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DAILY YOUR VOICE IN PARLIAMENT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAYMONDAYTUESDAY 1303 07 NOVEMBERDECEMBER NOVEMBER 20182018 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 Gaborone 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. Dr P. Venson-Moitoi, MP. (Serowe South) - Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon. O. K. Mokaila, MP. (Specially Elected) - 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. T. S. Khama, MP. (Serowe West) - Tourism Hon. B. Arone, MP. (Okavango) - Minister of Basic Education Hon. D. K. Makgato, MP. (Sefhare - Ramokgonami) - 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. M. N. Ngaka, MP (Takatokwane) - 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. Olopeng, MP. (Tonota) - 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. (Palapye) - Assistant Minister, Investment, Trade and Industry Assistant Minister, Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Hon. D. P. Makgalemele, MP (Shoshong) - 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. F. S. Van Der Westhuizen, MP. (Kgalagadi South) - Assistant Minister, Agricultural Development and Food Security MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND THEIR CONSTITUENCIES Names Constituency RULING PARTY (Botswana Democratic Party) Hon. S. M. Guma, MP Tati East Hon. C. De Graaff, MP Ghanzi 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. K. Markus, MP Maun East Hon. P. Majaga, MP Nata-Gweta Hon. M. I. Moswaane, MP Francistown 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 Mochudi West Hon. A. S. Kesupile, MP Kanye South Hon. N. S. L. M. Salakae, MP Ghanzi North Hon. Dr. T. O. M. Mmatli, MP Molepolole 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 Mogoditshane 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 FIRST MEETING OF THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT Monday 03 December, 2018 CONTENTS PAGE (S) SPEAKER’S ANNOUNCEMENT.......................................................................................................................1 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER............................................................................................................1 - 8 Response to the President’s Speech Motion (Resumed Debate)..............................................................................................................................9- 29 Monday 03rd December 2018 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER Monday 3rd December, 2018 Mr Speaker, Government does not have a definition of a church, however, according to the Oxford Dictionary, THE ASSEMBLY met at 2:00 p.m. a church refers to “a particular Christian organisation (THE SPEAKER in the Chair) with its own clergy, buildings and distinctive doctrines.” P R A Y E R S Finally Mr Speaker, at the time of the review of Societies Act prior to 2015, there was a general concern * * * * on the proliferation of churches in Botswana, hence the decision taken by Government to increase the minimum SPEAKER’S ANNOUNCEMENT number of registration of religious organisations to 150. MR SPEAKER (MR MOLATLHEGI): Take your I thank you Mr Speaker. seats Honourable Members. Honourable Butale, I am MR REATILE: Supplementary. Thank you Mr Speaker. waiting for you. Order! Honourable Members, good Thank you Honourable for your answer. I would like afternoon! you to clarify how true it is that in your Ministry, in Firstly, you are invited to a General Assembly tomorrow order for those that have met the required number of at 8:30 a.m. in the Main Committee Room. You are 150 people to register a church, the pastor has to bring going to be briefed on four Bills; the Medicines and a certificate from his spiritual father as proof that he or Related Substances (Amendment) Bill, Stock Theft she can run a church. Where do you find that in the law (Amendment) Bill, Building Societies (Amendment) Honourable Member? Bill and Transfer Duty (Amendment) Bill. Please attend MR MABEO: Thank you Mr Speaker and Honourable. those briefings tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. so that we release The issue of a spiritual father is beyond me. All I you on time for your weekly caucuses. can say Mr Speaker is that, everything that has to be QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER done is clearly stated in the law. I take it that since the Honourable is asking me where the issue of spiritual REVIEW OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE father appears in the law that was passed by this House, REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION OF I will go back and confirm because I am not sure about CHURCHES it. Thank you Mr Speaker. MR H. G. NKAIGWA (GABORONE NORTH): MR NKAIGWA: Supplementary. Thank you Mr asked the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Speaker, thank you Minister. Minister, as a Government, Gender Affairs whether there are plans by Government do you not have any intentions to review the number of 150 people that is required for registration of churches? to review the number of people required for registration I believe that when we passed that law in this House, of churches under the Societies Act to at least twenty Batswana and churches were against it, even you (20) as is the case with other societies and to further Members of Parliament you opposed it. state: Secondly, do you not think that the time has come for (i) the definition of a church according to Government; Government to have a spiritual body that can advice on and spiritual matters as well as how we can run them as a country? Thank you. (ii) why Government requires 150 people in order to be able to register a church. MR MABEO: Thank you very much Mr Speaker. With regards to the last question on ‘spiritual body,’ Mr ACTING MINISTER OF NATIONALITY, Speaker, I believe that every time we come here to this IMMIGRATION AND GENDER AFFAIRS (MR Honourable House to discuss Bills, we do go out there MABEO): Thank you Mr Speaker. Government does and consult with our constituents. Therefore, whatever we are bringing to this House would form part of what not have any plans to review the number required for the people out there believe. registration of churches. This is because the Societies Act in this regard was reviewed in 2015 to increase the Regarding the first one Mr Speaker, let me just give you number from 20 to 150 for religious organisations and the indication in terms of numbers, just to justify that this there has been no implementation bottlenecks. Act has actually borne fruits. Since the commencement Hansard No 192 1 Monday 03rd December 2018 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER of the Societies Act in 4th November 2016 to date, MR NKAIGWA: Supplementary. Thank you Mr my ministry registered 138 religious organisations as Speaker and Minister. Does the law allow you to compared to 401 in 2014 or between 2014 and 2016. suspend someone without pay while the investigations Therefore, this amendment seems to be bearing fruits, are still ongoing Minister? as such there is no need to reduce the number to 20.