The council is the Another issue which is a major concern at my only thing which sustains people at my constituency. constituency is that the civic centre has long been Mr Chairperson what are we saying about a situation built at Sojwe and it is still not bearing any fruits. Mr whereby people are removed from the program with no Chairperson, a lot of money was used to build the Sojwe valid reason? Civic Centre, caravans were taken there with a mandate that services were being taken closer to the people. It MR BILLY: On a point of order Mr Chairperson. I was said that there will be a Commissioner at Sojwe so do not know how things are being done in this House that people do not have to travel to renew their identity because you are only facing one side. Some of us have cards and licenses. People from Sojwe, Boatlaname, been here since morning but you are only pointing at Shadishadi and Lephephe are still paying P30.00 to go people who have just arrived…. and renew their identity cards and licenses at Molepolole HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… even though we have a service centre which was built to help people at Sojwe. People at my constituency MR BILLY: I want to be given a chance since I came are not enjoying the promises that were made to them. here early in the morning... They were rejoicing when the service centre was built at Sojwe with the hope that their livelihood will be HONOURABLE MEMBER: We started at two. bettered. Their livelihood has not improved but rather MR BILLY: We started at two but I came in the morning turned out to be difficult. That place has now turned into therefore I want to be given a chance. We spent most of goats and donkeys’ kraal; those beautiful buildings are the time here but people who got here now are being now housing donkeys … given a chance. . You are not fair. You are not doing HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!) … your job well. MR KABLAY: Goats give birth there. It is a challenge MR CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Honourable Billy that we do not know how to tackle Mr Chairperson. for saying that I am not doing my job well. Proceed We took funds to go and build a useless service centre Honourable Kablay. at Molepolole. Mr Chairperson, the service centre at MR KABLAY: Things will be fine Honourable Member Molepolole should be closed; our service centres at of Parliament (MP). Do not stress yourself. He is your rural areas should be assisted to provide services to our fellow Honourable Member. Mr Chairperson I was still people who are suffering. There is no need to boast that talking about the food produce which Ministry of Local our Government is like this when we still have people Government and Rural Development pays entrepreneurs who are suffering. Mr Chairperson, we need to take to supply to the needy people. The problem is that I do action and ensure that services reach people. Let me not know how these tenders operate. Sometimes you leave them two minutes. Thank you Sir. will find out that someone who is supposed to supply the MR NTLHAILE (JWANENG-MABUTSANE): needy people at Letlhakeng with produces will be from Thank you Mr Chairperson. Let me quickly point out that Jwaneng. Tenders to provide meat are won by people this is a huge ministry which is very vital to Batswana who stay far from the base and by the time that person as it can help alleviate poverty. Mr Chairperson, it is arrives at the base, the meat will already be spoilt. People imperative that in the allocation of budget, we should are complaining that they are given food which is not give it priority in so far as increment is concerned. Mr fresh even though the ministry is funding these projects Chairperson, the funds allocated this ministry are not with the hope that people are getting fresh foods. Sir, enough. We wanted this ministry to have between P200 people are not being given clean food because there and P500 million additional funds. If those funds can be are no coupons in these constituencies. There has never secured, they will assist a lot in constituencies such as been a procedure to give people coupons hence they are Jwaneng-Mabutsane which are in poverty. I believe that still following the old procedure. Mr Chairperson, we this ministry can help. One thing that I was looking at is wish that this situation can be attended to. Councils and that Mabutsane Sub-District… social workers should stand up and ensure that people get fresh food produces and meat. HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)…

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MR CHAIRPERSON: Order! Wait Honourable this pension be increased to P1 500.00. I believe that it is Ntlhaile. Honourable Tshireletso, I can hear your voice possible because statistics shows that they are not many. from here. I am wondering which other Committee of It can be possible if we ask other ministries to allocate Supply is going on there. Can you please pay attention a percentage of their budgets to it. The Ministry of to what is going on in the House or go outside and chat, Defence can manage to cut its budget and give it to this those are the two options. Proceed Honourable Ntlhaile. ministry because we do not have so many challenges in that area; we do not need to buy weapons. It is possible. MR NTLHAILE: Alright Mr Chairperson. I was saying this ministry should assist. At Mabutsane Sub-District, Residents of Thankane, Maokane, Mokhomma and Remote Area Service Allowance (RASA) is not enough. Samane board combis to Mabutsane. It is costly for It should be increased because the challenge that we them. We believe the time has come for the villages I have is that Mabutsane will be treated as headquarters of have singled out to have their sub-district so that they do sub-district, and the public servants there are not given not incur costs. Firstly, there are no roads. Therefore, we RASA because it is said that tarred road is nearby but believe it would be better if villages of Sese, Mokhomma, the truth of the matter is that there is no … Maokane and Samane could have their own sub-district. I believe that their population is enough to have services HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. brought closer to them. It is something that I believe is possible. MR NTLHAILE: No, I do not have much time. There are no services. I was saying RASA allowance should Another challenge which this ministry needs to focus be increased in the sub-district… on is that when you get to Mabutsane sub-district all the much needed services, be it transport … right now we HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs!) … have a serious challenge of pupils who need transport MR NTLHAILE: The whole district … because vehicles have been taken to Kanye. We want Kanye to release sub-district; services should be taken HONOURABLE MEMBER: No, it is fine. from Kanye to the sub-district. This a very painful situation because it seems all the services are taken HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Inaudible)… from Mabutsane Sub-District to Kanye. We want the MR NTLHAILE: Okay. Mr Chairperson, one other Minister to look into this matter because it makes our issue which is of concern is village infrastructure at constituency to lose services or the resources that can Mabutsane Sub-District. This is one sub-district which assist people. by now could have the fully-fledged infrastructure; Mr Chairperson, at Morwamosu we have Dikhaneng tarred internal roads, sewerage system with a treatment village. There is shortage of services at Dikhaneng so plant, bus rank … when it rains, residents have nowhere to go. We therefore HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… request that those who are responsible for housing in this ministry should assist the residents of Dikhaneng MR NTLHAILE: So, it seems your ministry established at Morwamosu because currently they are not getting Mabutsane as a sub-district without due diligence. I any assistance. When it rains their lives are endangered. was saying since offices are available, public servants are there, and for the village to develop to be able to Ipelegeng workers under the Ministry of Local attract businesses, business owners, to attract investors Government are exposed to risks in their job but it into this village; there is need to improve the status of seems the Government is ignoring them. We request that Mabutsane, roads which were long promised should be Ipelegeng workers be provided with protective clothing; constructed. Every day the residents of that constituency protective shoes, overalls, gloves, goggles, just to ask me when will the headquarters of their sub-district mention a few. It is important to protect them because be given the status of a sub-district. We are therefore though they are not getting much, they are doing a lot, asking that this situation be rectified; street lights leading they are volunteering. to Maiteko Secondary School should be installed. The other thing Minister is to remind you that in 2008 Another thing is that there is need to increase old age this ministry had budgeted P8 million for Jwaneng-Sese pension because their pension is not enough despite the road, so perhaps you can start with the preparations recent little increment. That is why we are asking that because our economy has since improved. It has been

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more than 10 years since the project was suspended. MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND We therefore want this Ministry to see to it that it does RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MR VAN DER something with the Jwaneng-Sese road because it WESTHUIZEN): Thank you Mr Chairperson. I would was supposed to be tarred. So this has to be rectified like to firstly appreciate the positive responses from Honourable Members. all the Honourable Members in the House. Also to appreciate that really the budget could be increased, but In conclusion Honourable Member I would like to say due to constraints or shortage of funds from the Ministry since we are all aware of the efforts that are made by the of Finance and Economic Development, we cannot Village Development Committee (VDC). It is high time accommodate all the requests from the Honourable since they are now centralised to the Ministry of Local Members and from different constituencies. I do Government from Dikgotla but it is time to pay them appreciate that you acknowledge and you are positive some allowance because they sacrifice to leave their about the ministry, and you also appreciate the impact homes and work for the community. It is high time we this ministry has in people’s lives in your different find ways in which we could help them… communities and constituencies. MR CHAIRMAN: Time up. The next speaker will I would like to respond to some of the Member’s questions debate for three minutes. Honourable Molebatsi; two and comments, because basically you would find that minutes. they are mostly the same and they are all sometimes MR MOLEBATSI (MOCHUDI EAST): I thank you affected by shortage of funds and what we have in our Mr Chairman. I do not think the budget allocated to plans. The requests and comments by Honourable Arone, the Ministry of Local Government is enough because about Tribal accommodation in Okavango. The Tribal that ministry has got a lot of projects to do. In Kgatleng Offices that we have been building and constructing, we the primary schools do not have toilets. Even if they have not included housing because of shortage of funds. can be pit latrines that are designed in such a way that We are considering that maybe we should reduce…, if the students would not fall inside them, they are fine. we have 20 Tribal Offices, maybe reduce the number to All the Kgotlas from Ramotlabaki up to Oodi-Bokaa, include staff housing. Having said that, these are some do not have furniture, computers and transport. It is of the things we will have to consider in the Mid-Term therefore important that we allocate a bigger budget to this ministry. Review of National Development Plan (NDP) 11. As I said, we are aware of that problem and we have also I think for you to allocate Kgatleng P5.3 million was discussed it in the ministry. not right because Kgatleng is always neglected. It has nothing to show when it comes to local government. The issue of vehicles for the Remote Area Development The Village Development Committee should be given Programme (RADP) hostels at Xakao and other villages P1,500 and the Ipelegeng Programme should be is also an issue that we can raise with the relevant reviewed so that they stop working in turns. The VDC council. I think they are also aware of these problems, should not be given allowances so that banks can take but with the budgets, we always have a problem of them seriously. The VDC is doing an excellent job. replacing or buying vehicles for different departments and institutions. Social workers; I think it is one of the The P10 million of the constituency fund is really areas where the council is paying a lot of attention, but working for us because we use it on a number of projects. I therefore suggest that we increase it to P50 we also have a shortage of social workers, and we cannot million so that we can start building our own roads provide all villages with a social worker. That is why because it seems like they are never going to be built sometimes villages are clustered, for social workers to for us. If we were given the P50 million, we were going serve in those areas. to construct the road from Mmamashia to Lentswaneng We also have Honourable Madigele talking about la Theko. The budget that we were going to request for Constituency Fund. The Constituency Fund as you was going to be for other projects. Honourable Members may realise is accommodated within our Development the money must be increased. Budget and if you increase it, it means other projects MR CHAIRPERSON: Time up. Honourable Minister that are accommodated under our Development Fund thank them briefly. will also be constrained like backlog of classrooms

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and accommodation. It means it will have an impact Honourable Mangole; graduation of beneficiaries; on some people if we increase the Constituency Fund I agree with you that our beneficiaries, especially and other projects will also suffer. I hear some of you when they are physically fit, they should be able to requesting for internal roads and other projects, that is graduate. It is just that I think some of our politicians where we have to see that we do the best we can with sometimes insist that we accommodate more people in what we have, as we have this P10 million. We will look our destitution list, in fact, it is Government policy that into the fund but as I said, it does not mean we will people should graduate. increase the ceiling of our Development Budget, we will have to look at the most important projects that are Village Development Committee (VDC) allowances; not implementable through our normal Development we are also aware of the view that the responsibilities Budget. of VDCs have increased dramatically. It is something that we discussed in our ministry to see how we can The issue of main Dikgotla taking vehicles from the assist VDCs so that they earn more per month. We were smaller Dikgotla; which we are aware of and we have even considering that we should have a second sitting questions from Parliament. Sometimes it is an issue for VDC members so that they can earn more monthly, of not having drivers in these small villages. We will but because of budgetary constraints, we could not keep on looking into it and we are engaging different accommodate that. We are aware of the responsibilities Tribal Offices about this trend. I can report that it does and we do appreciate the services that VDCs render to not only happen in your constituency, but across most the different communities. constituencies. The tribal offices in Mochudi; we are now at the stage Molapowabojang; no roads to the Kgotla. These are of design of these tribal offices. I can assure you some of the projects that you have to consider under Honourable Member Mangole that we are going to your Constituency Development Fund. That is what implement construction of these offices. I said when we were addressing Kgotla meetings, that Members of Parliament and Councillors should Headmen of Arbitration allowances; since 2018, they work together when they plan on how they will utilise have been issued with payslips, so it is something that the Constituency Fund, and address some of these we have already implemented and also to facilitate them developmental challenges. with the financial institutions.

Mmathethe Junior School…, sub-district; the issue This one of Remote Area Development Programme of the sub-district to be moved from Kanye to (RADP), through affirmative action to pay for electricity Molapowabojang, these are some of the things that are connection of P5 000, I think it might be a noble idea, discussed at the council level and they advise the ministry but I think at this stage, it is unaffordable for us to do so. accordingly as to where they want them. The ministry is We are also aware as I have already said that the P10 currently carrying out consultations on the draft Service million for now is what Government can afford for Centre Guidelines with a view to decentralise services constituency projects. This one that Members of to other centres like Molapowabojang, so it is something Parliament (MPs) should now be able to assist people that is on the table at district level. with P2 500 000; that is something that we really Let me address this one of Kopong Primary School. You cannot consider because it can be abused and it is also are aware that in the National Development Plan (NDP) unaffordable. This P10 million… 11, we do not have any construction of primary schools, MR MOLEBATSI: Point of order. Can the Minister but I think with the Mid-Term Review, it is some of the withdraw his words that Members of Parliament would things that we have to reconsider to bring it in because really it is a challenge that we do not have primary abuse funds when we are just posing this as a suggestion. school construction in the NDP 11. It is one of the issues Please withdraw those words Minister. Members of that we have to consider in the Mid-Term Review. Parliament are honourable.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… MR CHAIRPERSON: Did you hear him well? Honourable Minister, clarify what you said. MR VAN MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: No, Dr Madigele. DER WESTHUIZEN: What I mean is that we cannot Yes, they heard me. accommodate it, this fund is meant for constituency

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development projects. We will not be able to afford this Directive which suggested that Nata should be a sub- that Members of Parliament through their offices to district, what justification should we give to Batswana? assist people with small projects of P2 500 000, it is Minister, help us on that; how come some sub-districts unaffordable at this stage. were suggested and even became established and fully- fledged unlike Nata sub-district? Honourable Olopeng; this one I have already addressed, two officers that were transferred at a go, we have only MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: As I have already transferred on promotion the Senior Assistant Council explained in my response, I said it is because of resource Secretary (SACS), to be the Council Secretary in Maun, constraints, and we do not have the finance to make it but your SACS is still there, we have not transferred him a fully-fledged sub-district. If I can explain, even if you or her, she/he is still in that sub-district. go to other sub-districts, they do not have the relevant infrastructure as we speak, and we will continue We appreciate that your team is formidable and that they engaging so that we deliver the necessary infrastructure, are delivering and performing well. That is something but because of the limited budget, it is not possible to that I think other sub-districts or councils should also do so, but we will keep on seeing how we can, because encourage their officers to do. really nationally, we have a challenge of establishing sub-districts as we want them... Money for youth; in our ministry we do have a Youth Department so we will always see how to address HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… and assist youth development and youth employment. MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: Developments not Through our office, we do have offices of youth in the happening, Constituency Fund; these are the things that different councils or also at ministry level. we are aware of. Those are issues that are constraining, even from your comments from different Members, you Public service as you know, if you look at the budget know that our budget is not enough to cover all because for public service, you will see that, even if you do not of the emoluments, as somebody has already said that agree that there is over employment, we are constrained Honourable Majaga knows. He was also a Councillor by the budget and what we are already spending on our and he is aware that we are struggling to attempt to all public service. our requests.

This one on scrapyard, I did not understand what were Tribalisation in these other sub-districts; I really do you talking about, there was too much noise. not know. I am not aware of any tribalism when we implement projects in different districts. I do not want We do appreciate that the private sector assists us in to respond to that one until we have full evidence that maintenance, and we are thankful for that. I hope that there is tribalism. all other Honourable Members will engage the private Creation of District Commissioner and Council sector to assist us to maintain our public infrastructure. Secretary posts; even at the sub-district level we only Honourable Majaga, I remember coming into the have Senior Assistant Council Secretary and we have a Deputy District Commissioner. We do not have a ministry in 2014, you were very upset about this sub- full position of District Commissioner and Council district, but we are not saying that we are not going Secretary. to…, because Nata was amongst the 19 sub-districts approved through a Presidential Directive Cab.21 (B) MR MAJAGA: On a point of clarification. Thank you 2008, but due to resource constraints, it has not been Minister, I hear you. In short, our request is that we create operationalised. However, Nata serves as a Service those positions for Assistant District Commissioner Centre like all other service centres countrywide, but if and Senior Assistant Council Secretary. We are not we need to increase and see the different posts that we interested in seeing buildings at Nata Sub-district like have to create, it is something that we can look into if it in Tonota. We know how Tonota was separated from is affordable without it having an impact on the budget. Tutume. I was a Councillor. Things are scattered, they took caravans and established Tonota. But you are now MR REATILE: Clarification. Thank you Mr failing to do the same with Nata, please go and tell Chairperson. While still on that Minister, what should those people, explain it to them. Maybe Minister should we say to the public if the Directive has been made and do it like Minister responsible for Water when he told some sub-districts were established after the issuance of residents of Mosetse and they gave up.

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MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: To establish Nata as Moshupa came later and they received their packages. a Sub-district is a decision that has already been taken. Now what is happening at Mabutsane? We are talking It is for us to move forward now and see how we can about something that is real. establish the sub-district. It is not an issue that I can go to Nata and tell people that we are not going to establish MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: Mr Chairperson, it is a sub-district. The decision was taken in 2008. We have not only Mabutsane that needs internal roads, we have to find ways and means that it becomes a fully-fledged many other … sub-district. ASSISTANT MINISTER OF LOCAL Honourable Mmolotsi; the drainage problem has been GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT coming on for some time and we have always tried to (MS TSHIRELETSO): On a point of order. Mr engage on it. For now, we are only addressing internal Chairman, he was just taking advantage of me when he roads, drainage and streetlights in the three villages that said that he does not want Honourable Reatile but today I mentioned: Gabane, Kang and Tutume. In the next he is supporting him. He should withdraw what we once plan, we might include the Francistown City. discussed when we were at Itholoke. Thank you Mr Chairperson. MR REATILE: On a point of clarification. Thank you Chairperson. While still explaining what you are doing MR CHAIRPERSON: I do not know those words and in Tutume, Gabane and Kang, let me ask a question he is not …(Interruptions) … that is similar to Honourable Majaga’s. Mabutsane is a HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order. sub-district, Gabane is not a sub-district, Kang is not a sub-district yet you are making internal roads and MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Member, I am still putting up street lights for it but you always tell us that talking, I do not know what happened and he is not even on the floor. Do not waste our time with those issues. there are no funds to service village infrastructure for Mabutsane. Why do you implement developments at MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: Mr Chairperson, Local Government and Rural Development through as I said, we will continue as we move forward in favouritism? What is your main reason? doing our plans, to accommodate other sub-districts or headquarters in different constituencies. We are also MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: Mr Chairperson, going to develop their infrastructure especially the these projects for Kang, Gabane and Tutume are projects internal roads, drainage and streetlights. This is ongoing … and we will attend to it. MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: On a point of order. As I said, Ipelegeng is one of the programmes that needs to be reviewed. For now, that is how we are HONOURABLE MEMBER: He is not talking to you. going to apply it with the budget. As you said, it is a MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: I know that he is not programme with scarce funding and it is unsustainable. talking to me but he is wrong when he says that Gabane It is something that can be reviewed and looked into. is favoured. The P2000 per month for Village Development Committees (VDCs); as I have already said, if you look MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: Mr Chairperson, I will at our budget, how constrained it is, it is unaffordable. have to explain; the Kang, Gabane and Tutume projects were shelved in 2008/09 and they were resuscitated Space for tribal offices; councils with plots and houses could generate income. It is something that we could when we introduced the Economic Stimulus Programme share with councils. If they have any vacant houses (ESP). It is not an issue of favouritism, we will consider or plots, they can generate income. It is a welcome other projects as we do our plans and accommodate idea especially that councils are not collecting much. these other sub-districts. Councils are only run by the Revenue Support Grant (RSG). MR NTLHAILE: On a point of clarification. Minister, we do not hear what you are saying. If only you could Honourable Reatile; it is a challenge for us to provide explain the criteria that you used in Mabutsane case, services as the Ministry of Local Government and Rural which one did you use? I remember that places like Development to all the different districts looking at how

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widely spread our different villages and community MR CHAIRPERSON: Order! Honourable Minister, live. It is indeed a challenge and even up to now, we proceed. still have requests from small villages for services in their areas. It has become a challenge to Government MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: We cannot respond because all of us want internal roads, streetlights and to the issue of RASA; it is not sitting with my ministry. other municipal services. Mabutsane infrastructure; I have responded that it is in the plans, as I said, the ones we are doing now are Ralekgotla (Headman); this issue is something that we coming from 2008 and 2009 when we had the economic all believe should be addressed by communities through downturn. different tribal leadership. It is a concern but we always encourage different communities and tribal leaders to Increase of pension fund, as I said, this is what we could engage communities to find a solution for the challenges accommodate for this coming financial year. I would of Bogosi. This is one of the issues that are always also personally love to; I mean I have compassion for raised at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural our pensioners, but allowance of P1500, we will have Development and it is always giving us a headache. to really look at it. We have a ceiling and we have to operate within that ceiling, and as I always explain in When we have those issues out there in the different Parliament. Ministry of Local Government and Rural tribal districts, we would like people to resolve them Development; we have universal pension that covers with their different leaders. We cannot direct different all the 1065 to benefit from this cash allowance. So, communities as to who should be their tribal leaders. It that is what makes it very difficult at this stage. As I is something that we always want them to resolve. We said, and also the Ministry of Finance and Economic appreciate that we have that challenge. As I have said, Development explained that we have increased by 23 this is the best way we can attend to it. At the end of per cent for pensioners because we can see that we have the day, if they cannot agree, these issues should then be a challenge. Pensioners are also eligible to be assessed taken to court to resolve them. when… This issue of orphans; you know Honourable Kablay that MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Minister, please we have to address it. Even this morning we talked about wind up. people being removed from destitute list but we always encourage our officers to look into the policy as to who MR VAN DER WESTHUIZEN: Yes, let me move qualifies to be a destitute and who does not. This one Mr Chairperson. I want to thank everybody again. I therefore move that the 2019/2020 Recurrent Budget of tenders, we have got Local Economic Development in the sum of Six Billion, Four Hundred and Twenty- (LED), where we would like local businesses within our Eight Million, One Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand, constituencies to benefit from Government tenders. So, One Hundred and Twenty-Pula (P6 428 155 120) really it is something that we are looking into, and we be approved and stand part of the Schedule of the have discussion on it almost every week. Appropriation 2019/2020 Bill 2019 for Head 0800 and that the Development Budget in the sum of One Billion, Sojwe Service Centre; I will have to investigate as to Seven Hundred and Seventy Million (P1 770 000 000) what is happening there, why it is not operating. be approved and stand part of those estimate. I thank you. Remote Area Service Allowance (RASA); Honourable Ntlhaile, it is not ours, it is at the office of the President, Question put and agreed to. so I am not going to respond to issues of RASA. ORGANISATION 0500: Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food MR CHAIRPERSON: Order! We have lost quorum. Security Order! We need just one Member. MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Members, we HONOURABLE MEMBER: Ring the bell. have allocated 2 hours 15 minutes for this Organisation. MR CHAIRPERSON: Did you just say ring the bell? I shall call upon the Honourable Minister to reply to Go and call them please. the debate tomorrow at 1620 hours, and I will put the question at 1650 hours, tomorrow. Honourable Markus, HONOURABLE MEMBER: …what is their duty? you have 20 minutes to present your budget proposal.

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ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL In an effort to support the livestock sub-sector and DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MR particularly to alleviate shortage of feeds, fodder MARKUS): Thank you Mr Chairperson. I wish production is promoted. To this end, 1000 napier grass to present to this Honourable House the Ministry seedlings have been distributed to farmers to plant. of Agricultural Development and Food Security’s Recurrent and Development Budget for the 2019/2020 Facilitating Access to Commodity Market financial year. Mr Chairperson, to facilitate access to local produced Sectoral Review commodities under varies existing protocols such as the Southern African Development Community Crop Sub-sector (SADC) Protocol on Trade and the European Union – SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EU-SADC The Agricultural sector continues to experience the EPA), my ministry has sought and obtained financial effects of climate change as shown by late and sporadic assistance from the EU to intensify implementation rains coupled with high temperatures that resulted in of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) management and low hectarage ploughed. To date, 3002 hectares have control activities. This is a multi-sectoral project whose been planted by 315 farmers compared to 5191 hectares beneficiaries also include inter alia; Ministry of Health planted by 864 farmers this time last year. Therefore, and Wellness, Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) it is unlikely that this year’s total crop production will farmers and traders. reach last year’s level of 135 408 tonnes. My ministry continues to monitor compliance to The horticultural sector which exhibits impressive import and export regulations through conducting growth has not been spared from the effects of climate change. Crop damage due to high temperatures, frost, market intelligence, which revealed high incidence of floods and crop pests and diseases has been observed. As smuggling of agricultural products especially at Pioneer a result, total production for 2017/2018 was estimated and Tlokweng ports. Products that are usually smuggled to be 65 700 tonnes, representing 59 per cent of the include; potatoes, onions and tomatoes national demand of 112 000 tonnes. Mr Chairperson, my ministry continues to implement Mr Chairperson, an increase in the farmers’ uptake Government support programmes such as Livestock appropriate technologies, such as climate smart Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) agriculture has been observed. Therefore, training in and Special Integrated Support Programme for Arable climate smart agriculture has also been intensified Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) to promote for both farmers and extension staff. Due to elevated livestock production. The ministry collaborates with the temperatures, horticulture farmers are encouraged to National Strategy Office and New Zealand Government produce under the protected environments such as shade on beef cluster development and beef productivity nets, tunnels and green houses. training to improve the beef sub-sector competitiveness.

Research and Development Lobu and Setata Farmers Mr Chairperson, my ministry through the department of In transforming the livestock sub-sector, the Government Agricultural Research continues to invest in animal and crop research to support local farmers and to promote resuscitated Lobu small stock (sheep and goats) farm agricultural development. Various crop varieties that are in Southern Kgalagadi, which is being replicated in adaptable to adverse local conditions are continuously other areas such as Setata to improve the quality of the being developed. To this end, two sorghum varieties that national flock. are tolerant to witch weed have recently been released. One of this varieties, BWS 5028 will be made available Dairy Production to farmers in the 2019/2020 cropping season. Milk production has improved, with local production The multiplication of Musi, a composite cattle breed increasing to 7.2 litres as at December 2018 compared that is suited to local conditions continues amid a major to 6.4 million litres during the same time in 2017. Local challenge of low uptake of the breed by farmers. My milk supply remains far short at the national demand ministry is working closely with the private sector to of 65 million litres per year. To address the shortfall, multiply Musi breed. various activities being developed across the country

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include; MilkAfric, which has the capacity to hold 2000 Mr Chairperson, a total of Two Billion, Four Hundred cows and the Sunnyside dairy farm has also increased and Ninety-Three Million, Two Hundred and Forty- dairy cows from 705 to 1 160. Seven Thousand and Ten Pula (P2,493,247,010) for both Recurrent and Development Budget is proposed Artificial Insemination for the ministry for the 2019/2020 financial year. This My ministry provides artificial insemination (AI) amount is made up of One Billion, Three Hundred services to farmers to improve the genetic potential of and Thirty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Forty- the national herd through 13 AI Camps. In 2017/2018, Seven Thousand and Ten Pula (P1,337,74,010) for 4 444 cows were entered compared to 4 364 cows in the the Recurrent Budget and One Billion, One Hundred previous year. The AI service has also been extended to and Fifty-Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand Pula farmers through the on-farm initiative. (P1,155,500,000) for the Development Budget.

Livestock Drought Subsidy RECURRENT AND DEVELOPMENT BUDGET 2019/2020 Following the recommendation of an assessment conducted late last year on the drought and vulnerability Mr Chairperson, allow me to present the Recurrent and situation in the country, the Government approved a 25 Development Budget proposals for my ministry. per cent drought subsidy on livestock feeds, vaccines Recurrent Budget 2019/2020 and deworming drugs such as relief measures for livestock farmers. The window of the subsidy is from The ministry’s Recurrent Budget proposal for the 10 December 2018 to 31st March 2019. I am pleased financial year 2019/2020is One Billion, Three Hundred to inform this House that the subsidy has immensely and Thirty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Forty- mitigated the adverse effects of drought despite the low Seven Thousand and Ten Pula (P1, 337, 747, 010) uptake owing to rains that were received in December which is an increase of Forty Thousand, and Ninety 2018. Pula (P40,090) over the approved year’s budget of one Foot and Mouth Disease Updates billion, three hundred and thirty-seven million, seven hundred and six thousand, nine hundred and twenty Mr Chairperson, the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Pula (P1,337,706,920). situation in the country remains stable. However, FMD outbreaks in the neighbouring countries continue to The ministry’s four parastatal organizations namely; pose a risk and disrupt trade in agricultural products due Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural to the applied stringent biosecurity measures. Resources, Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board, In Ngamiland, the last case of FMD was reported on Botswana Meat Commission and National Food 29th July 2018 following the Naune outbreak which Technology Research Centre have been allocated a total was successfully controlled by instituting movement sum of Three and Eight Million, Four Hundred and Ten controls, public awareness and vaccination. Thousand Pula (P308,410,000), which is 23 per cent of Botswana Animal Information and Traceability System the total budget estimate for the ministry. (BAITS) has been rolled out to the whole country. The The proposed total allocation for the ministry’s cattle ear tagging rate through Combo tags currently stands at 84 per cent. Tagging has been enhanced by the departments is One Billion and Twenty-Nine Million, establishment of 60 BAITS cafes across the country that Three Hundred and Seven Thousand and Ten Pula are operated by the youth. (P1,029,307,010) as indicated in the 2019/2020 Estimates of Expenditure from the Consolidated and Agriculture Mega Projects Development Funds Book, page 23 to 27. Mr Chairperson, Pandamatenga Agriculture Development Budget 2019/2020 Infrastructure Development Phase 3 which comprises 100 kilometres of gravel roads and 105 kilometres Mr Chairperson, the Development Budget proposal of drains is ongoing. The project is at 83 per cent for the financial year 2019/2020 is One Billion, One completion, which is within the revised schedule. The Hundred and Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand expected completion date is June 2019. Pula.

32 Hansard No 193 Wednesday 27th February 2019 ORGANISATION 0500: MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY Committee of Supply

MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Minister, read out Forty-Seven Thousand and Ten Pula (P1, 337, 747, 010) those figures correctly. Calm down and read it properly. under the recurrent estimates, stand part of the schedule of the Appropriation (2019/2020) Bill, 2019 (No. 1 of MR MARKUS: Which one? This one? 2019) and the sum of One Billion One Hundred and MR CHAIRPERSON: Yes sir. Fifty-Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Pula (P1, 155, 500 000) under the development estimates be HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… approved. I thank you.

MR MARKUS: Hey! Keep quiet! The Development MR CHAIRPERSON: Order! Honourable Boko, you Budget proposal for the financial year 2019/2020 is are too near me. I have asked that you should keep One Billion, One Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, quiet when I take the floor. Honourable Members, the Five Hundred Thousand Pula (P1,155,500,000). This question is that the sum of One Billion Three Hundred budget reflects a decline of Five Hundred and Seventy- and Thirty-Seven Million Seven Hundred and Forty- Seven Million, Six Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pula Seven Thousand and Ten Pula (P1, 337, 747, 010) for (P577,620,000) which is 33 per cent of the 2018/2019 Organisation 0500 in the schedule stand part of the Development Budget. This significant decline is schedule, and the revised total estimated costs for sub- attributed to two supplementary requests approved organisation in Organisation 0500 in the development for the ministry, being Eight Hundred Million Pula fund estimates stand part of those estimates. (P800, 000,000) for BMC support and Forty-Two Million Pula (P42, 000, 000,) for Livestock Support MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND Projects. The expenditure as at 22nd February 2019 HOUSING DEVELOPMENT (MR SERETSE): was 90 per cent. The 2019/2020 developments funds Thank you Mr Chairperson. Let me start off by will be used mainly for the projects indicated below; indicating that I support my colleague’s request for Ministry of Agricultural Headquarters, P167 million. funds. Now going into his presentation that when we The requested amount of P167 million is mainly for talk of agriculture Honourable Members, we must Botswana Animal Traceability System at P15 million, understand that it is an important sector of which if Agricultural Infrastructure Development at P55 million we were producing enough, our country could move and Botswana Meat Commission Support at P97 forward. What worries me is that there is a substantial million. This constitutes approximately 14 per cent of amount set aside for ploughing which depends on rainfall the ministry’s Development Budget. (subsistence farming). We must realise that using funds for ISPAAD can be expensive as we might not get them Crop Production back. We must ensure that we assist commercial/large scale farmers. In developed countries it has evident The sum of P842 million is required under the Department that large scale farmers are enduring and they make of Crop Production. This constitutes approximately 73 per cent of the ministry’s Development Budget. sure that there is food in the country. Let us develop The request funds are basically for Integrated Support the infrastructure there; there should be boreholes for Programme for Arable Agricultural Development irrigation. (ISPAAD) at P564 million, Livestock Management and MR MAELE: Clarification. Sir, I heard what he was Infrastructure Development (LIMID) at P100 million, saying. I want him to explain to us that in terms of yield, Agricultural Service Support Programme at P30 million, when you compare produce from commercial farmers Strategic Grain Reserve at P97 million, Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security housing and subsistence farmers, are you saying commercial at P22 million. Integrated offices at extension areas farmers are producing more than subsistence farmers so at P50 million, Zambezi Agro Project at P4 million, much that we have to concentrate on commercial and management disposal of obsolete pesticides waste at P5 leave small farmers, the ones who are many in your million and Pandamatenga Agricultural Infrastructure constituency? Development at P5 million. MR SERETSE: We got this information from Mr Chairperson, this concludes my presentation on the agriculture officers when they were talking about yield 2019/2020 Recurrent and Development Budget for my per hectare that commercial farmers produce more per ministry. I therefore move that the sum One Billion Three hectare than the majority farmers in our areas. We must Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million Seven Hundred and be honest with ourselves and stick to the truth. The

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reason why I am not planting is because when you plant ADJOURNMENT in that area you are talking about, it takes the whole year. You are told to go plough, when the first rain comes LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): Thank you Mr Speaker. I move that this House do now you go and plant and later on harvest. One time I asked adjourn. someone who had 30 bags of sorghum how much is a bag. He told me it is P100, and it dawned on me that it Question put and agreed to. means all 30 bags’ turnover is P3 000. For me it is not logical to spend the whole year… The Assembly accordingly adjourned at 6:00 p.m. until Thursday, 28th February 2019 at 2:00 p.m. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification.

MR SERETSE: …he is working for P3 000.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: You are yielding for me.

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Inaudible)…

MINISTER OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MR OLOPENG): Clarification. Thank you Honourable Member. I heard you saying you do not plant and I heard one Honourable Member saying you do not have a farm, yours is at Nandos. Were you confirming that?

MR SERETSE: The truth is …

MR KEORAPETSE: Clarification. Honourable Vincent Seretse, here is the truth, instead of concentrating more on commercial agriculture, the Government believes that if handouts can reach many hands, it is better than concentrating on large scale commercial farmers who can produce better yields.

MR SERETSE: Minister, I have advised you to encourage Batswana to engage in commercial farming. I am saying this because you are talking about opening markets, European Union (EU) and African markets. There is no way without produce that those markets would be worthwhile for you because small farmers plant for consumption. One more important thing which I commend you for is that, you are saying you want to ensure that your produce is of good standard in terms of sanitary and phytosanitary standards. Right now these things the world over …

MR CHAIRPERSON: Order!

MR SPEAKER: Order Honourable Members! Order!

MOTION

34 Hansard No 193 HANSARD RECORDERS Mr. T. Gaodumelwe, Mr T. Monakwe, Ms T. Kebonang HANSARD REPORTERS Ms T. Rantsebele, Mr M. Buti, Ms N. Selebogo, Ms A. Ramadi, Ms D. Thibedi, Ms G. Baotsi, Ms N. Mokoka, Mr J. Samunzala, Ms Z. Molemi

HANSARD EDITORS Ms K. Nyanga, Ms C. Chonga, Mr K. Goeme, Ms G. Phatedi, Ms B. Malokwane, Mr A. Mokopakgosi, Ms O. Nkatswe, Ms G. Lekopanye Ms T. Mokhure, Ms B. Ratshipa

HANSARD TRANSLATORS Ms B. Ntisetsang, Ms. M. Sekao, Ms. M. Rabotsima, Ms. B. Mosinyi, Ms. V. Nkwane, Ms. N. Kerobale, Ms K. Alepeng, Ms T. Motsau, Ms O. Phesodi

HANSARD LAYOUT DESIGNERS Mr B. B. Khumanego, Mr D. T. Batshegi, Mr K. Rebaisakae

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