DAILY

YOUR VOICE IN PARLIAMENT

THETHE SECOND THIRD MEETING MEETING OF THE OF FIRST THE SESSIONFIFTH SESSION OF THE OF THE ELEVENTWELFTH PARLIAMENTTH PARLIAMENT TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2020

MIXEDENGLISH VERSION VERSION HANSARDHANSARD NO. NO: 193 198

DISCLAIMER Uno cial Hansard This transcript of Parliamentary proceedings is an uno cial version of the Hansard and may contain inaccuracies. It is hereby published for general purposes only. The nal 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. Phandu T. C. Skelemani PH, MP. DEPUTY SPEAKER The Hon. Mabuse M. Pule, MP. (Mochudi East)

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 Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Hon. K. N. S. Morwaeng, MP. ( South) - Administration

Hon. K. T. Mmusi, MP. (-) - Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Hon. Dr L. Kwape, MP. (Kanye South) - Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Hon. E. M. Molale, MP. (Goodhope-Mabule ) - Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon. K. S. Gare, MP. (Moshupa-Manyana) - Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation Hon. P. K. Kereng, MP. (Specially Elected) - and Tourism Hon. Dr E. G. Dikoloti MP. (Mmathethe-Molapowabojang) - Minister of Health and Wellness Hon. T.M. Segokgo, MP. (Tlokweng) - Minister of Transport and Communications Hon. K. Mzwinila, MP. (Specially Elected) - Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Hon. T. M. Rakgare, MP. () - Development

Hon. A. M. Mokgethi, MP. (Gaborone Bonnington North) - Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs Hon. Dr T. Matsheka, MP. (Lobatse) - Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon. F. M. M. Molao, MP. (Shashe West) - Minister of Basic Education Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Hon. Dr D. Letsholathebe, MP. (Tati East) - Technology Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Hon. L. M. Moagi, MP. (Ramotswa) - Energy Security

Hon. P. O. Serame, MP. (Specially Elected) - Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Hon. M. Balopi, MP. (Gaborone North) - Development

Hon. M. Kgafela, MP. (Mochudi West) - Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development

Assistant Minister, Presidential Affairs, Governance and Hon. D. M. Mthimkhulu, MP. (Gaborone South) - Public Administration Assistant Minister, Local Government and Rural Hon. K. K. Autlwetse, MP. (Specially Elected) - Development Assistant Minister, Local Government and Rural Hon. S. N. Modukanele, MP. (Lerala -Maunatlala) - Development Assistant Minister, Agricultural Development and Food Hon. B. Manake, MP. (Specially Elected) - Security

Hon. S. Lelatisitswe, MP. (Boteti East) - Assistant Minister, Health and Wellness

Hon. N. W. T. Makwinja, MP. (-) - Assistant Minister, Basic Education

Hon. M. S. Molebatsi, MP. (Mmadinare) - Assistant Minister, Investment, Trade and Industry Assistant Minister, Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Hon. H. B. Billy, MP. (Francistown East) - Development Hon. M. R. Shamukuni, MP. (Chobe) - Assistant Minister,Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND THEIR CONSTITUENCIES

Names Constituency

RULING PARTY ( Democratic Party) Hon. L. Kablay, MP. (Government Whip) - Hon. Dr U. Dow, MP. Specially Elected Hon. M. R. Reatile, MP. Jwaneng-Mabutsane Hon. P. Majaga, MP. Nata-Gweta Hon. J. S. Brooks, MP. Kgalagadi South Hon. C. Greeff, MP. Gaborone Bonnington South Hon. T. Letsholo, MP. Kanye North Hon. T. F. Leuwe, MP. Hon. T. Mangwegape-Healy, MP. Gaborone Central Hon. S. N. Moabi, MP. Tati West Hon. T. Monnakgotla, MP. Kgalagadi North Hon. P. K. Motaosane, MP. - Hon. O. Regoeng, MP. Molepolole North Hon. J. L. Thiite, MP. Ghanzi North OPPOSITION (Umbrella for Democratic Change) Hon. D. Saleshando, MP. (Leader of Opposition) Maun West Hon. P. P. P. Moatlhodi, MP. (Opposition Whip) Tonota Hon. D. L. Keorapetse, MP. Selebi Phikwe West Hon. Y. Boko, MP Mahalapye East Hon. Dr K. Gobotswang, MP. Sefhare-Ramokgonami Hon. C. K. Hikuama, MP. Ngami Hon. K. K. Kapinga, MP Okavango Hon. G. Kekgonegile, MP. Maun East Hon. A. Lesaso, MP. Shoshong Hon. T. B. Lucas, MP. Bobonong Hon. M. G. J. Motsamai, MP. Ghanzi South Hon. K. Nkawana, MP. Selebi Phikwe East Hon. O. Ramogapi, MP. Palapye Hon. Dr N. Tshabang, MP. Nkange Hon. D. Tshere, MP. Mahalapye West (Botswana Patriotic Front) Hon. T. S. Khama, MP. Serowe West Hon. L. Lesedi, MP. Serowe South Hon. B. Mathoothe, MP. Serowe North (Alliance for Progressives) Hon. W. B. Mmolotsi, MP. Francistown South (Independent Member of Parliament) Hon. M. I. Moswaane, MP. Francistown West TABLE OF CONTENTS THE THIRD MEETING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT TUESDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER, 2020

CONTENTS PAGE (S) SPEAKER’S REMARKS...... 1 APPROVAL OF THE MID-TERM REVIEW OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 11: 2017/2018 – 2022/2023 Sectoral Debate: Chapter 4 Economy and Employment (Group 2) (Resumed Debate)...... 1-13 Sectoral Debate: Chapter 5 Social Upliftment...... 14-18 (Resumed Debate)...... 25-59 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER...... 19-23 QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE...... 24

Tuesday 1st September, 2020 APPROVAL OF THE MID-TERM REVIEW OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 11: 2017/2018-2022/2023: Motion (Resumed Debate)

Tuesday 1st September, 2020 Mr Speaker, when we construct roads in our country, there is something that we tend to forget. We forget to THE ASSEMBLY met at 11:00 a.m. award projects to local companies when we construct our (THE SPEAKER in the Chair) roads. When you take roads which are constructed in our country, they are all constructed by Chinese companies P R A Y E R S while in actual fact, we have big local companies which have done a lot of projects in this country. Mr Speaker, * * * * you would then wonder, if by now, mega projects are SPEAKER’S REMARKS still constructed by Chinese companies, when will Batswana have the chance to carry out road projects? MR SPEAKER (MR SKELEMANI): Order! Order! Minister, I request that moving forward, this citizen Honourable Members, good morning. Let us start our economic empowerment should not only be word of business of today with a Motion. mouth. Let us empower our citizens and give them these APPROVAL OF THE MID- mega projects so that the money that they generate can TERM REVIEW OF NATIONAL be used in our country as we know that Botswana does DEVELOPMENT PLAN 11: 2017/2018- not have exchange controls. Therefore, these people can 2022/2023 repatriate all the profits that they make to their countries and it will mean that our economy creates jobs, but Motion remains poor. Minister, one other thing that troubles (Resumed Debate) me is that we are empowering foreign nationals at the expense of our own people. Last time I said that we MR SPEAKER: We are resuming the sectoral need to modernise our roads. Minister, one of the things discussion of the National Development Plan 11 that we are currently requesting is that solar street lights 2017/2018 to 2022/2023 with Chapter 4 being Economy should be erected along the Tonota-Francistown road, so and Employment, Group 2. When the House adjourned that the area between Francistown and Tonota, since it yesterday, Honourable Mmolotsi was on the floor is a town, it should have lights so as to reduce accidents debating and he was left with 14 minutes 21 seconds. and also so that traffic can move smoothly Mr Speaker. Honourable Members, we are left with 40 minutes to On labour issues; we request that labour laws should be finish this part, which means that part of the 40 minutes strict because nowadays many cases that are reported at will go for the reply by the lead ministry. Labour offices are not resolved. This means that these MR MMOLOTSI (FRANCISTOWN SOUTH): laws are not strict enough to an extent that when some Thank you very much Mr Speaker. We are still discussing employers are called for hearings after their employees the Economy and Employment Sector. Mr Speaker, file complaints, they can still not show up if at all they there is no country that can manage to have a strong do not want to go. The case will end up going to the economy and create employment opportunities when Industrial Court, where it will take months if not the road infrastructure is not in a good state. Therefore, years. In the process, the plaintiff who is the employee as Botswana, we have to be serious about constructing sometimes passes on while still waiting for his/her road infrastructure which can facilitate trade between payment because these cases drag for a long period Botswana and other countries and even from one town of time at the Industrial Court. That is why I wish that to other towns within Botswana. we could stiffen our Law, we should make it strict so that Labour Officers can have powers to take decisions That is why we believe that one of the things that we which correspond with ensuring that cases are solved have to consider as a country is to have fast trains, trains quickly, just like in the past. which connect towns. We also need to ensure that these fast trains connect our cities locally and connect us with We currently have a challenge that workers in Botswana cities of our neighbouring countries, countries which we do not trust our Labour system because they believe that trade with. For example, we can have a high speed train these inspections are useless. When they come, public from Gaborone to Johannesburg and other neighbouring servants will go to the offices and when they leave countries just to make sure that trade is not disturbed by those offices, they have changed completely. I am not poor transport system. saying that is true but I am saying that is what people

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are telling us at our respective constituencies, that these speech is the same as those of your predecessors, they inspections are sometimes influenced. Therefore, we also stated that these things are going to be implemented. need to find a way to make these inspections fruitful because our employees have challenges. Our challenge right now is that cement is expensive because the demand is higher than the supply. We Minerals; Minister Segokgo, at this point in time, it is used to have a cement mine at Matsiloje. The mine is not appropriate for us to still be importing power or currently closed because it lacked support. Government getting electricity from other countries because as a did not see the need to handhold this cement mine. country, we have abundant coal. I understand issues of Imagine that right now we are totally dependent on climate change, but we said we can clean this coal in South African mines to produce cement for us, but we order to be able to produce energy or electricity that will could be producing it in Botswana, we can be self- not cause pollution. With the abundance of coal that we sufficient in the production of cement. The Government have in our country, it is not fitting that we still import must do something about these things because truth is, if electricity from Mozambique, South Africa and other we do not do that, we are going to end up as consumers countries while we can produce electricity and export it in everything even in things that we could be producing. to those countries. We have challenges on the issue of electricity. Issues We have been talking about wind energy; we have to use of electricity that we are fighting right now, we talked our natural resources, abundant winds to generate wind about them and they included telling the Honourable energy so as to produce enough electricity and export Minister to try and find how electricity bills can be dealt it to other countries. We have to generate solar energy with. In Francistown, electricity is expensive and the because we are one of the countries which experience recent tariffs have worsened the situation. We hear that long warm seasons, sunny days. Therefore, solar energy you want to increase again by 5 per cent. It seems now can benefit us in this country. Batswana are just going to work for electricity because the way it is expensive, nothing else can be done. We We recently experienced fuel supply challenges. The ask that we should try to find how we can make life easy coal liquefaction issue is one of the things that have to for Batswana. be attended in order to see how we can produce fuel in Botswana. Otherwise, it means that we are going to Water; Honourable Minister Mzwinila, will recall that continue with the dependency syndrome that we have for a long time now Batswana have been asking for for ever. prepaid water as is the case with electricity so that they do not have bills because even water bills are very high. MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES, GREEN Some are not justified, sometimes bills are high because TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY SECURITY (MR of estimations. Honourable Minister, Batswana are still MOAGI): On a point of clarification Mr Speaker. Thank saying that, you promised them that by December 2019, you Mr Speaker. Thank you Honourable Mmolotsi. Do Batswana will no longer have water bills. You were you mean what has been stated in Paragraph 16, on introducing some smart metres, which Batswana would Page 8 of my speech, where we have listed them; solar benefit from. They are still asking, since the Minister energy, wind energy and coalbed methane? You are on promised us, why is he quiet? Minister, we ask that Mid- the right track Honourable Member, that is what we are Term Review should see you delivering on the promise going to do. you made of installing smart metres for Batswana where MR MMOLOTSI: Yes Sir. I notice that you listed them. they can purchase water in advance. They are not written here for the first time. If you can We are very concerned about issues of Omang because go through all the documents from your ministry, some at the moment, many Batswana are stateless and from even way before you became a minister there, your Honourable Moswaane talked about this. This issue predecessors were still saying the same thing. If right of renouncing and confirming has caused this country now you can ask about Independent Power Producers problems. That is why I once brought Dual Citizenship (IPPs) agreements, you will be told shocking stories. Motion to Parliament. I knew that when we have it, our That is why we should normalise implementing the children will not have to go through this tedious process ideas that we always talk about because implementation to renounce or confirm, because they will be citizens of these initiatives never takes place. I noticed that your of two countries where their parents are from. Let us

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attend to this matter swiftly because this thing is tedious words directed to Minister of Labour that Batswana out to say the least. Some of us who are representatives there are looking up to you with so much expectation. of constituencies located near borders where there Civil servants know that their salaries are normally are intermarriages from both sides of the border are negotiated with the Bargaining Council at a certain in trouble. Our offices are always filled with people time. Right now we have turned Batswana into slaves in whose Omang cards have expired and they are told that the land of their forefathers. People come from outside the best solution is to renounce. Renouncing means to make businesses in Botswana. For example, those going to Zimbabwean Embassy in Gaborone. If we producing animal feed, be it chicken feeds or cattle had dual citizenship we could not be in these problems. feeds, for Honourable Gare to give them certificate, Former Minister, Honourable Batshu, when we were the person has to have a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or debating the Dual Citizenship Motion, explained that Master in Science (MSc). That is why we have such there are 34 sections of the Constitution that inhibits production centres and these people end up being dual citizenship. I believe it is our duty as Parliament paid P3, 500. This person will be the backbone of to amend laws so that what we desire to happen, can the company, creating immense wealth for a foreign be. We desire to have dual citizenship in Botswana. national. He or she will have nowhere to query so that If we desire as Honourable Members, it is upon us to he or she can be remunerated accordingly. We should amend laws. We could amend these 34 sections to allow have a graduate scale in Botswana that even when a Batswana to have dual citizenship as it is the case with graduate gets employed in Choppies, Sefalana or at other countries which have that system. factories, he or she should be employed at that scale. We cannot regulate salaries for security officers, cattle Mr Speaker, Gender Based Violence (GBV) is one of herders whereas graduates are exploited. This issue the issues which causes concern. We want Batswana in Honourable Balopi, I want you to take it personally so Botswana to live freely. We want women and children that these children may know that their voice is heard. to live freely. We want to see men also live freely. There When you speak, they should listen with the knowledge are men, although they are quiet, who are assaulted. that you are their parent. This is one matter we need to Even here I can see some… address seriously to ensure that children in Botswana HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… are given what is due to them.

MR MMOLOTSI: Just because they are hiding makes Mr Speaker, as I continue, Honourable Balopi, I want it look like GBV is an issue which affects women only. you to know that wherever Dr Mogae is, he lives sadly Men are assaulted, women are assaulted and children to have gone to Khakhea in commemoration of Vision are violated. That is why Honourable Members, we 2016, and promised that a vocational training college have to take this matter seriously. No one should be will be built for them. Up to now, that school has not abused in Botswana. We want a free society, where no been built. We continue speaking the English that you one is abused regardless of their age or gender. Abuse are speaking right now saying that you will consider should not happen in Botswana. We should all rise up, training for two or three days those who have skills at all of us, all of us! With one voice and condemn abuse Ncojane, Khakhea and give them certificates. Dr Mogae because where it is, the nation gets destroyed. Where has never promised them that at Khakhea. We ask that there is abuse, the Godly factor leaves, the nation lacks what Dr Mogae promised those people which was on unity and there is no progress. That is why I wished that the plan, should be done for them. We grew up knowing in this issue of GBV, when Honourable Boko came with that the wishes or what elders say should be fulfilled. the Motion, we could have supported it to do justice for Batswana. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation.

MR SPEAKER: Time up! MR REATILE: You will elucidate later Honourable, I am running out of time. MR MMOLOTSI: Thank you Mr Speaker. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Just give me a chance. MR REATILE (JWANENG-MABUTSANE): Thank you Mr Speaker. Let me also comment on Thematic MR REATILE: Your Ministry Honourable Serame, Working Groups (TWGs) as outlined by Honourable does not have Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Ministers. I would like to preface my debate with these Agency (CEDA) and Local Enterprise Authority (LEA)

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offices at Jwaneng because we could be accessing Honourable Moagi, while still on the issue of electricity, services there. You could have tried to bring services I thought to highlight that we came up with a plan to closer to the people. Minister, we are wondering if we calculate estimations of connection fee at the Ngwaketse have somehow wronged you such that you do not take West Farms. The Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) these services to us. We have heard that services will came to us, the costs amounted to P36 million and be taken to the people but it seems like yours are never the farmers failed to get electricity. Minister, since taken to the people so we have to go where they are. you have decided to connect electricity at the farms, Minister, we would also like to hear you voicing about consider Ngwaketse Farms first because we already issues of local manufacturing. It should not only be have a plan. BPC has done everything, so you should bragging about Economic Diversification Drive (EDD). connect for us first at Ngwaketse Farms. I am not talking Batswana continue to register companies, and there are about Jwaneng-Mabutsane but Ngwaketse Farms. I am foreign companies agents who come here to compete referring to farms that are located near Honourable with local manufacturers who should benefit from this Dikoloti, Honourable Brooks and Honourable Molale’s EDD. It then happens that someone who employed Constituencies. The map for these farms is already done. Batswana cannot win tenders, or the Government does All I am asking is, source funds so that we can connect not buy from them because they are buying from an electricity to these farms. agent who is representing foreign companies. You have Mr Speaker, I cannot leave this place without talking to take measures concerning this issue Minister because we cannot move forward with that kind of a situation about Honourable Segokgo’s ministry. Honourable yet we say we want to build the economy of Botswana. Segokgo, we have problems. It seems like the Honourable Member is convinced that we do not need good roads Mr Speaker, I would also talk about Honourable at the Western side, that we do not need anything. So, Moagi’s ministry. Sometimes back, the former Minister, I thought I should remind him that we actually need Honourable Gaolathe, may his soul rest in peace, when a road from Kanaku to Mabutsane, Kutuku, Khakhea we were in Parliament I think in 2006, he promised up to Bray border gate. If you can do this for us, it is us that electricity will be connected to every village also going to benefit tourists. Furthermore, if you can in Botswana by 2012. We argued that, that will never construct the A2 road to Kokong-Inalegolo-Phuduhudu, happen. However, when we were attacked by recession, you would have done well for us and we will appreciate he managed to connect electricity to 100 villages which that we are also paying tax, and therefore contributing later increased to 145. Electricity was connected to these to the developments plans Botswana. It will be clear villages through the promise which was made by the that we are also partakers and therefore have the right to Minister of Finance then. So, I wish to see the current benefit from our taxes. Minister of Finance outlining his intentions regarding taking services to the people as we are reviewing the Honourable Segokgo, another issue which you must Mid-Term Review this year. He has to give us a clear know concerning production of roads is that when you picture of what he is planning to do in order to improve leave Jwaneng to Mokhomma, Samane and Thankane, the economy. you pass through villages and ranches. From Maokane on the way to Lerolwane up at Mabule, if you cover During that time when we talked about Eltel electricity these areas, it means you are networking Botswana. Mr Honourable Moagi, the Minister stood up in Parliament Speaker, this is to say we cannot continue to rely on the and pointed out that when we connect electricity to model by Cecil John Rhodes in terms of developments these villages, he wants local companies to compete because they are made along the railway line. Moreover, for these tenders. Fortunately, 12 local companies were it is as if Cecil John Rhodes has written the Bible for able to partake in this programme and they later started us. Mr Speaker therefore, we have to discuss this issue to compete in countries like Tanzania and won tenders without hesitation because it is heart breaking. outside. It was a deliberate political position which was taken by Botswana Parliament to empower Batswana, Mr Speaker, there is yet another issue which I cannot leave they were not ashamed to empower them. So, we cannot this place without discussing. It is about Honourable be ashamed by empowering Batswana because the Mokgethi’s Ministry which talks about Gender Based previous Parliaments did that. We should not hesitate Violence (GBV) Mr Speaker. If at all speaking fluent when it comes to empowering Batswana because we are English in Botswana was a measure of development, here because of them, not foreigners. we would be much ahead of other countries as far as

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developments are concerned Mr Speaker. I am saying Board to buy from farmers. In so doing, we would this because we are usually very careful when speaking have solved the problem because once produce is sold English hence we could be very far. At some point, I at Marketing Board it does not matter what method of told a certain Minister of Health that, looking at how planting was used; all that matters is that if it is maize they brilliantly speak English, other countries could be 506, it will be 506, if it is black eye, then we will ensure coming to Botswana to seek medical assistance. that we pay farmers better prices for their produce…

As I speak, we continue to speak fluent English while HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. women are suffering in Botswana. When we had challenges with our livestock, operation Kgomokhumo MR REATILE: …invest money at the Marketing was launched to fight against stock theft. At some point, Board, rather than in planting. We should base on output we had what was known as Diamond Squad or Serious rather than financing input Mr Speaker. Squad to fight against diamond theft. We also have Mr Speaker, in conclusion, we have been waiting Anti-Poaching Unit which also deals with poaching of for a Sub-District in Mabutsane for a very long time wild animals. We are doing these things in as a way of Honourable Molale. How far is it to be financed so that prioritising the existence of diamond, cattle and wild we can see our roads being tarred, installation of street animals over human life. Unfortunately Mr Speaker, we lights and sewage system in the village? We want to are living in hard times where women are abused and we see the status of Mabutsane Sub-District be like other are failing to form a unit which deals with issues that are sub-districts. When I recently debated here Mr Speaker, related to GBV because there are criminals who abuse yearning for good things and said that we should use a woman, a young lady and a girl child. The question the Moshupa Model, it was said that I was fuelling therefore is; why do we prioritise issues that concern tribalism. I have long hated tribalism and I am going animals and diamonds while we fail to deduce strategies to die hating it. If we can benchmark on the Moshupa which can be used to protect human life, people who are Model and produce a replica of it, Botswana will created in the image of God. develop Mr Speaker. MR BOKO: On a point of clarification. Thank you HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. Honourable. You are debating an important issue. We talked much about GBV few days ago. According to MR REATILE: I am supporting it. I do submit. you, is it not important for the Minister or responsible people to update us on their progress because they are MR SPEAKER: Honourable Regoeng, you just have very quiet and there is nothing which shows that they five minutes before I call upon the Minister. handled this issue with the seriousness that it deserves? MR REGOENG (MOLEPOLOLE NORTH): Really! Thank you Honourable Member. MR REATILE: Honourable Member, you cannot HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… expect any update about these issues because we were MR REGOENG: Thank you Mr Speaker for giving told that they are for the Committee. The committees are me the opportunity to comment on the presentations dealing with these issues if that is the case but they are delivered by the Ministers. Let me start with the Ministry not duty bound to give us an update. If we failed to come of Transport and Communications of Honourable up with a commission and a committee as Parliament, Segokgo; sir, you made efforts to repair A12 road which could be investigating these issues, you might starting from to Molepolole and we are as well forget it Honourable. If it pains you, weep with grateful. The road is now in good condition with clear those who are weeping and feel pain with those who feel markings, we applaud you for it. If you could do this to it. That is the only way in which you can comfort them. all the roads, we would be extremely grateful.

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… Honourable Minister, there is a road which pass through MR REATILE: Mr Speaker, the other issue that I want Molepolole which we have talked about for a very long to conclude with involves the Ministry of Agriculture time and it even appears in National Development Plan and Food Security regarding row planting. Let us allow (NDP) 11 that it will be constructed. After repairing that people to broadcast and take the money that we have road from Metsimotlhabe, traffic has increased, in fact been investing in planting and invest it at the Marketing it increased even before that project. So A12 road starts

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in Gaborone and joins the Jwaneng road which leads MR MOTAOSANE: Elucidation. Honourable Member to Ghanzi has a lot of traffic, big trucks pass through you mentioned Molepolole road a lot and also talked the village and the road cannot handle that traffic. about the one for Molepolole-Lentsweletau. First of all, the road itself is narrow, the trucks passing through to Ghanzi and Namibia find it difficult to use it. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Who gave you I thought you will mention it in your presentation but permission? you are just quiet, so I do not know what your plan is HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… regarding that road because we were relying on it. I do not know what your intentions are about it because we HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… had thought that if you do not construct the same road MR SPEAKER: Continue Honourable Motaosane. or broaden the one which passes through the village, maybe you could have talked about the suggestion we MR MOTAOSANE: Thank you Mr Speaker. once discussed of constructing a bypass. However, you Honourable Ramogapi, you are not the Speaker, so did not mention either of the two options. I wonder behave. You mentioned numerous roads in your debate what we are going to say to Bakwena. I implore you but let me urge you Honourable Member that there to seriously consider these things because if you pass is a complete road at a tender stage of Lentsweletau- through the village after branching off A12 road, it is an -, do you not think it can speed up hour drive to get to the hospital, same amount of time the trip to travel to those villages although one might you use to travel to Gaborone due to traffic congestion have to use a longer route? Thank you. and the narrowness of the road. So if you could have mentioned it in your presentation that at least you will MR REGOENG: That is the one I am talking about construct a bypass as it was once suggested, we will be Honourable Member, even if he does not construct the very grateful Honourable Minister. Kindly consider and one for Molepolole-Lentsweletau, he should opt for see how you can accommodate it, please Honourable Mahetlwe which passes through Hatsalatladi. Minister. Moving on to Honourable Moagi’s Ministry of Mineral Sir, there is Molepolole-Lentsweletau road which I do Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security… not know what happened to it; it has been included in the development plan since NDP 8 but it has not been MR SPEAKER: Order! Order Honourable Member, constructed, I do not know why that is the case. If you it is now time to call upon the Minister of Investment, are unable to construct the one from Molepolole straight Trade and Industry. Yes, you were debating. Honourable to Lentsweletau, there is an alternative one passing Serame, you are the one to answer to all those who through Mahetlwe which passes through numerous spoke. You have 45 minutes. villages. At least gravel it so that vehicles can use it. MINISTER OF INVESTMENT, TRADE AND Your ministry should send officers to inspect those INDUSTRY (MS SERAME): Thank you Mr Speaker. conditions Honourable. Those roads are very busy but Good morning Mr Speaker and to you too Honourable they worry us because as another Member of Parliament Members. Let me start by saying, there is one Honourable mentioned, there are in bad condition more especially who was complaining that we speak English a lot, and for pregnant women. Our request is that if you are all we do is talk without implementation. unable to tar it, there should be regular maintenance of such roads so that there can be in good conditions. I would first like to thank all the Honourable Members Please consider those two roads; either you construct who already debated in Chapter 4 of Thematic Working a road of Molepolole-Lentsweletau straight or opt for Group of Economy and Employment. When we started, the one from Molepolole passing through Mahetlwe to there was a lot of confusion regarding where ministries Lentsweletau because those are big villages. It will be a should be placed, I will respond to it. Honourable commendable effort Honourable if you could consider Members, I realise that you wanted to debate in those roads. numbers but it was impossible due to time constraints. I thank you for your advices, you gave us advices that HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. as we pass Mid-Term Review as Parliament, we should MR REGOENG: Oh! Neighbour, what are you consider some few issues during implementation and elucidating now? we will do that.

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Let me say development is not an event but a process. of the important things in Botswana. Since we want to Development is not something you do in a day, now be a country that exports goods, will that help us to do it will be important for us to continue talking to each that, and will it also assist us in growing other sectors other, and also to improve all that we are doing. This of the economy. Will it assist us to be able to produce improvement includes laws, strategies, in order to see some goods locally, because we still import most goods that the projects we are doing are the ones that are from outside? Those are some of the important things relevant in terms of time and the season we are on at all we consider. times. We are thankful for those advices, we will keep them in mind. The other thing that is emphasized is Citizen Economic Empowerment (CEE), how much will that project There are issues Mr Speaker that seem to be more assist. Also other projects cannot be looked at based on general or cross-cutting through the Thematic Working economic returns, but they have a social impact because Group (TWG), as they affect different Ministries. I will they improve and add value to peoples` lives locally, also address them from the beginning. Before I get there, like we have been talking a lot about rural development I believe that this is the first time we present TWGs that we cannot only be determined to take electricity to this way and have approval. We started them a while production centres only while people have no potable back, we are continuing to learn, and it is something water. Those are some of the things we consider that that we looked at and realised that, we always need to there has to be a balance, these things should go together analyse, and take other Ministries or Departments and so that peoples` lives can also be improved, and not only merge them, so that when they make a development focus on growing sectors of the economy while people programme they are together, that is something that are left behind, because we are talking about inclusivity. can take us forward. So, even though we are learning, I was emphasising it a lot because that is the criteria I believe that we will be together in this journey that is used on projects, which I believe that as we have Honourable Members and that you will advise us. already received macro-chapters, it means that we have agreed on that one. As Honourable Members from here Most of the comments were the ones whereby going forward, they are things that we will be going all Honourable Members complained that developments over explaining to the public that as Parliament, these were not taken to their constituencies. Honourable are the projects we approved, and what we considered Members, at the end of the day, it is this House that in order to approve these projects. decides on everything that comes here considering our Budget, that this is the amount of money we can have, The other thing, it also explains monitoring and and when we look at this money, we believe that we accountability, and what should happen under can do this much regarding developments, but we will implementation. They are some of the things I believe focus here and we cannot be able to focus there. At the we will be focusing on, and that you will continue to end of the day, we are the ones to decide. So, that means guide us as we implement for the remaining part of the that even developments that will be available or those plan. that will not be available, we also have a role to play by advising looking at the situation. If it was possible and I also request that Honourable Members, in yesterday’s money could be available, I agree that all of us here, we statement of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and were going to increase what we were going to do. Industry, on Paragraph 22, there is something I said yesterday, I want to emphasise it again today. That Let me emphasize that in the Mid-Term Review, that thing is that, as we will be looking at policies, laws and document that accompanies it, the Economic Recovery programmes for the remainder of NDP 11, it is important and Transformation Plan (ERTP), on Page 31, it fully to remember that we have to learn new things, and there explained what the criteria of projects to be funded for are other things that we always do; that is Paragraph the remainder of National Development Plan (NDP) 22. There are some things that we have been doing that 11 is. I want to encourage Honourable Members that we now have to learn not to do. This situation we are even other chapters that will come, we will revisit it, on in, compels us to change the way we have been doing Page 31 of the ERTP document. It explains the criteria things. that is used. It looks at that criteria in relation to about six factors. The first thing is to consider whether that The other thing is that, for example, in the past days we project can create employment because jobs are one have put into use an instrument that will regulate the

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way baked products are imported into Botswana. Now Development Bank (NDB), Citizen Entrepreneurial other people want to instil doubt in their mind and say Development Agency (CEDA) and others. It is things they want to eat caramel cake, and I say, you know if we like that that we are focusing on. I assure you that this do not know how to bake caramel cake, we are going month and the next month, it is something that we will to learn how to bake it in Botswana and create jobs in inform you how far we are with it, because we accept Botswana; I am giving it as an example. There will be that we inject a lot of money into parastatals. We can many of these goods going forward, and we will have reduce them and empower them so that they can produce to learn how to make them ourselves. We will start by better results. doing something that is not as good, but we will learn HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… until we get it, and we will be better than other countries because it is important to do that in Botswana. MS SERAME: The other issue is maintenance of HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… infrastructure. Even though we are set on bringing developments now, why does it seem like we keep on MS SERAME: The other thing that I am emphasising forgetting what we have done before, now if we are still on that paragraph is Citizen Economic constructing roads and schools, it seems like maintenance Empowerment that as all of us Honourable Members of old structures is left behind. So, we will also look have been discussing, let us not talk about it only, but into it, as you have seen that it is a priority maintenance let us implement it. Even the way we conduct ourselves in this chapter, even on the whole of the NDP 11 in at different Ministries, even in our personal capacity, it general. The one that affects different Ministries is the should be evident how we are encouraging citizens, so one regarding provision of housing accommodation. that like people were saying, we should not seem like Most of the Honourable Members were saying, it seems now we are outsiders. Those are the factors I wanted like people do not have good accommodation, but we to discuss, and also emphasise them, and show that this are talking about productivity and we are looking at all chapter of the Mid-Term Review, as we go forward like our Ministries, so that we can see how we can assist the Honourable Members have been saying, they are workers so that they can have good accommodation factors we will be considering and also implement them. where they work and at home where they stay.

The other thing that was said is that we need to focus The other thing that I would like to talk about is that on our other Ministries, for example, let me take my we are still right at the centre of COVID-19 Honourable Ministry, Investment, Trade and Industry, you will find Members, so there is no one amongst us who knows that Government is using a lot of money on state-owned what next year has in store for us, or even the next three enterprises, parastatals, at my Ministry they are 12, and months; no one knows what will happen. It is important most of the Honourable Members mentioned it. I agree that as we look at these things now, going forward we with you Honourable Members that these parastatals are should learn and modify so that it would be in line with too much, and I am telling you that we have already what we would be given based on the reasons advanced started a programme to see how we can reduce them, to at that time. merge them, see which ones are doing the same thing and which ones are not needed that even if they do not As I move on with sectors, delving deeper at Agriculture; exist, nothing will go wrong. I will also summarise them because we will look at them as… There is a Cabinet Committee that is led by Honourable Dr Matsheka, it is the one that deals with rationalisation MR TSHERE: On a point of clarification. Thank you of state-owned enterprises. It should complete its task very much Honourable Speaker. I have been listening and report to the Executive Committee. I believe that attentively to you Honourable Minister, you are on the they will do that in September/October, so that when right track saying you are amending things. Yesterday we are looking at all the parastatals that are over 60, you made us curious when you said you were going to we can see those that are similar, those that if we can review the regulations in relation to the sale of alcohol, disintegrate one of them, nothing will go wrong, and we so that you would be able to amend the Act properly. believe that we need to start with that. As you expound on your issues, let it come out clearly, because the men and women who sell, who have There are some people who were saying why do we have businesses, would like to hear you properly regarding Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), National that arrangement. I thank you very much.

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MS SERAME: Thank you Mr Speaker. If you could Then there is an issue of food security and self- allow me to go a bit further, so that when you say I sufficiency. This issue as the Honourable Doctor on have not touched on something, I should have at least the other side was saying yesterday, we are together in debated for some minutes…I will arrive at that point it walking side by side. The Ministry of Agricultural Honourable. Thank you Hoourable Member, actually Development and Food Security is looking into you are my very valuable friend, and people have no commodities that Botswana has a potential in being self- idea. sufficient when it comes to them. They will be looking into it to see what could be done going forward. We will I was about to talk about Agriculture; Honourable be making sure that as we do that, Batswana will not Members, we agree with you. That is why we are saying remain behind; and we shall encourage the youth as well in fact the Agriculture sector could do much better than to be involved. it is doing now. The statistics have shown that we have been doing something but it is a bit slow, hence we can The other issue is about prices; it appears as if farmers expedite certain processes. That is why the Ministry of sell their goods at very menial prices. Let me explain Agriculture is going to review all its programmes and that prices put by the Botswana Agricultural Marketing see how they can improve them considering the fact Board (BAMB) emanate from an organisation that they that we are a country that is prone to drought. That is are a member of, the South African Futures Exchange why we were talking about climate smart and sensitive (SAFEX). It is the one that is used to come up with products, that they should look into the programmes that prices with which they buy goods from the farmers. It they are implementing. They should be wary of the fact is something that the ministry would look into to ensure that Botswana is a drought prone country, hence one has that where possible, these prices would be amended. to consider how the programmes could be improved, so They should be in a way that would encourage farmers that they would be responsive to the situation that we live to work hard when they engage in farming. They would in. Speaking of something in line with Agriculture, the be knowing that when they get involved in farming they would make profit commensurate with what they have Rural Development Council (RDC) whom the Ministry produced. We have noted it Honourable Members. of Agricultural Development and Food Security is a member of, is in the process of coming up with a The other one was that if… Drought Management Strategy because it is important MR MOATLHODI: On a point of clarification. I to…Well, actually we know that we are always stricken thank you Mr Speaker. Good morning sir. Thank you by drought all the time. We always have to be prepared Honourable Minister, my daughter in whom I am so well so that if there is a drought, we should know what it is pleased. I just wanted to ask you Honourable Minister, we are going to do. It is something that will come in a are you aware that if a farmer has 43 hectares, like one not so distant future. did at Makhubu fields in Tonota, and then they go to the Ministry of Agriculture to ask National Development The other thing that Honourable Members talked about Bank (NDB) for funds to buy these big planters, they is what we are going to do regarding dairy production refuse saying, “no sir, you should have a minimum of 50 and other sectors under Agriculture. You will recall that hectares?” Honourable Minister, how do you reconcile those from the Ministry of Agricultural Development this with the fact that the Government is adamant saying and Food Security have explained that there is a Batswana should produce food? dairy belt that they are trying to develop. They will continue looking into it deeply. There are some private MS SERAME: I thank you my Honourable father. Yes, sector businesses, if I may take dairy as an example; I understand what you are saying, that… I have explained that what we are impressing upon in HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… this chapter is that we want to develop value chains Honourable Members. When one talks about the dairy MS SERAME: Why are they so excited? Did they sector, they should not just consider milk production not know? I was saying some of these issues are of only. One has to consider whether there is fodder and all great concern. Things have not been as easy as we the inputs that they need. After milk production, what had wanted them to be. These are matters that the else can come out of that beyond just milk? One can ministry is dialoguing on. You will notice that we make cheese, yoghurt and many other things. have been improving these programmes. You saw that

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last time we improved the Citizen Entrepreneurial education. It is not all children who are able to go to Development Agency (CEDA) guidelines and the crèche; early childcare in education. National Development Bank (NDB) is also on the way to improve even the requirements so that they would Children’s Act also emphasises that every child has encourage a Motswana out there. It should be easier for a right to education from a tender age. Therefore, the them to get access and be involved. These are matters on government and United Nations Children’s Fund our desks. We shall continue addressing them. (UNICEF) are paying attention to this issue in order to make sure that there will be access to pre-primary The other one what was mentioned was that it seems education across the country as a whole. It is something our extension is poor; it is not the same as when we which we are considering. We are approaching a phase started. We said we have realised that, and we have whereby, before every child starts his/her primary agreed that we shall look into the extension services education, he/she should have undergone pre-primary under Agriculture, how they would be improved. What education. You are aware that most primary schools we have also said is that when we improve the extension have already introduced reception classes. 613 out of service, it is very vital for us to be at par with the modern 756 primary schools already have Reception classes, times. We should ensure that we engage the Information and it is something which we are going to continue to and Communications Technology (ICT) so that we keep an eye on, as well as to improve it. would be able to use technology if it is available. We The other thing is that Ministry of Basic Education might be lacking somewhere. Yesterday we responded is working with Non-Governmental Organisations to a question, that where possible, we should utilise (NGOs) because most of the time they are important drones to assist us, they should be the ones we send. stakeholders, and they are close to people. We are introducing playgroups. Sometimes you will find that Moving forward, in the infrastructure sector, my settlements do not have schools, playgroups are going honourable father talked about registration, if I recall to help us so that these children are not disadvantaged, very well. The registration of engineers; people are so that they can have an opportunity to be educated like wondering why the fares are so high. I am saying we other children. We will continue to work with these have heard you father. The other thing that we would NGOs because they are sometimes financed… like to clarify is that, the Engineers Registration Board says they do not register people, rather they give them a MR HIKUAMA: On a point of clarification. Thank licence only, they check competencies or abilities. The you Minister. Minister, I hear you saying that you are prices of these bodies and associations for registration going to do something, but my question is; it seems like vary because they do different things. However, there is we mostly have a challenge of facilities at government lamentation that although that is the case, let the prices schools more especially at rural areas; shortage of be not so high such that they would disable some people classrooms. That is why we have a small number of to register. We have heard you, and we will take it with children who are admitted for pre-primary education. us. What are you going to do to increase the number of children who are admitted for pre-primary education Now moving on to the education sector; let me thank since they are many? You will notice that just an you very much Honourable Members. Quite a number insignificant number of children is admitted while many of you debated on this ministry. You pointed out that it of them are not admitted. is important for us to have a knowledge-based economy, focusing on education, and we aspire that one day we MS SERAME: Thank you. Thank you Honourable. should be a high-income economy. Education is very I will only address a few issues, and we shall discuss important and everything that we do in it should be in others as we move on, that it is important to take line with the current situation. We need to put things services to the people, we should start looking at it in order, from today going forward. Everything that from a different perspective. As you are talking about you mentioned as a concern Honourable Members, education, saying that a school has been built but we have noted it. We shall continue looking into them classrooms are not enough, let us just appreciate that and correcting. I will just comment on a few, because a school has been built, but classroom are not enough I will not be able to cover them all. We shall address or start to think of something different so that a large others as days go by. We were talking about elementary number of children can be able to get education even

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when there is a shortage of classrooms, because it is the Employment Act is going to be reviewed, for it to possible. You can think of something to do; either to be upgraded and to see how we can protect employees use the available ones and other facilities which are not without disadvantaging the employer. It is very necessarily Government buildings. These are some of important to review the Employment Act because it is the things that we have to look at. When we talk about a bit out dated. education development, one important thing that we have to take into consideration is how we use technology The other thing is that there is going to be implementation so that it can also assist us to achieve what we want of the Botswana Decent Work Country Programme for to achieve. We are also going to have satellite schools the 2020 to 2024 period, which Minister Balopi once because it is another way of developing education. shared with us because it has some points which can show us how to resolve issues under the labour sector I thought that 45 minutes is ample time, but now I see in order to ensure that we have decent work; that our that it is too short. The other issue under education is people are protected and that all stakeholders are special needs. Honourable Members, we also have it involved and engaged when we do these things. We here, we admit that what we are doing is not enough, also understand the minimum wage issue, minimum but the situation is going to be determined by how we wage was established so that no one can receive a salary use the available resources to make sure that people less than what is stipulated, but it does not mean that with special needs are not disadvantaged and that they minimum wage should be their limit. These are some of also acquire education, it is something that we will be the issues that we are going to look at. working hand in hand with NGOs on, to see how we can fill the available gaps in order to assist each other. On the issue of workers, employers and the Act, there is an important issue that I want to quickly go Honourable Members asked if Out of School Education through, I believe that the employer should also know has helped us. We are going to review it to see how we that employees play a significant role which is more can improve it. I have already talked about maintenance important than being paid salaries. It raises concerns if of facilities in general. The other thing is equipment in you are an employer and you do not know that these schools. Honourable Members pointed out that most people are critical in your business, it means that classrooms in schools do not have equipment. These are something is lacking because I believe that employees some of the things that we are going to be looking at, must be seen as people who play a role in one’s business and we believe that the situation is going to be dealt for it to grow. For example; one of the things that we with. Sometimes, you will find that some schools do have observed is that consultation as an important thing not even have a photocopier. The ministry is working between the employer and employees is lacking in most tirelessly to see how they can service the available businesses and this always results in strikes. If as an equipment and to provide schools with more resources employer you have good communication and in your so that teachers will not have to struggle to do simple stakeholders, you have employees who you consult tasks like photocopying papers for students. about the situation of your business, they cannot strike when business is not doing well, that is if you normally The other issue which was raised is about class size, we consult, not just telling them that, no, I am not going to are discussing this issue to see if there were teachers pay you this time around because there is no money. It who were appointed on temporary basis during this is something which we will promote… COVID-19 time because we realised that teachers cannot manage to teach the big class sizes like in the HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… past because it was essential to divide or increase some classes. It is something which is under observation, MS SERAME: …I can see you. We are going to to see how they can be assisted when we continue to encourage stakeholders that there should be consultation reduce class size, not only during COVID-19 time, but and good working relations between the employer and going into the future. employees. Mr Speaker, Honourable Kekgonegile wants to comment. Skills development and employment; Honourable Members highlighted troubling issues, that some MR KEKGONEGILE: On a point of clarification. employers are mistreating their employees and that Thank you Mr Speaker. Thank you Honourable Serame. there is need to go and review the Act. That is why No, you are telling the truth Honourable Serame; there

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is something lacking, as employers, private companies that training with production is key when it comes to are capital sharks. They want profit as much as possible, brigades. We are also looking at how we can develop so the Act is the problem. It is not an issue of goodwill. vocational training to have all those aspects that we are Maybe when you get to the investment sector under your talking about included. Their new curriculum will focus ministry, you should tell us what you are doing to deal on more practical training so that they may also be able to with the retail monopoly of poultry and other things. We contribute even in their community projects. Innovation are dying at Maun, and tourism in general; when are you and production have to be part of that curriculum and going to open up the liquor industry? also encouraged.

MS SERAME: Mr Speaker, Honourable Members are Hospitals fall on both sides, with Thematic Working harassing Pegzozo. I was saying that this one… Groups (TWGs) you find that the other ministry is on another group. I will talk about them as facilities but HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… the issue of health, the service itself they will cover it at HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… another TWG. Hospitals which are in the development plan will be built. There was a question specifically on MS SERAME: I do not know if they do not see the the Gumare hospital that it was withdrawn from the plan signs... in 2009, and I would like to indicate that it is in the plan HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… and they are reviewing its designs. Hospitals and health in general will be covered largely by another TWG. MS SERAME: …(Laughter!)…I said that we are going to review the laws, including the Employment On Investment, Trade and Industry, I talked at length Act because an Act is the only thing that assist us on the about doing business environment that we will continue issue of workers. As Ministry of Investment, Trade and with it together with SME development and informal Industry, we are going to do engagements and this time sector. Another point raised was why does it seem around, our engagements are going to be different with investments are reserved in towns only? Honourable the private sector because we believe that there is more Member, Francistown community is well ahead of the that they can do for us to work together and assist each game because they have Francistown Investment House other. I will answer some when I get to the trade sector. which works hand in hand with Government to assist them to go out there and find investments and take them There is one point which talked about workers, to Francistown. There is nowhere, when you gather Honourable Leader of the Opposition and other together in a village or region and you have something Members, I will quickly go through it. We realise that you intend to do then we do not handhold you and far away areas like Okavango Delta and others are see how we can assist you. Francistown residents are surrounded by issues whereby workers there are being working on a huge project of how they can attract ill-treated. We are aware of these matters. Someone even investments to Francistown. We are working with them mentioned that there is shortage of labour inspections. and something which we have done as a Ministry of Ministry officials usually borrow planes to fly there, but Investment is that we looked at Botswana as a whole and sometimes the budget does not allow. It is one of the we did mapping to see which sectors can be allocated to things which I believe we should come up with different each area and we divided them. I will go and request ways of tackling and not depend on the availability of for that report so that I can share it with all Honourable flights or availability or unavailability of funds. There Members so that everyone can see which investments has to be something that we can do and come up with are in his or her constituency which can be nurtured ideas so that we can also reach these ones and attend to going forward and we will see how we can work with their issues. you to take those investments there. Let me emphasise that investments belong to the owners not Government. It is important that as we do this, we empower Batswana If he or she comes and wants to reside in Gaborone so that they can also see what to do. I believe we will because of his or her reasons, there is no how we can keep consulting with you Honourable Members and force that individual. However, when they arrive, we listen to your advices on the way forward. encourage them to go where they are needed but at the There is the issue of training with production. We agree end of the day the investor has the last say looking at all because it also talks to skills development. We agree the reasons.

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Another point was what we are doing concerning things that they are doing are wrong and unacceptable taking services to the people. We will continue to in Botswana. teach different ministries to take services to the people. For example, Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) and Mr Speaker, is Honourable Mathoothe not in today? Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) I cannot see him. Honourable Mathoothe told Mr were hot topics; all Honourable Members want LEA Speaker that...(Interruptions)…I wanted to say this in and CEDA but we are the very ones as Honourable his presence, I do not know why he is not here. He asked Members who know that we need to share what is that BDP should be prayed for and people rejoiced and available with all Botswana. CEDA has 11 branches in I want to say, I thank him for saying BDP should be the whole of Botswana and those branches cover a lot prayed for since September is the month of prayer in of areas. Moreover, it has three mobile offices and again Botswana, praying for leadership. This shows that from time to time they move around from one area to Honourable Mathoothe was making a serious confession the next. LEA also has 12 branches and satellite offices. and may he be blessed for that, he was making a serious We also have another programme called Metlhala confession that he recognises the leadership of BDP and ya Khumo where we go to different areas. Before the he recognises what is written in the Bible in Romans outbreak of COVID, we were in Ramotswa with our 13:1-7 which talks about subjection to authorities… different departments teaching people on the different (Interruptions)…no, I will answer you, I know. He agrees that we should pray for leaders. I just wanted to avenues of wealth creation. These are some of the things buttress his point that even 1Timothy 2:1-2 talks about we do as part of taking services to the people. praying for leaders. We are also leaders and I believe that as churches are praying, they will also cover this Other things which were mentioned included the Parliament in their prayers because we need them to do importance of our trade relations since we do not exist the job we have been sent to do diligently, outstandingly in isolation. We need to look into them because we have and responsibly showing that we are Honourable trade relations with other countries and we will continue Members, doing what will yield fruits to Batswana. revising and dialoguing on them. They should pray for us for God to help us to do what we are doing with wisdom. Before I conclude Mr Speaker, Honourable Members talked a lot about the issue of Gender Based Violence I am about to conclude and I can see one Honourable (GBV). It will fall under a number of TWGs. Here I Member who wants to say something but allow me will just address it on the aspect that one of the factors to answer the last questions. Yesterday when I talked that researches usually show is that maybe what is about the Ministry of Investment, I said that we will be exacerbating these issues is that, sometimes when reviewing the Competition Act because these issues that the abuser is economically independent and you are small traders are disadvantaged according to paragraph relying on him or her, you end up enduring the abuse 36 and paragraph 37 of my statement, I said that they are just to be provided for. Yesterday I explained that we disadvantaged by big retailers because when they buy are going to revisit all empowerment programmes and vegetables for example, they would want to get them consolidate them and develop them. One of the things next to nothing. It is one of the things that as we look that we talk about everyday is inclusivity as you can see into this Competition Act, we are going to check if big that CEDA guidelines have special rates for women and businesses are in a way killing those small businesses. others who might be disadvantaged so that they can also We have realised that some businesses have a way of become economically independent to prevent instances pricing which does not help us as a country, they are where people end up dying in abusive relationships just looking out for themselves and not protecting the just to be provided for. I wanted to address it from the economy and our consumers, we are looking into them. economic aspect that then again when we continue There are those who devise unlawful means to make with other TWGs, it will be addressed because one of things which look like the cartels in a cunning way such the important things that we need to do as a matter of that it becomes very difficult to depict them. So we urgency is to amend laws. Other Honourable Ministers will pay attention to these things and this law as well. will cover them in one of the TWGs on which laws they Moreover, we will increase the penalties so that if a are going to come with to be amended because some of person commits this kind of crime, they will think twice the penalties seemed very low and outdated. We need because of the serious penalty which they will have to these people to understand that this is serious and the pay.

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Yesterday I also talked about the review of Liquor Act. MINISTRY FOR PRESIDENTIAL It is going to be reviewed. Mr Speaker, they expect me AFFAIRS, GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC to respond to a question which they have not asked. ADMINISTRATION Liquor Act is going to be reviewed and I mentioned that consultations have started. Honourable Members, MINISTER FOR PRESIDENTIAL as the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, I am AFFAIRS, GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC not interested in closing any industry. I understand that ADMINISTRATION (MR MORWAENG): Thank the results of doing that are very painful just as it is the you Mr Speaker. I wish to thank you for giving me case with liquor industry; it affects businesses, jobs and this opportunity to present to this Honourable House families but rest assured, consultations are ongoing. I the Mid-Term Review of National Development Plan can confirm to you that I will be able to give you update (NDP) 11, Chapter on Social Upliftment. The Chapter concerning what has been decided and when it will be addresses interventions that seek to exploit opportunities opened before end of this week. We all have to go and for promoting the citizen’s participation in achieving pray about it… higher levels of employment and the sustainable economic growth in line with the Vision 2036 theme of HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… “Achieving Prosperity for All.”

MS SERAME: …so that I will be able to give you The thematic area is aligned to Vision 2036 Pillar 2 of feedback concerning when it will be opened before the Human and Social Development, as well as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 to 5 and SDG 10. The end of this week. Having said these words Mr Speaker, key result area under this chapter is social development, I thank all the Honourable Members. As I wrap up which is a processes of enhancing the wellbeing of my debate Mr Speaker, I would like to once again people by developing sustainable inclusive strategies thank Honourable Members for their contributions, that promote social and economic participation of the advices and recommendations for the Economy and nation. More specifically, this addresses issues of social Employment Thematic Chapter. I therefore move that inclusion, policies on equitable access to services the Economy and Employment Thematic Chapter stand and opportunities, mainstream social services such as part of the National Development Plan (NDP) 11 Mid- sanitation, education, health, shelter, food security and Term Review Chapters. I move accordingly. I thank you Social Protection Programmes. Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, the priority areas for the remainder of NDP HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... 11 are as follows; poverty eradication, health, education and food security. The priorities are discussed under MR SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Minister. two main focus areas of social development and health. With a view to improve outcomes in this regard, the Question put and agreed to. following strategies will be adopted; diversification HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... of rural economies, development and support of small businesses, provision of social safety nets, eradication SECTORAL DEBATE of abject poverty, promotion of access to basic services and harmonisation of Social Protection Programmes. CHAPTER 5 Mr Speaker, due to the general challenge of unavailability SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT of data, the reporting may have been compromised. However, we have used the best available information. MR SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable Members, Performance under the sector was mainly on the we are starting the sectorial discussions of the National implementation of a number of empowerment schemes Development Plan 11: 2017/2018 - 2022/2023 with directed at reducing abject poverty, as well as providing Chapter 5 being Social Upliftment. The lead Ministry social safety nets to vulnerable groups. Overall, we for this Chapter is the Ministry for Presidential Affairs, have observed satisfactory progress across the various Governance and Public Administration. Please note that programmes. 1 hour 10 minutes has been allocated for presentations. I now call upon the Minister for Presidential Affairs, The following are highlights of performance over Governance and Public Administration to present. the period under review; significant progress has

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been achieved in dealing with the scourge of poverty Other indicators or contributors contributing to nationwide. According to the Botswana Multi-Topic improved livelihoods observed nationwide include the Household Survey Report of 2018, the proportion of following; according to the Livestock Management people living below the poverty datum line stood at 16.3 and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) Impact per cent. The report further showed that rural areas had Evaluation Report of 2017, 71 per cent of the resource- the highest poverty incidence at 24.2 per cent followed poor beneficiaries under the programme reported that by urban villages at 13.4 per cent, while cities stood at there was a positive impact on their quality of life. 9.4 per cent. For example, 76 per cent of beneficiaries reported an increase in the number of assets they have acquired. Mr Speaker, 97 per cent of those targeted under social Nationally, self-assessed household food insecurity safety nets have benefited in various Social Protection levels fell from 42.5 per cent in 2009/2010 to 38.9 Programmes. To further harmonise Social Protection per cent in 2015/2016 according to the report of 2018. Programmes, the following have been developed; Draft The Botswana Demographic Survey of 2017 shows a National Social Protection Framework (NSPF), Single National Undernourishment prevalence of 47.7 per cent. Social Registry (SSR) and Proxy Means Testing (PMT). The Botswana Demographic Survey of 2017 also shows that the percentage of households living in inadequate Mr Speaker, regarding promotion of women owned housing conditions has increased to 39.7 per cent from businesses, a total of 358 businesses were supported 25 per cent estimated by 2011 Housing and Population in 2017/2018, while in 2018/2019, only 59 businesses Census. benefited. Out of these, 322 were operational, whilst 58 collapsed and 37 were at various stages of Mr Speaker, regarding the health sector, the National implementation. Furthermore, support has also been Strategic Framework III (NSF III) has been adopted given to women entrepreneurs to access markets through to guide the national Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ market-place events. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) response for five years, from 2019 to 2023. Key Concerning the area of entrepreneurship development amongst this is the 90-90-90 strategy which seeks to among the youth population, a total of 1,119 youth achieve epidemiological control by 2020 and ending projects were supported through the Youth Development AIDS as public health threat by 2030. Progress achieved Fund (YDF) at a total cost of P193 million. is as follows; 86 per cent of adults were tested and know their HIV status; 84 per cent of people who tested Mr Speaker, performance in the education sector shows HIV positive are on treatment; 96 per cent of those on that right across all levels, transformation is necessary treatment had achieved viral suppression. In light of this, to improve the quality of education. The Public I am happy to note that Botswana has achieved the last Expenditure Review (PER) for the Basic Education 90 since 2016 and has also maintained viral suppression sector was carried out by the World Bank and United at above 90 per cent. Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2019 and it According to the Botswana Demographic Survey (BDS: showed that Botswana’s level of public spending on 2017), the under 5 mortality rate was 48 per 1 000 live education is amongst the highest in the world, at over 7 births in 2017, compared to 76 recorded in the previous per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). report of (2006). The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has been reduced from 156.6 per 100 000 live births in The PER concluded that there was scope for improving 2016 to 143.2 per 100 000 live births in 2017. educational performance, for instance, on comparative international educational assessments in mathematics Mr Speaker, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) were and science, and indeed that this would be an essential responsible for 46 per cent of total deaths in Botswana; part of the transition to a knowledge-based economy. of which 18 per cent were due to cardiovascular diseases, 7 per cent due to cancers, 6 per cent due to Mr Speaker, Botswana is in the process of acceding diabetes and 4 per cent were due to chronic respiratory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of diseases. To deal with this imminent threat, Government Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), having satisfied has come up with a robust plan to address risk factors the necessary requirements. In line with this, the Draft associated with NCDs through raising awareness and National Disability Framework is being developed to promotion of healthy lifestyles, effective treatment and operationalise the UNCRPD. impact mitigation.

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CHALLENGES DURING THE FIRST HALF OF Proposals for the education sector, Mr Speaker, calls NDP 11 for Government to intensify the implementation of the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP); Mr Speaker, let me now turn to some of the challenges implement outcome based education and assessment to and issues that inhibited our performance in the first half improve the quality of education; adopt and implement of the NDP 11. the National Policy on Assessment for General It has been observed that generally most of the social Education and the General Curriculum and Assessment protection programmes have limitations in terms Framework (GCAF). of conceptualisation. This has compromised the Furthermore, reforms will be introduced to improve effectiveness of the programmes due to inadequate value for money in education spending, in line with the targeting and weak linkages. recommendations of the Public Expenditure Review for There has also been inadequate monitoring and Basic Education report. evaluation of programmes and projects across all sectors. Mr Speaker, as we proceed into the remaining years Absence or outdated policies has compromised the of the Plan, I wish to re-emphasise Government’s targeting of some beneficiaries, unsatisfactory academic commitment to implement reforms in the health sector performance throughout the education system, shortage with a view to promoting healthy lifestyles among of skilled manpower and specialists in the health sector. Batswana. These include the following:

PROPOSED STRATEGIES FOR THE (i) Development of the Human Resources for Health REMAINDER OF NDP 11 Strategy and Workload Indicators of Staffing Needs. This entails the engagement of private Mr Speaker, to address the shortcomings discussed sector to improve access to specialised services above, Government proposes the following policy through outsourcing and insourcing models. reforms and programmes for the remainder of the NDP (ii) Strengthen stakeholder collaboration in addressing 11: A. Social development; the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) (i) Government intends to review the Economic modifiable risk factors, as well as strengthening Empowerment and Social Protection Programmes public health education. as well as to implement Proxy Means Testing. (iii) Address inefficiency and poor outcomes through The latter addresses the effective targeting of health system reforms with a view to ensure cost interventions. effectiveness

(ii) It is also an imperative to strengthen monitoring In conclusion Mr Speaker, while the performance and evaluation of poverty eradication programmes outcomes attained during the first half of the National as well as to put measures in place to ensure that Development Plan (NDP) 11 seem to be on the right appropriate data is collected to inform decision direction, they nonetheless accentuate the need for making, going forward. robust interventions if we are to achieve dignified life for all citizens. (iii) Adopt and implement the National Social It is therefore imperative for us to improve the Protection Framework (NSPF), including the efficiency and effectiveness, including coordination of Single Social Register (SSR). all programmes under this chapter. Mr Speaker the following policies will be developed or Mr Speaker, I therefore move that Chapter 5: Social reviewed with a view to enhance the effectiveness of Upliftment be approved and stand part of the Mid-Term the various interventions; National Policy on Destitute Review of the National Development Plan 11. I thank Persons of (2002); development of Family and Orphans you Mr Speaker. and Vulnerable Children Policies, National Disability Framework (legislation, policy and strategic plan), MR SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Minister. May Botswana National Youth Policy; Housing Policy and I now call upon Honourable Molale, the Honourable strengthening implementation of the Participatory Slum Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. Upgrading Programme. You have 20 minutes sir.

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MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT RURAL DEVELOPMENT Mr Speaker, at the core of my Ministry is the will and MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND determination to foster the aspirations laid out under RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MR MOLALE): Thank the social upliftment theme through provision of social you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I rise to present to this protection. The intention is to eradicate poverty, as well Honourable House, performance of my Ministry during as to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to our the first half of NDP 11, and its implementation going people and give the less privileged and vulnerable a forward over the review period. I will also present dignified life. critical issues that will affect my Ministry for the remainder of the plan. My Ministry through the local authorities, continues to provide assistance to targeted beneficiaries through My Ministry has committed to aligning itself with the an array of social welfare programmes to cushion the Government Transformation Agenda, which calls for vulnerable. These are Destitution Housing Policy, Old improvement in service delivery, including inta alia, Age Pension, Orphan Care Programme, World War provision of effective social protection programmes, II Veterans, Community Home-Based Care, Remote construction and maintenance of public infrastructure, Area Development Projects (RADP), Ipelegeng prompt service delivery, including timely payments Programme, Community Constituency Programme and to service providers and provision of Information and the Supplementary Feeding Programme. Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure and equipment to primary schools and Dikgotla, among Mr Speaker, the time has come when we should as a others. country, consolidate and harmonise our social protection programmes. My Ministry has therefore developed the Mr Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a National Social Protection Framework (NSPF), which global emergency. Beyond its immediate health impacts, was recently approved by Government. The framework economies, food systems and access to nutritious foods, seeks to achieve coordination and harmonisation of income and employment, education and social life have social protection programmes through three critical all been affected. Botswana has not been spared the areas being; negative effects of the pandemic. (1) Facilitate coherence between instruments that As a country, we responded timely and effectively to guide social protection service provision on the put in place necessary measures to combat the spread one hand and institutional arrangements for their of the disease. implementation on the other.

My Ministry responded quickly by implementing (2) Support basic business processes which include substantial national COVID-19 Food Relief Programme targeting through improved beneficiary selection to counter the negative social impacts of the disease and mechanisms, establishment of a single social of the measures necessary to contain it. However Mr register, strengthening information management Speaker, I need to state that a number of lessons were systems and bolstering monitoring and evaluation to learnt from this exercise such as; the need to capacitate improve accountability. local structures to ensure preparedness at all times, the need to sensitise all Government organs of the need to (3) Integrate similar programmes, particularly social willingly pool resources during disasters and lastly the assistance transfers and exploiting the synergies response coordination to come from one centre at the between relevant programmes across Government district level to ensure clear lines of communication. to improve on efficiency and effectiveness.

In addition, we have identified projects for Mr Speaker, it is therefore important to notify this implementation under the Economic Recovery and House that my Ministry will rationalise and consolidate Transformation Plan (ERTP), whose aim is to restore the existing 29 Social Protection Programmes across economic activity, incomes and economic growth. My Government into five Life Course Programmes; viz Ministry will be in the forefront to ensure that benefits infancy, school going, youth, working age and old age reach Batswana, especially the vulnerable, across the and the indigent. It will further assist us to build a country and in particular the most remote communities. stronger, more responsive and efficient social protection

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system for the future. This will help Botswana to “build Mr Speaker, it is in this regard that my ministry commits back better” post COVID-19. The added advantages to ensuring that procurement will be in line with all these are cost effectiveness, being customer centric, as well initiatives, providing an opportunity for farmers and as improving targeting to avoid double dipping and other Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) wastage. to sell their local produce to schools, not only facilitating market access for the farmers, but also revitalizing Intertwined with this framework, will be a system by local economies through home-grown school feeding which the weak and vulnerable are protected, particularly which cost about P600 million per annum and the in dealing with Gender Based Violence (GBV), abuse supplementary and direct feeding to avert malnutrition of children and so forth. That is why we are reviewing among the under-five’s which cost P400 million per the Children’s Act and other related Acts. Government annum. The programme will give impetus to the growth recently approved the Ratification of The Hague of SMMEs. The procurement process that has always Convention on Inter-Country Child Protection to cover resulted in late payments to suppliers by Councils will among others, protection of children and cooperation also be revamped, that is why the Public Procurement in respect of inter-country adoption, the civil aspects of and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB), Local Authorities international child abduction, the International Recovery Procurement and Asset Disposal (LAPAD) and Local of Child Support and other forms of family maintenance Authorities Acts are also being reviewed. and the powers of authorities and the law applicable in respect of the protection of infants. Mr Speaker, my ministry will fast-track the implementation of this framework for the remainder Further, new Policies such as Family Policy will be of the Plan. It will enable Councils to drive the growth developed and existing ones such as Orphans and and diversification of their local economies. It is against Vulnerable Children will be reviewed. this backdrop that during the remainder of the Plan and Local Economic Development Framework going forward, my ministry will ensure coordinated efforts across the whole of Government towards creating Mr Speaker, this is an effective instrument to promote an enabling environment for leveraging resources local investment, sustain growth and diversification, from existing programmes, including staff and other as well as enhancing livelihoods across localities and initiatives to facilitate full implementation of LED at communities. It aims at helping rural communities to the local level. identify their development challenges, understand their resources and exploit them sustainably to grow and Harnessing Strategic Partnership diversify the local economy, with Government supporting Mr Speaker, with the assistance of the United Nations them through Citizen Economic Empowerment (CEE) Development Programme (UNDP), we have embarked and the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD). on other policy reforms and these are:

Mr Speaker, consensus is developing as evidenced (i) Review and Development of a new Ministry’s by arguments in this House, that a new National Transformational Strategy: The role and functions Development Pathway is required to achieve rapid, of Local Authorities are continuously changing inclusive and sustainable growth of the economy. This in response to emerging needs and demands and would generate decent employment and incomes as structural changes. In order to keep up with these well as eradicating poverty, inequality and exclusion in socially, economically and ecologically sustainable changes, my ministry is currently reviewing the ways. The modus operandi of Local Economic 2018-2023 Strategy. The main objective is to Development (LED) is to effectively identify alternative assess its relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency sources of growth and diversification on one hand and in realising its objectives; transforming national economic growth patterns that (ii) Review and Development of the Revised Remote lead to poverty eradication on the other. This will be Area Development Programme done through building partnerships with other Central Government entities, Local Authorities, other Local (iii) Reframe and refocusing of the National Policy for Institutions and Civil Society actors working closely Rural Development to complement the National with Development Partners and the Communities Spatial Plan; themselves.

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(iv) Development of a Financial Management Training to COVID-19 regulations. We adjourn Honourable Manual for Local Authorities and Training of Members until 2:00 p.m. relevant officers to assist in alleviating financial management challenges experienced by Local PROCEEDINGS SUSPENDED AT 1:00 P.M. FOR Authorities such as; budget control, revenue APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR collection, difficulty in assessing the liquidity of PROCEEDINGS RESUMED AT 2:00 P.M. Councils and disjointed financial management systems. This will achieve a desirable level of MR SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable Members, resource prudence at Local Authority level. good afternoon. Let us resume our business of today with questions. Ipelegeng QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER Mr Speaker, as I promised during my delivery of the Committee of Supply, my ministry has recently concluded RELOCATION OF BOTSWANA UNIFIED the re-engineering of the Ipelegeng Programme. As I did REVENUE SERVICES (BURS) TO CENTRAL promise this House, the Programme is scheduled to re- BUSINESS DISTRICT (CBD) start today. MR O. REGOENG (MOLEPOLOLE NORTH): HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development whether the relocation of Botswana HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… Unified Revenue Service (BURS) from plot 53976 MR MOLALE: …(Laughter!)…This re-engineering to their building at Central Business District (CBD) will improve the programme’s value add with focus did not occasion an immediate termination of tenancy on maintenance of public facilities, implementation contract for plot 53976 hence their continued payment of development projects and enhancement of village of monthly rent of BWP1 542 841 for unoccupied infrastructure at the local level. This positive move will premises; and if so, to state: transform the programme to be more productive, cost (i) the remaining lease period at the time they effective and sustainable. relocated to CBD;

Moreover, engaged beneficiaries will be assisted, (ii) whether in an attempt to indemnify herself from Honourable Nkawana, to acquire technical skills on the tenancy contract, has BURS identified such the job and emphasis will be on forming partnerships tenants willing to pay same rent amount paid by with institutions such as Madirelo Training and Testing BURS; and Centre, Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF) and brigades, where beneficiaries can be sent for certification (iii) whether the arrangement referred to at ii above, and eventually graduate into permanent jobs or self- dovetails well with statement expressed early this employment. Honourable Balopi and I will be leading year that “it cannot be business as usual”; and if this initiative. not, how long it will take to correct this.

Rural Development Coordination Later Date.

Mr Speaker, the Revised National Policy for Rural CONSIDERATION TO ALLOW OCCUPANTS OF Development (RNPRD) has its goal being to enhance OLD POOL HOUSES TO BUY THEM the quality of life in rural areas with objectives of; MR W. B. MMOLOTSI (FRANCISTOWN SOUTH): reducing poverty, providing opportunities for income asked the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing generation and involvement in economic activity, Development when he will consider allowing occupants creating employment, enhancing popular participation of old pool houses to buy them in view of Government in development planning, Honourable Motsamai, commitment to encourage home ownership. and implementation processes as well as installing participatory Monitoring and Evaluation systems. MR MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Minister. We have HOUSING DEVELOPMENT (MR KGAFELA): Mr done the two hours and I think we should pay attention Speaker good afternoon.

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(i) Mr Speaker, I wish to recall that a similar question MR MMOLOTSI: Supplementary. Thank you Mr was asked by Honourable Mmolotsi in March Speaker. Thank you Minister for that answer. This 2010. is an issue of government commitment to ensure that Batswana have homes. There are some Batswana who HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… stay in flats like Sweets Flats, and there are flats at MR KGAFELA: Yes sir, but with specific reference to Francistown and other areas. Minister why is it difficult the City of Francistown. for Batswana to purchase these BHC flats? There was an attempt before to try and amend the Sectional (i) Mr Speaker, the question of lifting the moratorium Titles. Why did you not conclude by saying that every on purchase of pool houses… Motswana who stays in a flat should be able to purchase it? HONOURABLE MEMBER: We cannot hear you. MR KGAFELA: Mr Speaker, I am quite aware of the MR KGAFELA: Mr Speaker, we have been advised by problem surrounding the Sectional Titles Act. I was not the COVID-19 authorities to keep these masks on all the informed Mr Speaker, that there was an attempt before time, but if it is necessary that I remove it, I will. to amend it in order to pave way for Batswana to be able HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… to purchase these units. When I looked at the manner in which the attempt was made, I have realised Mr MR KGAFELA: Yes. Mr Speaker, the question of Speaker that, with respect to my predecessors, it was lifting the moratorium on the purchase of pool houses quite flawed. I sank my teeth into it, and came up with a is at present under active consideration, and a decision new approach which is simply to remove… I think there is expected before the end of this year. Although I am is provision at Section 6 in the Sectional Titles Act; just pushing Mr Speaker, that it be decided well before then. to remove that part. I have engaged my officials to work (i) Mr Speaker, so far consultations have been held expeditiously to bring up a memorandum to ask for with a view to solving not just the problem of authority to be conferred upon me to start the process housing for civil servants, but for the nation at of effect in that amendment. So, once that provision is large, and how improving the housing stock for removed, it will enable BHC to then sell these units. the nation can assist in the provision of housing to civil servants, as well as exploring improving the Let me tell you what the problem is, that provision Mr capacity of civil servants to rent houses from the Speaker, requires BHC in order to enter into a Sectional private sector. Scheme or a Development Scheme, to first offer each and every single tenant in the block of properties which (ii) Mr Speaker, one of the initiatives by Government it intends to sell, it has to offer each one of them; give is to utilise the capacity in the private sector where them the first right of refusal of the purchases. Now Government has limited or no capacity. Using amongst the tenants, there are foreigners occupying capacity in the private sector allows Government these units, and at present, there is a general sentiment to concentrate on other basic needs. that immovable properties should try as much as it can be done to be held in the hands of Batswana. So, if BHC Mr Speaker, I might just add that when Honourable is to comply strictly with the Sectional Titles Act as Mmolotsi asked this question in 2010, he was informed it now stands, it will then mean that we will have to that there is moratorium over the sale or purchase of pool dispose of some of these properties to foreigners which houses. I am pleased to inform him Mr Speaker, that at present a sentiment stands against it. That is why we we are seriously considering uplifting that moratorium. are now amending it. Once we amend it, then Batswana We have engaged the Directorate of Public Service who are occupying these units, BHC would not have the Management (DPSM) to assist us because it lies within obligation anymore to offer anybody the right of first their ministry, to determine these kinds of matters. So, refusal. So, it will be able to then sell to Batswana, and we are in engagement. When I say consultations are then it will deal with the foreigners who are occupying ongoing, they are ongoing between us and them with the in whatever manner that will present itself to them at the view to uplifting that moratorium Mr Speaker. I thank time. I hope I have made my sense sir. you. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Supplementary.

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MR SPEAKER: The last supplementary Honourable MR A. LESASO (SHOSHONG): asked the Minister Tshere. of Defence, Justice and Security why it has taken this long to renovate the dilapidated Dibete Police Station, MR TSHERE: Supplementary. Thank you very and when are they intending to attend to it. much Honourable Speaker. I have been listening to the Minister. Thank you. If you are aware…I hear you MINISTER OF DEFENCE, JUSTICE AND saying that there is moratorium on the purchase of BHC SECURITY (MR MMUSI): Thank you Mr Speaker. houses in as far as 2010. I want to know what led to this temporary suspension of purchase of these units if you I agree with Honourable Lesaso, Honourable Member know. Thank you. for Shoshong that indeed it has taken long to renovate the dilapidated Dibete Police Station. Mr Speaker, when MR KGAFELA: Let me correct the Honourable these buildings were handed over, they were not well Member. When I spoke about BHC, it was in response built from the onset. There were attempts made in 2012 to Honourable Mmolotsi’s introduction of the problem to conduct geo-technical assessments to find out what the of inability to sell BHC units. I spoke in that context, but problem might be. It was discovered that the structure the moratorium is not on BHC, it is on Government pool was fine and the focus went to the foundation which up houses. If I have understood it correctly, the moratorium to now they are still assessing. What I can confirm to came about because Government feared that there was Honourable Member of Parliament (MP) is that, we are a rapid depletion in the available Government stock in in consultation with the Minister of Infrastructure and houses, it then became necessary in order to be able to Housing Development, Honourable Kgafela. We are accommodate other incoming members of staff, so when in talks to find a solution to the challenge we have at they do come, they find houses available. So, there was Dibete Police Station. a problem of rapid depletion of the stock. That is how then the moratorium came in to stop the continuous or I want to confirm to you Honourable Member that, continued sale of the stock sir. I hope I have made sense we will also invite you in a few days so that we may to the Honourable Member. brainstorm together. Like I told you, we have been in consultation all this time. I believe that in a short while, LACK OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE STATE OF we will come up with a solution because all of us still do HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN KGATLENG not have a proper solution. It is my wish as the Minister of Defence that, maybe in the 2021/2022 financial year, MR M. M. PULE (MOCHUDI EAST): asked the we could see how that building can be refurbished. Minister of Health and Wellness if he is aware: Thank you Mr Speaker. (i) that there is still no improvement in the state DR GOBOTSWANG: Supplementary. Mr Speaker, of health and wellness in Kgatleng especially Honourable Minister’s answer is completely Mochudi East constituency as there is still not unacceptable. When you listen to him carefully, he says enough doctors, nurses, ambulances, medicines he does not have a solution. Honourable Minister, tell and 24-hour operation of clinics; us when this police started encountering problems. We (ii) that COVID-19 pandemic has now worsened the are in 2020 but you are saying that you do not have a situation as some families’ state of health and solution; what has happened in all these years? I believe wellness has deteriorated as a result of various it has been like that all along. Mr Speaker, his answer is financial problems, and if so; totally unacceptable in Parliament. There is no answer (iii) what he is doing about this state of affairs. Honourable Speaker. Thank you.

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS (DR MR SPEAKER: I do not know about that. I thought I DIKOLOTI): Thank you Mr Speaker. I would like to understood the Minister quite well, that he will invite move this question to a later date because the answer is Honourable Member of Parliament for Shoshong not detailed enough. (Lesoso) to become part of the consultation. If he does not have an answer, you will talk it out. Honourable Later Date. Minister, there is a question to you.

RENOVATION OF DILAPIDATED DIBETE MR MMUSI: Thank you Mr Speaker. The police POLICE STATION station had defects from the beginning. It had cracks

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and as I have been saying, it was handed to the police on acting capacity and when Government intends by the Ministry of Infrastructure. We kept going back to promote her to a full Operations Manager; to them that the police station is not in good condition. We were handed the police station and the Ministry of (ii) the number of vacant posts available at NAPRO Infrastructure is responsible for making assessments. and the timeframe they need to fill them; We are handling this matter with them. They are the (iii) if he is aware that NAPRO operates without a ones who can advise us on the damage they have seen backup generator resulting in disturbed food on the building. From there, that is when we will make production in times of power cuts and faults in the a decision. We will then consult Honourable Member as only available generator; we have been doing all along. Thank you. (iv) whether his ministry intends to procure a backup MR LESASO: Supplementary. Mr Speaker, I do generator; if so, when; and not understand why Honourable Minister wants to implicate and involve me in his matters concerning the (v) the steps his ministry intends to take to ensure Dibete Police Station. Honourable Minister, do you NAPRO reaches optimum production and starts not think that this matter is an indication of negligence operating at a profit. and corruption? You affirm that the police station has never been used since handing over. You are saying ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL you found it cracked, damaged is this not a sign of lack DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MS of responsibility on your part regarding the state of MANAKE): Thank you Mr Speaker. Good afternoon. Government buildings when they handed over. What I (i) Mr Speaker, NAPRO is being run as a project by am trying to say is that, do you not see it important that, the National Food Technology Research Centre every time you receive buildings, you should check if (NFTRC). The current operations manager was they have been built according to the design? The Police seconded from NFTRC to oversee the day to day station has not been utilised from 2012 up to 2020, operations of NAPRO following retrenchment of where are the police now working? Who is responsible the substantive operations manager in 2017. The for the funds that were used to construct that police current status reflects transitional arrangements station? Who took responsibility for defects liability of since NAPRO is part of the arms of operation that building? Now you stand here Honourable Minister under NFRTC that have been identified to to tell us that it has not been used, where are the police merge with others into forming the National officers working? Agricultural Research and Development Institute MR MMUSI: Wait! Honourable Lesaso, as I was (NARDI). NARDI is a new institution that will saying, the police station has not been used and I be responsible for agricultural research and food cannot deny that. The police have been operating from production and the Department of Agricultural the old building. Buildings fall under the Ministry of Research, Veterinary Lab and NFTRC will Infrastructure so I am saying, we are still in talks with fall under this institution. Now NAPRO as an them. From time to time we sit down and talk with the offspring of NFTRC has also been affected by Minister, even now they are still trying to come up with that. This therefore meant that other positions solutions. In a short while, we will also call you and could not be carried forward. However, the show you our findings. I cannot dispute sir. Thank you substantive position of the current officer is Senior very much. Marketing Officer which she was promoted into in UPDATE ON NATIONAL AGRO PROCESSING February 2019. The current arrangement therefore BOTSWANA (NAPRO) continues as is until the rest of the staff is absorbed into NARDI through skills matching. The merger MR K. NKAWANA (SELEBI PHIKWE EAST): process is currently on going and is scheduled to asked the Minister of Agricultural Development and be completed on or before March 2021. Food Security to explain: (ii) There are currently 8 vacant posts at NAPRO. (i) why the Operations Manager at National Agro These positions will remain vacant and are being Processing Botswana (NAPRO) is still working managed at NFTRC until the merger is effected.

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(iii) Mr Speaker, I am aware that there is no backup The second point is the issue of the generator which generator at NAPRO at the moment. The plan you said you are aware that it is not there. My question has always been to gradually increase the power therefore is, are you aware that if there is a power cut needs based on the gradual increase of production while they are still cooking tomatoes and other things, or growth. The current capacity utilisation is low they are going to throw them away and they will not such that, current power cuts do not account for be able to package them as they would have spent a losses in production. longtime without being well cooked. Lastly, are you aware that NAPRO has a Board of Directors which (iv) We will observe going forward to see what can is currently not in place, not functional and has been be done. It is not the backup generator only, even registered with the Registrar of Companies with the the boiler from time to time breaks down. These name …(Inaudible)… are things that we are aware of. Now as we keep moving things around, we will see how they can MR SPEAKER: That will be the fourth supplementary. be included in the plan. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Interruptions!)… (v) The last question of Honourable Nkawana on MR NKAWANA: Thank you Mr Speaker. what the ministry intends to do, we are aware of the SPEDU plan. We already know that 73 per MS MANAKE: I thank you Mr Speaker. Honourable cent of our import bill is on food processing or Nkawana, I am aware that when NAPRO was formed, industrialisation. We appreciate that NAPRO they promised farmers many things who are in this came at an opportune time and has proved itself Constituency, they did that because they thought it was to Batswana. Even us as Government it was opportunity to reduce post-harvest losses because many affordable, it was running like a small micro of their crops were dying in their fields. As we know company. So it has given us a clear idea of how that SPEDU sustains a greater part of horticulture, they we can manage it such that people who live in expected a lot from them. As the Honourable Members SPEDU area can do something which is similar to have already said, Honourable Serame, I believe NAPRO. Additionally, it showed us the challenges Honourable Dr Matsheka also mentioned that we have that NAPRO encountered and we also learnt to assess State Owned Entities (SOEs) and find those about measures that can be taken to address these that can be managed by the Government which are challenges so that anyone who wants to invest in businesses. For example; we can assess Botswana Meat the same business can avoid them. Commission (BMC) and find if the Government will be able to manage it. So, the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security is still assessing other businesses. Moreover, NAPRO is a very good idea it has brought about the the Minister will go on to transfer what we have learnt to value chain which we are talking about. I have already Rural Development Council (RDC) because NAPRO is mentioned that 73 per cent of the food import bill, that a programme which falls under RDC, it will help them to is 7.6 billion that we are talking about, 6.7 billion will have an understanding of how the national development be used for processing food. So, we expected NAPRO plan will be executed. I thank you Mr Speaker. to contribute on import substitution in terms of food production. We have taken this issue into consideration, MR NKAWANA: Supplementary. Thank you Mr that is why we approached it in this manner so that Speaker. Let me ask at least five questions Minister. everything that we have learnt from it, now they have Firstly, the main reason why NAPRO was introduced to be transferred to the private sector. The question then in Selebi Phikwe was for the purpose of creating jobs. will be, what have we learnt? We have learnt a lot, that Secondly, it was for the purpose of assisting farmers to we need a lot of money, capital investment is not similar sell their products to a company which can process those to planting or other things which does not require a lot products as we know that they manufacture tomato of money. sauces, archers and others in that Constituency. Do you realise that the people of Selibe Phikwe Economic I will also talk about the market. As I have mentioned, we Diversification Unit (SPEDU) were very hopeful when have many things which we import from other countries NAPRO was introduced and they have given up and lost so when NAPRO was introduced, the expectation was hope on it? that, it will help us to attract many people so that they

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can buy our tomato sauce speedily. We have what is been given to them and they claim that they are waiting called consumer behaviour where people were used to for transition? Do you also know that the employees…? consuming All Gold Tomato Sauce and other things. So, this made it difficult to access NAPRO products or to MR SPEAKER: Honourable Minister! buy them in the market. For this reason, after making MR MMOLOTSI: OK! amendments Minister Serame, you will be able to restrict buying of tomato sauces from other countries so HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Interruptions!)… that people can buy from NAPRO. Everyone including different Ministries were not buying or refusing to buy MS MANAKE: Thank you Mr Speaker. I think from NAPRO. So, we are going to bring a policy which Honourable Mmolotsi is bringing a whole new question states how we are supposed to actually be accessing so altogether. All I can say is, if it continues to be like this, that it will be easy to market their products and Batswana one has to consult the employees and negotiate things will know about Harvest Haven. We are going to do this that everyone will be pleased with, instead of fighting. because we know that tomato sauces are consumed in Unfortunately, I cannot give you an answer on the issue schools and other Ministries. Unfortunately, we are that people have been having nothing to do. I can only consuming what we import from other countries instead confirm that the purpose or mandate of NARDI isto of buying and consuming tomato sauces which are have proper funding which will be credited by the made at Selebi Phikwe. It is one of the things which we Government. The Honourable Members have been are reviewing and are intending to change so that the talking much about that money that, it is specifically for private sector will be able to access them as well as take research. So NARDI is meant for that so that everything part in this business. can be done in one place, so that we can acquire knowledge-based economy which we always preach Honourable Nkawana, we will assess the issue of about. I thank you Mr Speaker. backup generator and find what we can do depending on QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE how much we have left, so that food will not be spoilt. We will take it as an assignment. Concerning the issue …Silence… of Board of Directors as you have mentioned, we have HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Interruptions!)… asked where the SOEs are, which companies have Board of Directors, how does their oversight operate? As you MR MOATLHODI: I have started the April prayer. have heard when I was reading the document, NAPRO HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… was a National Food Technology Research (NFTRC) project, NFTRC is under National Agricultural MR MOATLHODI: Mr Speaker, good afternoon sir! Research and Development Institute (NARDI) so, we Question number… want to understand what is happening to NAPRO and that Board of Directors? Thank you Mr Speaker. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Six. MR MOATLHODI: Six. Why are you laughing HONOURABLE MEMBER: Further supplementary. Honourable Members? HONOURABLE MEMBER: Supplementary. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… MR SPEAKER: One and last supplementary. SUSPENSION OF ISSUANCE OF SECURITY MR MMOLOTSI: Supplementary Mr Speaker. LICENCES Minister, this transition was supposed to take place in MR P. P. P. MOATLHODI (TONOTA): Asked the 2011 as a result of the Presidential Directive Cap: 4(a). Minister of Defence, Justice and Security to confirm So, why did this transition not take place from 2011 to whether the issuance of security licences has been 2020? Moreover, explain whether NFTRC employees suspended since June, 2020 and if so; have been getting their salaries since 2011 even though the Government is not funding their mandate. This (i) if he is aware that security licences are a means even though they go to work every morning requirement when processing tenders; and as and knock off in the evening, they have nothing to do such, the delaying in issuance of these licences because they do not have working capital, nothing has disadvantages prospective tenders; and

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(ii) when the security companies can expect to have who the shareholders are and the role they play in their company certificates ready and issued to the company including all compliances for security them. purposes. Honourable Member, during the beginning of the year in March we brought a new act of security MINISTER OF DEFENCE, JUSTICE AND services. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 there was a SECURITY (MR MMUSI): Mr Speaker, let me thank delay. We intended to amend a few Clauses but there the Member of Parliament of Tonota, Honourable is a delay, however I do believe that we will bring it Member Pono Moatlhodi. again. As you say, if companies do not comply, there are Sir, my Ministry has not suspended the issuance of representatives in private securities and at our ministry licenses, save for the period during lockdown when whom you can report to so that, they take appropriate services across Government were temporarily halted. action to ensure there is compliance to all security services regulations. I thank you Mr Speaker. (i) I am aware that a valid license is a requirement for HONOURABLE MEMBER: Supplementary. purposes of tendering. The issuance of a private security license involves extensive security vetting MR SPEAKER: Last supplementary Honourable of applicants, companies, including shareholders. Kekgonegile. Considering the prolonged process of security MR KEKGONEGILE: Supplementary. Thank you vetting, in some instances it may take long to issue Mr Speaker. Honourable Minister, you say you drafted a license as due diligence is critical and carrying this law before Corona. The law that you are referring out security vetting should not be compromised. to was formulated in 2015 and it appears it was never I want to assure you that when people require implemented from 2015 up to date. Was Corona there in licenses urgently for tendering, we do extend the 2015 or you are referring to a different law? licenses for a period of six months. Following the lifting of lockdown, the issuance of licenses has MR MMUSI: No, I am saying in March 2020, we normalised. To date, we have issued 163 licenses, wanted to change a few Clauses in the Act but we were the last being on 31st August 2020. In order to unable to do that due to COVID-19. We wanted to comply with COVID-19 protocols, customers that amend after consultation with different stakeholders of have successfully undergone security vetting are security services. I thank you Mr Speaker. called at different times to come and collect their APPROVAL OF THE MID- licenses, as we have to adjust to the new normal. I TERM REVIEW OF NATIONAL thank you Mr Speaker. DEVELOPMENT PLAN 11: 2017/2018 – MR KEORAPETSE: Supplementary. Good afternoon 2022/2023 Honourable Speaker, and thank you. Honourable Minister, is security vetting still done at the Directorate SECTORAL DEBATE of Intelligence and Security (DIS) and are they CHAPTER 5 transparent in terms of what they look at when vetting? SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT Secondly, what action are you taking against companies that have been issued security licenses but not adhering (Resumed Debate) to employment regulations? There are a lot of security MR SPEAKER: When the House adjourned in the companies which do not pay salaries on time, some do morning, Honourable Minister of Local Government not pay at all, others do not give staff proper protective and Rural Development was still on the floor presenting clothing and the conditions of service are poor. What and he was left with five minutes. Honourable Minister action are you going to take against those companies, Molale. will we see you revoking their licenses because it seems like the situation is worsening and does not seem to get MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND better in the near future? Thank you. RURAL DEVELOPMENT

MR MMUSI: Thank you Honourable Member of MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND Parliament (MP). Honourable Member, vetting has RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MR MOLALE): Thank been outsourced and the procedure is to find out you Mr Speaker. The Rural Development Council

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chaired by His Honour, has directed that the Rural have need to be effectively harnessed, utilised prudently Development Policy be reviewed such that it is in line and targeted appropriately for positive impact to be felt with the Government’s Transformational Agenda, Vision at the local level. This is what our voters deserve. 2036 and the Decentralisation Policy. I need to mention that coordinated rural development has been commonly Conclusion hampered by poor staffing norms at extension area level In conclusion, Mr Speaker, my ministry was allocated which include non-filling of posts, extension boundaries a Total Estimated Cost of Eleven Billion, Two Hundred that overlap, non-provision of facilitative infrastructure and Ninety-Three Million, Eight Hundred Thousand such as housing and offices. Pula (P11, 293,800,000) for Development during Monitoring and Evaluation Framework National Development Plan (NDP) 11. Out of this, Five Billion (P5, 000,000,000) has been spent and this Mr Speaker, my ministry is also installing a Monitoring denotes an expenditure of 46 per cent. The remainder, and Evaluation Framework, commonly referred to as the Village Scorecard, whose objective is to ensure timely which is Six Billion, One Hundred and Eighty Million, delivery of services. The scorecard primarily looks at Nine Hundred Thousand Pula (P6, 180,900,000) will be performance dimensions of accessibility, accountability, required for the remainder of NDP 11. timeliness and quality service. This process will be led Mr Speaker, this concludes the presentation on my by Honourable Morwaeng and myself. ministry’s proposed strategies, programmes and projects Mr Speaker, the Decentralisation Policy review is at the for the remainder of NDP 11. I move accordingly and I tail end. We expect to take it to Cabinet during this year. thank you Mr Speaker. This policy is at the core of good governance. The salient MR SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Minister. points of the envisaged policy among others underscore the need for transformation which include some sub- HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… districts Honourable Reatile, graduating into fully- fledged districts, some centralised services be negotiated MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members, although to be provided by local authorities such as primary on your Order Paper, Agricultural Development and healthcare, village water supply et cetera. Central Food Security appears to follow, they presented last Government entities would also be deconcentrated to be week Thursday. Instead, I will therefore call upon the closer to where their service is most required. Minister of Health and Wellness to present. Honourable Minister, you have 20 minutes. Sustainable Environment MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS Mr Speaker, the other aspect of my responsibility is sustainable environment. I am aware that the Integrated MINISTER OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS (DR Waste Management Policy once approved, will serve as DIKOLOTI): Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, a reference point for the development of the National it is my pleasure to present to this Honourable House and District Waste Management Plans. To this end, we proposed programmes and projects to be implemented are planning to be constructing a Transfer Station for by my Ministry during the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of Greater Gaborone, which will be the first of its kind in National Development Plan (NDP) 11. Botswana, and will ultimately promote efficiency in As per the Revised National Health Policy (2011), my waste recovery and improvement of waste collection. Ministry’s pursuit to delivering quality universal health Mr Speaker, this exercise will also be led by Honourable care services continues. The successful implementation Kereng, whilst my ministry through local authorities of our main priorities and strategic thrusts will put will be the implementers. us in the right path towards attaining “Health for All Mr Speaker, I need to conclude by saying that all that by 2036.” More importantly, the implementation of needs to be done as outlined above does not need these programmes will demonstrate Government’s additional resources, save for the construction of commitment towards the provision of quality health customary courts, additional classrooms and primary care services in an effort towards achieving Sustainable schools, teachers quarters et cetera, including the Development Goal 3; “Ensure healthy lives and promote maintenance of existing ones. The resources that we well-being for all at all ages.”

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Mr Speaker, I now present a synoptic performance of HOSPITAL SERVICES development programmes during the first half of NDP 11. Mr Speaker, the refurbishment of three old hospitals in Mahalapye, Sefhare and Sekgoma is complete. II. REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE DURING 1st Meanwhile, construction work is still ongoing for the HALF OF NDP 11 refurbishment of the old Maun and Scottish Hospitals with progress at 70 per cent and 89 per cent, respectively. Mr Speaker, my Ministry was allocated a Total The Rakops Operating Theatre has been completed as Estimated Cost (TEC) of Nine Billion and Sixty-Seven well. Million Pula (P9, 067, 000, 000) at the beginning of NDP 11, to finance development programmes. A total MoHW COMPUTERISATION of One Billion and Eighty-One Million, Three Hundred Mr Speaker, while e-Health Programme has the potential and Thirty-One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty- to improve access to healthcare, better patient outcomes, Eight Pula (P1,081,331,988) has so far been expended customer satisfaction, access to health information as during the first half of the plan period, that is, as at 31st well as monitoring and evaluation; its implementation March 2020. has been delayed. My Ministry has since prioritised it after a successful review and launch of the e-Health The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) initially Strategy (2020-2024). So far, work has begun to replace had seven development programmes. Following the the paper-based medical patient cards with an Electronic organisational restructuring of the Ministry, HIV/ Health Record (EHR) system. The EHR intended to AIDS programmes were transferred to the Ministry provide real-time access to health services using a unique for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public identifier across the entire health sector. The Ministry of Administration (MOPAGPA) at the beginning of the Health and Wellness has engaged the Botswana Institute 2019/2020 Financial Year. The six programmes which for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) to remained are, MoHW consultancies, primary health facilitate the project and preparation of the statement for care services, hospital services, computerisation, fleet user requirement which is at an advanced stage. expansion and Institute of Health Sciences (IHSs). These programmes are aimed at strengthening health MoHW FLEET EXPANSION prevention interventions and improving access to During the first half of the plan, a total of 11 vehicles quality health care services. were procured for use by Health Inspectorate and Public Mr Speaker, the National Health Quality Standards for Health Divisions for their out-reach programmes. health facilities have been developed and have led to INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCES (IHSs) the accreditation of three hospitals and six clinics. These standards provide a yardstick to measure and monitor Mr Speaker, the Gaborone IHS staff houses which were performance of the health sector by conducting periodic constructed during the NDP 10 are now complete and auditing of health facilities to ensure adherence. occupied. The Ministry also facilitated payment of final accounts to contractors and consultants who were Mr Speaker, the main objective of this programme in engaged for the upgrading of Molepolole and Serowe the primary health care was to upgrade and/or construct IHSs. health facilities from either health posts to clinics without maternity wing or clinics without a maternity III. PROPOSED PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS wing, to those with maternity sections. Moreover, the FOR THE REMAINDER OF NDP 11 plan was to upgrade some clinics to a primary hospital level one category. The construction of staff houses Mr Speaker, the revised programmes have provided constituted a major component of this programme. for the introduction of new and emerging projects through the Economic Recovery and Transformation It must be noted that some development partners and Plan (ERTP), particularly to respond to the current donors collaborated with Government to construct and COVID-19 pandemic, as well as future disease complete clinics in Kumakwane, Lotlhakane West and outbreaks at ports of entry. This decision is aligned to Magapatona in Tutume. Work for related projects has the 58th World Health Assembly (WHA) which adopted started for , Makalamabedi and Maunatlala.

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the International Health Regulations (IHR-2005) aimed clinics with maternity, upgrading of Letlhakeng Clinic at preventing and controlling the international spread of to a primary hospital level one, construction of staff diseases and providing a public health response. houses country wide, including the North West Ngami staff houses, (Package 2A and 2B) staff The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated to us the houses, MoHW houses procurement under Physically need to increase resources and health services at major and Otherwise Health Impaired (POHI), electrification international airports is a necessity. To this end, the of primary health facilities; as well as construction of ministry has prioritised and subsequently proposes mini-health centres at Sir Seretse Khama International to construct four mini-health centres at Sir Seretse Airport, PG Matante International Airport Maun and Khama International Airport, PG Matante International Kasane Airports. Airport, Kasane and Maun International Airports. The construction of these mini-health centres is planned for HOSPITAL SERVICES the next financial year. Mr Speaker, a TEC of Two Billion, One Hundred and Mr Speaker, it is expected that successful implementation Twenty-Five Million and Nine Hundred Thousand of these projects will consolidate and provide security Pula (P2, 125,900,000) is proposed for construction for the country against importation of diseases since of hospitals. Projects to be implemented during the the afore-mentioned ports of entry will be designed remaining plan period are Shakawe and Moshupa to comply and meet international standards. Upon Primary Hospitals; the refurbishment of Maun and completion of these facilities, the Ministry will be able Scottish Hospitals; design and upgrading of Tutume and to conduct screening, testing and isolation of suspected Gumare Hospitals as well as housing units. Upgrading cases; that is, of diseases, infections or viruses with ease. of Kasane Primary Hospital is also proposed also proposed for construction during the Mid-Term Review Mr Speaker, I now present projects to be implemented timeframe. in the remaining part of NDP 11 together with their financial requirements. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMPUTERIZATION MoHW CONSULTANCIES Mr Speaker, the impact of new digital technologies to In prioritising adherence to health standards, the improve the health of the population is unprecedented Ministry will develop additional National Health Quality Standards as initially planned. Priority shall be and has grown globally. To leverage on the use of given to areas of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), pharmacy/pharmaceutical services, physiotherapy the ministry will implement an e-Health Strategy services, dietetic services, medical laboratory services, (2020-2024) during the remaining part of National oncology services, psychiatric care, oral health services Development Plan (NDP) 11. The Total Estimated Cost (dental services), Eye care services, urology, general requested is Thirty-Seven Million Pula (P37,000,000) medical practice, hospices, palliative care services, out of which Seven Million Pula (P7,000,000) radiology and diagnostics imaging services and will finance activities for the Quality Information occupational health service. Management System (QIMS) project, while Thirty Mr Speaker, a total of Four Million, Five Hundred Million Pula (P30,000,000) will fund the e-Health Thousand Pula (P4, 500,000) is requested as the TEC Strategy projects. for the programme. FLEET EXPANSION PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES Mr Speaker, for the remaining period of the Plan, the STRENGTHENING ministry proposes to procure both ambulance and A TEC of One Billion, one Hundred and Thirty- non-ambulance fleet to respond to the health needs. A One Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Pula (P1, Total Estimated Cost of One Hundred and Forty-Six 131,900,000) is proposed for this programme inclusive Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Pula (P146,900,000) of expenditure of the first half of the plan. Projects to be is therefore requested for approval by this Honourable funded include completion of clinics without maternity, House.

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INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SERVICES ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE PLAN Mr Speaker, for the remaining years of the plan, final account for the Gaborone IHS staff houses will be The general performance of Botswana sport on and settled. A Total Estimated Cost of Thirty Million, Two off the field has continued to improve during the Hundred Thousand Pula (P30,200,000) is proposed. period under review. We currently have about 37 sport administrators holding leadership positions in Mr Speaker, kindly note that the proposed Total international sport bodies while our athletes have also Estimated Costs are inclusive of expenditure for the first continued to excel in international competitions. The half of the plan including the Two Hundred Million, Five highlight was the 2018 Commonwealth Games that Hundred Thousand Pula (P200, 500,000) spent under were held in Gold Coast, Australia. For the first time in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune history, Botswana managed to win more than one gold Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) programme. medal at the Games, winning three gold medals, a silver In conclusion Mr Speaker, I now request that the medal and a bronze medal. The team was represented by proposed Total Estimated Cost of Three Billion, Sixty Isaac Makwala, Baboloki Thebe, Onkabetse Nkobolo, Hundred and Seventy-Six Million, Nine Hundred Pula Leaname Maotoanong, Amantle Montsho, Galefele (P3, 676, 900, 000) be approved for programmes and Moroko, Christine Botlogetswe and Loungo Matlhaku. projects and stand part of the Mid-Review of NDP 11. I Botswana was also the first country to win gold in thank you Mr Speaker. both the men’s and women’s 400m title in the history HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… of the Commonwealth Games. It was also the first time in Botswana’s history that the team had attained MR SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Minister. Honourable Members, may I now call upon the Minister position one and two at an event bigger than African Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Championships. Moreover, Botswana had two women in the finals of an international competition be it MINISTRY OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, Commonwealth Games, World Championships or SPORT AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT Olympic Games.

MINISTER OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, Botswana also successfully hosted major sporting SPORT AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT (MR events to achieve sporting objectives while also RAKGARE): Mr Speaker, let me thank you for giving promoting sport tourism. These major events include me the opportunity to present to this Honourable House the Africa Karate Championships and Zone 6 Boxing my ministry’s part of the Mid-Term Review of the National Development Plan 11. Championships, International Working Group (IWG) World Conference on Women and Sport, Rugby Africa The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Women’s Sevens tournament as well as the African Culture Development is mandated to create an enabling Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games. environment that empowers the youth, develops sport and leverages on the strength of our country’s culture Mr Speaker, in the area of youth development and and heritage. In order to achieve this mandate, my empowerment, my ministry continued to place Interns ministry implements major programmes under five key and Tirelo Sechaba participants in various organisations functions of Youth Empowerment and Development; to improve their job readiness. Furthermore, a total of Sport and Recreation; Arts and Culture; Library and 2, 851 youth projects were supported through the Youth Information Services as well as Archives and Records Development Fund (YDF) at a total cost of P285 million. Management Services. These businesses have created 5,068 job opportunities for young people. Mr Speaker, please allow me to highlight some of the ministry’s major achievements during the first half of To improve access to knowledge and information, two the plan, challenges encountered and how they were libraries were constructed and completed during the addressed. I will also bring policies, programmes and reporting period. These were built in Hukuntsi and forthcoming projects to the attention of Honourable Masunga. These were implemented in partnership with Members. Robert and Sarah Foundation.

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The Creative Industries, as outlined in Economic to roll it out to the rest of Government ministries and Recovery and Transformation Plan, comprises of agencies in due course, budget permitting. The Ministry activities that have their origin in individual creativity, Management Information System manages large skill and talent, which have a potential for job creation, amounts of data generated from implementation of the cultural diversity and economic development through ministry’s programmes. the exploitation of intellectual property. A television channel called NOW! Channel was established and it CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED AND HOW airs on DSTV, Channel 290. The Channel is available of THEY WERE ADDRESSED free to air decoders and also streams online. We are in Mr Speaker, the creative industries and youth businesses partnership with Botswana Fibre Networks (BOFINET) have been among the hardest hit by the effects of the to enable it to be watched for free at various hotspots COVID-19 virus pandemic. The entertainment business found in Gaborone, Mahalapye, Palapye, Serowe, has been closed since restrictions were imposed in Mosojane, Matsiloje, Masunga, Tutume, Francistown, March this year, while many youth businesses have also Kasane, Kachikau, Ghanzi and Maun. seen sales dry up. This is a matter of serious concern to us as a ministry and country. NOW! Channel acquires only local content and this empowers Botswana Film and Television producers. A The youth cohort, which constitutes the majority of our total of P65 million has been spent on content acquisition population faces a myriad of socio-economic challenges, since inception. More than 70 local companies have including unemployment, poverty, inequality, alcohol benefited, as well as the creation of close to 1,800 jobs and drug abuse, crime, amongst others. There is need since the inception of this channel. The channel will be for concerted efforts to curb these social ills before they used as a vehicle to empower talented local artists. spiral out of control. Other challenges the ministry faces include absence of purpose built infrastructure, as well In an effort to preserve Batswana’s diverse culture and as limited market accessibility for the creative industries heritage for posterity, our ministry has inscribed two and youth businesses leading to low loan repayment. elements under the Urgent Safeguarding List of the Mr Speaker, in an effort to address youth unemployment United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural and poverty, youth entrepreneurship development is one Organisation (UNESCO) 2003 Convention, on the of the key vehicles used. My ministry provides funds Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. These on yearly basis to youth businesses. Unfortunately for are Dikopelo Folk Music of Bakgatla Ba Kgafela and various reasons, most youth businesses struggle to Seperu Folk Dance and Associated Traditions and break-even, resulting in widespread non-repayment of Practices of the Chobe District. This brings the total loans. With the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, most number of elements protected in this way to three. of these businesses face uncertainty, and are most likely Furthermore, Botswana ratified the UNESCO 2005 to collapse. In order to assist these businesses, a wage Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the subsidy relief package was issued for the month of Diversity of Cultural Expressions in April 2020. Its main April, May and June to some of them. The package was objective is to create an enabling environment for arts targeted specifically for those businesses that among and culture practitioners to create, produce, distribute other criterion had been active and servicing their their goods and services for socio-economic benefit. loans in the three months preceding the first lockdown. Mr Speaker, in line with digital transformation, the Meanwhile, an evaluation of the fund is ongoing and the ministry has developed two systems to improve recommendations will be used to improve it. efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery, Further, addressing youth unemployment and the programme implementation and monitoring. One is mismatch between the industry demands and experience for computerising public records and the other one possessed by the youth, 6,895 youth graduated from the for computerisation of the ministry’s programme National Internship Programme during the reporting information. The records have been computerised at period. Absorption of interns into employment was both Botswana National Archives and Records Services 2,420, translating to 35 per cent of those who exited the (BNARS) and the ministry’s headquarters, with the programme. The programme is currently being reviewed aim to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the through the assistance of United Nations Development management of public sector records. The intention is Programme (UNDP).

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Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, • Review of Youth Development Fund (YDF) to Sport and Culture Development is working with improve beneficiaries training, and encourage various strategic partners such as youth serving and consortia and cooperatives. religious organisations to address the vulnerabilities of the youth. The ministry continues to avail grants • Review of the Botswana National Youth Policy to to these stakeholders in order to support their efforts make it more relevant and youth-centric to serve in addressing issues of alcohol and substance abuse, their interests with contemporary issues. mental health, crime, Gender Based Violence (GBV), • Establishment of the National Anti-Doping among many others. In order to raise awareness of the Coordination Office. risks, prevalence and impact of HIV and AIDS among the youth, every year a campaign is held in March to • Review of the National Sport and Recreation sensitise the nation. The partnership also include up- Policy. This will pave way to the development skilling the youth in Information and Communications and implementation of the sport development Technology (ICT), film production, culinary arts and strategy (sports academies and excellence centers), project management to support entrepreneurship. The commercialise/professionalise sports, attachment number of youth participating in skills enhancement to multilateral organisations (International Sporting programmes during the reporting period stood at 81, Bodies) 832. • The inclusion of opportunities of the creative sector Mr Speaker, the ministry holds various arts competitions, in the new CEDA Guidelines one of them being President’s Day Competitions, which • are held to safeguard Botswana’s diverse cultural Review of the Botswana National Sport Commission heritage and strengthen the growth of the creative Act to enact a Sports Act sector. Participation level averaged 15,785 during the • Implement the National Creative Industries Strategy first half of the plan. This level of interest from the of Botswana population to showcase their talent has also stimulated interest from outside the country as 259 artists were • Review of the National Policy on Culture, 2001 either invited or participated in various shows outside • Review of the Cinematograph Act, 1970 Botswana. Thus, the sector shows potential to contribute to the diversification of the economy and to the Gross • Establishment of the National Arts Council Domestic Product (GDP). • Conduct YDF Tracer Study… Mr Speaker, the Government has also led commercialisation of the arts through procurement of • Conduct YDF Tracer Study. arts and crafts, introduction of performance fees for all • Develop Library Management System and its roll artists engaged for Government events, paying prize out to Public Libraries money for all competitions and promoting local artists abroad. Memorandum of Understanding was signed • Resuscitation of private company placement of with Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) on Internship Officers. the 12th March 2019, with a view to promote sales of arts and crafts to the international community. This is DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS intended to tap into the value of global trade in arts and Mr Speaker, the initial Total Estimated Cost (TEC) of crafts, which at first half of the plan was estimated at development projects for the entire plan period was One USD526 billion. Hundred and Thirty Million, Nine Hundred Thousand PROPOSED POLICY REFORMS AND Pula (P130, 900, 000, 00). The TEC was planned for the PROGRAMMES FOR THE REMAINDER OF following three programmes: NDP 11 a) Strengthening the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, 1) During the remainder of the plan period, we will Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) undertake the following: Operations at Forty-Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Pula (P42, 500, 000, 00) to implement

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MYSC Computerisation, Fleet Expansion as well Hundred and Ninety-Six Thebe (P94, 461, 796, 00) be as Information Management System. approved and stand as part of the NDP 11 Mid-Term Review Estimates. b) MYSC Infrastructure at Seventy Million Pula (P70,000,000,00) which had only one project being I thank you very much Mr Speaker. installation of roof at Francistown Stadium known as Obed Itani Chilume Stadium. May his soul rest MINISTRY OF PRESIDENTIAL in peace. AFFAIRS, GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION c) Development of Cultural Infrastructure and Programmes at Eighteen Million, Four Hundred MINISTER FOR PRESIDENTIAL Thousand Pula (P18, 400, 000, 00) which entail AFFAIRS, GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC only one project being Library Construction. ADMINISTRATION (MR MORWAENG): Mr Speaker, allow me to present my ministry’s performance It must be noted Mr Speaker, that the installation of and strategies under the Social Upliftment and Economy roof at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium has suffered many and Employment Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) as deferrals due to Government prioritisation and the recent outlined in the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Eleventh one being budget cuts which were channeled to reduce National Development Plan (NDP) 11 and the Economic the effects of COVID-19. The more we delay to install Recovery and Transformation Plan. Governance issues the roof, the more it is going to cost our Government will be discussed under Chapter 7 of the MTR. more funds because of the destruction caused by rains. Mr Speaker, central to Ministry’s mandate is the Mr Speaker, during the course of the plan, the ministry responsibility to provide the necessary coordination introduced the construction of 10 Community Sport and oversight to ensure delivery of the NDP 11, Stadia at Seventy Million Pula (P70, 000, 000, 00). whose overarching commitment is to attain “Inclusive These stadia are implemented in collaboration with Growth for the Realisation of Sustainable Employment the Local Authorities at Bobonong, Goodhope, Kanye, Creation and Poverty Eradication”. It is against this Kasane, Mmadinare, Moshupa, Rakops, Tsabong, background, that as Government we want to reiterate Tonota and Tutume. The construction of building our commitment to leading a robust Transformation structures at Moshupa, Bobonong and Mmadinare are at Agenda that will cultivate and promote opportunities advanced stage, whereas Rakops has just commenced. for achieving the National Vision 2036. Mr Speaker, let The other stadia are at different levels of procurement. me start my presentation by appraising this Honourable The intention is to make Kasane Stadium a state of House on some of my ministry’s performance over the the art stadium to match the Kasane/Kazungula re- first half of the NDP 11. development that is currently being planned. It must PERFORMANCE DURING THE FIRST HALF OF also be noted that due to limited resources, funds will be NDP 11 transferred from those slow moving stadia to complete those that have already started. Mr Speaker, over the years, Government has continued to show commitment to addressing the scourge of With the least time Mr Speaker, I wish to state that it is poverty in our communities. As at end of June 2020, a imperative for the ministry to strengthen monitoring and total of 39,971 projects had been funded since inception evaluation across policies, programmes and projects in of the Poverty Eradication Programme in 2011. Out of order to ensure that youths are empowered and that these, 31,829 are operational and are employing 34,791 all the sectors of the ministry achieve their objectives. people. Currently, a total of 5,856 projects are at different Although resource constraint challenges us in this stages of implementation, while 2,286 have failed due regard, efforts will continue to be made during the rest to various reasons, including beneficiaries abandoning of the Plan period. them and conflicts as a result of group dynamics.

This concludes my presentation of the National Mr Speaker, as you may be aware, over the years, we Development Plan (NDP) 11 Mid-Term Review. I have been implementing various interventions to address therefore move that the proposed sum of Ninety-Four the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Key among these is the 90- Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Seven 90-90 strategy which seeks to achieve epidemiological

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control by 2020 and ending AIDS as public health threat Specific projects under this MOPAGPA Infrastructure by 2030. Progress achieved so far are as follows; the Development programme include refurbishment of first 90; 86 per cent of adults were tested andknow the residence of the Vice President, refurbishment of their HIV status, the 2nd 90; 84.0 per cent of people Former President’s residences and refurbishment of who tested HIV positive are on treatment and the third District Commissioners’ offices countrywide. These 90; 96 per cent of those on treatment had achieved viral will continue in the remainder of the Plan. suppression. Botswana has achieved the last 90 since Mr Speaker, for the remainder of the plan for 2016 and has also maintained viral suppression at above Social Protection and Preparedness Programme, we 90 per cent. will continue with packaging and capacitation of Mr Speaker, regarding issues on People with beneficiaries, the continued profiling of beneficiaries, Disability (PWD), Government has developed the monitoring of beneficiaries projects will be undertaken, Draft National Disability Framework which consist Poverty Eradication Programme. The setting up of of the Revised National Disability Policy of 2019, the the Emergency Operations Centre and the economic Strategy, Implementation Plan as well as the Disability empowerment of People with Disability are also projects Legislation. With this Framework we will create an that will be completed in the last half of NDP 11. enabling environment for PWDs to actively participate Mr Speaker, in the last three years of NDP 11, in improving their livelihood. Government intends to continue implementing the Mr Speaker, in line with Vision 2036, the country following HIV/AIDS activities: Epidemiology Research has embarked on an ambitious drive of transforming and Surveillance, President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Botswana from a mineral led economy to a knowledge- Relief (PEPFAR) and Global Fund in line with the based and inclusive economy in which the people National Strategic Framework III which ends in 2023. of Botswana live prosperously and fully participate The creative industry and in particular broadcasting, in their own development. With a view to exploit the is at the core of the transformation agenda. Therefore, potential of the creative industry sector, migration to a deliberate effort will be directed at leveraging and digital transmission will not only benefit the public in accessing more local television channels, but will open exploiting the opportunities presented by the industry. up opportunities for the growth of the local television It is therefore, critical to invest in the sector especially industry with income generation opportunities. in content creation. In line with this, we will continue to explore ways of engaging local producers as well I will now present proposed programmes under the two as forging partnerships with established global content Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) for the last three creators to inject momentum in the creative industry. years of the National Develop Plan (NDP) 11. These proposals are multipronged in nature as they are meant Under improvements to broadcasting services to relief, recover and transform the economy from the programme, the projects to be undertaken in the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Speaker, I need remainder of the NDP 11 include; upgrading of to emphasise that to achieve a resilient and sustainable transmitters and broadcasting facilities, Botswana economy, it is imperative that the economy undergoes Television (BTV) Channel 2 Digital Migration, radio structural transformation. and TV transmitter expansion Phase II, digital migration, Part of social upliftment is to facilitate transformation radio and TV equipment. of the economy from a mineral-led to a knowledge- In conclusion Mr Speaker, I now move that the based economy, it is critical to promote research and strategies, programmes and projects under my ministry innovation. To support this initiative, the Office of be approved as part of the draft Mid-Term Review of the the President facility at Orapa House will be used as National Development Plan (NDP) 11. a digital technology, research and development hub. It will be used by private training institutions as well as MR SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Minister. research institutions involved in the area of technology Order! Order! As the floor is now open, I will give development, such as: Limkokwing University, the floor first to Honourable Taolo Lucas, followed by Botswana International University of Science and Honourable Regoeng and Honourable Brooks; in that Technology (BIUST) and other relevant stakeholders. order.

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MR LUCAS (BOBONONG): Thank you Mr Speaker. So, my request is; we have to take offices of parastatals let me start by indicating that my area of interest which deal with businesses to villages so that people concerning this issue will be on developing rural areas can access them much easier. Moreover Honourable and villages. When we talk about developing them, it Serame, perhaps we could strategise such that, we have depends on the kind of economy that we have and where CEDA, Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), Companies most services have been distributed to. If we do not and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) and others diversify the economy, we cannot achieve anything as in one place perhaps in a village like Bobonong. It will far as social development is concerned. As you all know, enable people to quickly access them for assistance. we have been talking about economic diversification That is what we have to do, we can start with Bobonong since 1970 but up to now, it has not been implemented then proceed to other areas like Gumare to provide these because we are still solely relying on diamonds. As we kind of offices. are intending to diversify the economy, the important thing is to take it seriously as well as ensure that we do HONOURABLE MEMBER: Charles Hill. the same thing in rural areas. As it is our norm to engage MR LUCAS: Charles Hill just so that I can quieten foreign investors for the purpose of Foreign Direct Member of Parliament for Ghanzi South. These offices Investment (FDI), we have to highlight to them that, not will help. You will never find offices which help people only do we have towns but we also have villages where like those of National Development Bank (NDB); there they can do their businesses. are not common at the rural urban areas but it is important to bring them closer to the people. People should know Yesterday, we were informed that investors are going to you, they are voters, they should not just be brought invest about P3.2 billion and we know that according ballot boxes, services should also be brought closer to to our planning in Botswana, most of that money will them. Honourable Members, it is important to develop be used in towns. You are going to let them to do their rural urban areas and set up modern developments with businesses around towns. I believe when Presidents are modern roads. looking for investors, they simply tell them that they If you go to my constituency of Bobirwa; there are can do their businesses only in towns. So whenever we four border posts and all of them are non-commercial. invite these investors, it is important for us to inform Three do not have bridges that link South Africa and them that we actually have villages where they can Botswana; if you go to Pont Drift border post there is no do their business. If they do that, they will be able to bridge, when it rains there is no business. If you go to employ people who are there. Zanzibar, there is no bridge, and business stops if there is rainfall same as Mabolwe border post. At Platjan The second point is, when we talk about stimulating there is a bridge but there is no road that links the bridge business so that we can have them in Botswana, and to the nearest road, basically the bridge is nowhere. I do we establish parastatals whose main focus is promoting not know what you have against Bobirwa Honourable businesses, most of their offices are based in towns Members. Four border posts all non-commercial and and big villages. It is very impossible to find Citizen three of them do not have bridges. All four do not have Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) offices at roads that link to the tarred road. I do not know if it is Bobonong, Charles Hill and Shakawe. They are mostly Honourable Matsheka or what. found in towns. That alone deny people who come from rural areas the opportunity to get services that are HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… provided in other areas. If someone is at Motlhabaneng, Gobojango or Mabolwe and wants to get services from MR LUCAS: …(Laughter!)…Even hospitals. There CEDA, even if it is said to be offering improved services, is a problem at Bobirwa; I was browsing through the they have to travel all the way to Selebi Phikwe. If they Mid-Term Review booklet and I found projects we are at Selebi Phikwe and have to make a follow-up, they were promised in the previous National Development will have to go back to Motlhabaneng, Mathathane or Plans (NDPs) deleted under the Ministry of Health Gobojango as well as go back to Selebi Phikwe after and Wellness. I do not know if that is punishment or making that follow-up. As time goes on, they will end what. There was a plan to build a hospital in 2022/2023 up running out of money as they have to make trips to we had even found a plot. I searched in this booklet, those offices from time to time. I do not know if it was forgotten or simply deleted.

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The congestion at Bobonong hospital is disheartening. developments can be properly managed. Honourable We were promised that there will be a construction of Gobotswang at Tswapong needs a full district. level one primary hospital at Tsetsebjwe, it is deleted Honourable Never Tshabang needs a full district. I know as well. There was a plan to build a clinic at Borotsi, those who do not need one is at His Honour the Vice hey! It is also deleted. I think when this plan was drafted President (VP)’s constituency. We know that Mahalapye Bobonong was forgotten. needs a full district. That is important in order to roll out national development plans. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… MR LUCAS: Yes sir. MR LUCAS: It is not inappropriate to name that district MR KEORAPETSE: Elucidation. Are you aware Bobirwa District Council. It is straightforward and has that you cannot seek health services at Selebi Phikwe a nice ring to it. It is important to establish districts. because our hospital has been removed? Honourable Leuwe talk about this issue so that there MR LUCAS: More bad news. If Selebi Phikwe hospital can be full districts at Kweneng region starting from and our three hospitals have been removed, then it is a Letlhakeng. concern for Bobirwa people. I wonder who we report HONOURABLE MEMBER: Yes. to if people plot evil against you? I will report to the people of Bobirwa that they are being punished. I do not MR LUCAS: Yes! know if this punishment is due to the fact that, they did HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… not vote as the ruling party wanted or what. There is no project under health which is planned to be implemented MR LUCAS: We hope you will support us when we at Bobirwa. All the projects which could have helped talk about these issues. We have to continue talking Babirwa have been removed. Honourable Minister of about issues under Local Government. Finance and Economic Development if perhaps you forgot that there is Bobirwa Constituency, it is there, its HONOURABLE MEMBER: Kablay should not name Member of Parliament is the one speaking. People of only. Bobirwa also need health care services just like those at HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… Moshupa so we should be serious Honourable Members. Let us continue since there are many issues. MR LUCAS: In addition to Local Government, we know that Honourable Molale likes to about a review I will now go to Local Government as it is a ministry so much. presented under this theme. Let us indicate that Honourable Molale long talked about decentralisation HONOURABLE MEMBER: Review! when he was in his previous post, while he was occupying his previous position, he was always talking about MR LUCAS: Review! Review! We heard that you are decentralisation. Today the policy is ready but it has not reviewing different policies which will mostly assist yet been presented to Parliament. Honourable Members, Batswana. Honourable Minister as you review you we have to quickly execute that decentralisation policy. should consider that life is expensive sir. You should Districts such as Central, Southern and Kweneng are too write that one down, I am happy as you keep taking big, they are unmanageable. We also want a full district notes. Life nowadays is expensive. If you look at at Bobirwa and should even be given a name so that Disability Allowance although it might be reviewed by when we boast we can say we are going to Bobirwa different people it is very low however, I heard you are District Council (BDC), that is what we want it to be reviewing them all. The disability Allowance at P400.00 called. It is nice to call it Bobirwa District Council is too little. It cannot help affected people. (BDC). Destitute Allowance; Honourable Minister kindly HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. review it and try to increase it, life is expensive. Try to review all allowances. I know that you are going to MR LUCAS: No, you cannot say elucidation when keep saying the economy does not permit. Really! Why you have a hospital and we did not get one. We also does it seem like this economy is discriminatory? When need Bobirwa District Council; if it can be established, it comes to us the big ones, the economy allows as we

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recently got an increase. This economy should also production. We have not reached a stage where we can permit in allowances for the less privileged rural areas. produce enough food to feed ourselves, despite having relevant experts, who should be at the forefront to ensure HONOURABLE MEMBER: Old Age. that they assist us to produce enough food.

MR LUCAS: Yes, Old Age Pension; Old Age Pension Honourable Minister, maybe you need to introspect and is too little. We still argue that if this pension can be see what the problem is because we have land and the increased to P1 500.00 our elderly can live a better life. staff but , what I can confirm to you is that, Government HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… in the past introduced a lot of programmes to try and assist farmers with funds, so why are we still left MR LUCAS: That is our mandate. There are those who behind? are against it, I do not know why. If we want to live One of the reasons that I have identified is that, better then each and every Motswana wherever they are when some programmes are introduced like the want to live better Honourable Members! We have to Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture consider these things. Development (ISPAAD) to deal with food security, Let me indicate that, there are Village Development we never set ourselves targets on the amount of food Committees (VDCs). Hey! Those people run the we want to produce upon completion. We just plough Government but they are neglected. The allowances not knowing how many hectares we are ploughing, they get are very low, we should also consider these and how much they are expected to produce, but the people and ensure that we uplift their lives, because they experts at that Ministry are the ones who are supposed are doing a great job. Some of them are doing a better to be dealing with these issues. Going forward, just like job than what the Councillors and Honourable Ministers His Excellency the President was saying, “it cannot be are doing. Those people are the ones who develop rural business as usual,” and Honourable Minister of Finance areas. We should recognise them and assist them. and Economic Development concurred with what he said that, we should change. Let us now ensure that we The economy in rural areas can also grow if only people are moving forward in producing enough food the way are given residential plots. A few days ago I indicated we are supposed to. here that, if there are 620 000 people who do not have When we get into the one regarding livestock again, in land… the past years, our cattle production was at around 3 MR SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Lucas. Let million. Today as I am speaking, I think we are at half of us give the floor to Honourable Regoeng, followed by that. Why does it seem like we are going down? Would it Honourable Brooks and then Honourable Motsamai. not be better if we were going up instead of decreasing? On that note Honourable Minister, there is a Livestock MR LUCAS: The time is not on my side be quick! Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) programme, which assists in increasing livestock HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… production. Do we have a target of how much we want to increase our livestock in three or five years? Or we MR REGOENG (MOLEPOLOLE NORTH): Thank are just assisting through LIMID so that anyone who you Mr Speaker for re- instating the time that was given will benefit will see this as okay, we will be counting to me earlier on. You have also increased my time so the number of people we assisted without looking at the that I can address my issues. Let me start on Chapter 5, output that we have reached. You should look into that which we have just been talking about. Maybe I should Honourable Member so that we can see what we are start with the Ministry of Agricultural Development going to do moving forward. and Food Security that honestly, it is a Ministry we are relying on with regards to food and livestock production. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation.

I want to start by making Honourable Minister aware MR REGOENG: What is a cause for concern for us that, the Ministry that was educated on personnel more is that, it seems like Government enterprises or those than all the other Ministries is Agricultural Development assisted by Government are the ones that receive huge and Food Security, but it is a concern that, we are still funds. Were you asking for something Honourable behind when it comes to being self –reliant in food Member?

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HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MS HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. MANAKE): Elucidation. Thank you Mr Speaker. I MR REGOENG: Were you requesting to elucidate thank you Honourable Regoeng for yielding. You were something? on the right track when you said that we do not have a target that we have set for ourselves, but from what HONOURABLE MEMBER: Yes, I am sitting this the Honourable Minister said yesterday when he was side. making a presentation, he pointed out that, we have made production capabilities of where we are, the HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. baseline that we can manage, and how we can improve. MR REGOENG: Oh! It is you? Quickly Honourable I hope that will assist us to implement what you have Member. been saying, so that we can be able to move forward. Thank you Mr Speaker. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… MR REGOENG: I believe that if you can do that, MR MOTAOSANE: Elucidation. Thank you towards the end of the year when you come to give us Honourable Speaker. Honourable Regoeng, was saying a report, you can be able to update us on what you have the right thing about experts who are at Ministry of done with the funds that you requested. Not an instance Agriculture, and he also stated that, the output there is where you find that, you have used money, but you have not evident. Are you saying this because these experts not used the capital expenditure for anything. are at the Gaborone head office, instead of sending them I was still on the one regarding the Ministry of Health that, to rural areas, so that they can be able to supervise their Honourable Minister, your Ministry has just constructed extension officers while they are closer to them, and big facilities at Molepolole Institute of Health Sciences also to be able to demonstrate at the fields? Thank you (IHS). IHS is just there and it is not used, not even 20 Honourable Member. per cent of it is being used. That facility when it was built, the plan was for it to offer about seven courses MR REGOENG: Agriculture is done out there on the if I recall well. Now as I am speaking to you, only one land, it is not done in offices that is exactly what I am course of General Nursing is offered. The facility is saying. If we are in offices, we cannot produce anything. idle. Why did you build such a big facility whereas it is not used? When you get to hospitals, there is a great I was still saying that, right now we have Botswana shortage. Even at Scottish Livingstone Hospital, the Meat Commission (BMC), I do not understand if they shortage is acute. already know what their mandate is. All they do is come to Government to request for funds, and Honourable If you look at the streets, we have youth who have Minister tells them that they are going to re-capitalise, completed Form 5, some of them have graduated at they are going to privatise and give them funds. What universities, you could just train them at that facility, was the Honourable Minister appointed to do? At and then they are employed. Let us be responsible and Molepolole when we were growing up, cattle were sold improve, we promised people that we are going to service them. through cooperatives and other societies that were there. Farmers were encouraged to sell because they had what MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC was called offal money. It was a bonus. Now I do not DEVELOPMENT (DR MATSHEKA): Point of know how things are done nowadays. BMC does not clarification. Let me thank you Honourable Member. slaughter cattle, they have closed but the world and Can you see that that is the problem we are having, people need meat. The Ministry of Agriculture has to whereby everyone is requesting for developments at do something. It is the key Ministry in our nation. You their Constituencies, not looking at market needs, what should try to see what can be done so that we can have the students want to learn. So, we have buildings which progress. are underutilised like, Teacher Training Colleges (TTC), students no longer want to do teaching. Do you not see The Ministry of Health; the Honourable Minister of that it is better we change the way we choose projects in Health... Constituencies?

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…Silence… rural villages, especially those in greater Gaborone could reduce the heavy load in Gaborone and absorb it. MR REGOENG: And also what we need. If you put it Not only that even developments are not taken there. that way, what I can assure you is that, the facility that I am talking about at Molepolole has a pharmacy... This brings me to another point that was mentioned by the Honourable Minister of Trade and Investment, We have shortage of pharmacists in our country, I take Honourable Serame. She talked about market centres, it that we could be taking them to …(Inaudible)… like but when you talked about that issue, you did not this. Midwifery is still not enough, because if I recall mention when you were going to start, and where. I very well it is done in Lobatse only, I am not sure know that when you talk about them you are thinking whether it is available in Francistown. When you go of Gaborone, Francistown and Selebi Phikwe. No, to Molepolole, even General Nurses are assisting with there are people in Molepolole who want those market delivery. That is the challenge I am talking about. If all centres. Please take them to Molepolole, go and start in these challenges could be addressed, and we focus on that village Honourable Minister. what the market requires as you were saying, I would not have a problem with that. The way things are, it You also talked about factory shells, and I always talk shows that we did not do them properly so that they about them that, when the youth want to start businesses, would be in a way that is acceptable. they do not have such things; they do not know where to start. I request that you should give us such opportunities MR MOATLHODI: Clarification. I thank you as well; you should not only focus on the challenges in Mr Speaker. I thank you Honourable Member for Gaborone. The challenges in Gaborone exist because Molepolole North, Tshepo’s father. I agree with what people come from the areas we are talking about to you are saying, in Mahalapye a hospital was built, Gaborone because they know when you are talking, you Honourable Tshere will agree with me that they built a have them in mind. Please let us go to the rural areas as hospital and some rooms are not being used. In Serowe, well and see what we can do there. it is the same thing. In Gweta, also some rooms are not being utilised. Since in Tonota we are not members of HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... the BDP (Domkrag) we are denied these things, do you not see this as discrimination? MR REGOENG: What is going on now?

MR REGOENG: No, I was just reminding the HONOURABLE MEMBER: You are on track! Government to address the issues. I believe in Tonota MR REGOENG: What is it? Let us do that so that there are some things that were done… we would ensure that our country moves forward. This HONOURABLE MEMBER: There is nothing! country belongs to us all, and I have hope that we will reach our destination. MR REGOENG: So I was still talking about the things that are already existing in some areas sir. I take it that In the remaining minute I would like to talk about as advised, the Ministers responsible will look into that land development, Honourable Minister Mzwinila, we issue. appreciate what you are doing sir, having met your objectives of bringing water which I fought so hard Whilst I am still on the issue of health, I would like to for it to be taken to Molepolole. Although the water is say, even the care of…Molepolole hospital, we built a not there yet, as you have informed us that it will be very massive structure for it, and as I speak, some of connected in the not so distant future, with the water the necessary equipment, have not arrived. It was built from the North, it is something that we appreciate very with the notion that it is going to provide some special much. services. That is why most people were taken from Molepolole to Gaborone. Molepolole is big such that she The other thing that I would like to talk to you about could be relieving Gaborone. Most of the jobs could be is that in 1995, Molepolole was declared a planning taken to Molepolole, but because there are no facilities, area; even today, as I am talking to you they have not there are not enough doctors and nurses, that is why approved the Molepolole development plan. That has patients will keep being referred to Gaborone. Let us delayed developments, so before Parliament adjourns I try to balance the distribution of all our resources. These request that this development plan that was submitted

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to your ministry be approved sir, so that the people of they permit? Who is supposed to authorise those funds? Molepolole would know where to apply for land; for This is very sad. When we talk about health, talking business and for residential. Nothing has taken place about the fact that, borders have to open there soon, because when one goes to the land board, they would we should realise that Kgalagadi being the way it is, is be referred to the physical planning department; when heart breaking. Mr Speaker, we cannot take a patient they get to physical planning to enquire they will be from Tsabong to Jwaneng Hospital, we have to come all sent back to land board as it is the land overseer. You the way to Marina. The reason why I am saying we seek will find yourself just moving around, not knowing health care far away is because, hospitals within the 200 what to do. If you could ensure that you approve that kilometres radius are the ones whose poor condition was development plan for Molepolole as requested, it would described by Honourable Moatlhodi there at Serowe, really help us and even take us where we are supposed Mahalapye, Tutume, Tonota and Nyangabgwe. to go. HONOURABLE MEMBER: There is nothing at With those remarks Mr Speaker, let me rest my case. Tonota!

MR BROOKS (KGALAGADI SOUTH): Thank you MR BROOKS Honourable Speaker, these things are Mr Speaker. This is a very sad day, a very painful day disheartening and we have to focus on them without for the people of Kgalagadi. If someone can ask me hesitating, as fair representatives who are representing what my saddest day was in my entire life, I will point the Kalagadi constituency dwellers. to this day. Mr Speaker… I am saddened because from time immemorial we have been denied our rights. I am mostly focusing on what we MR SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable Member, are talking about, the Ministry of Health. Mr Speaker, Let us pause there on issues which concern Kgalagadi what have we done to the country of Botswana such that Constituency and go for a health break. Let us adjourn even when we lament showing that Kgalagadi is lagging Honourable Members to obey the rules. behind, we are still denied a right to be given a small PROCEEDINGS SUSPENDED AT 4:04 P.M. FOR hospital? Mr Speaker, these are issues which hurt us a APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES lot. These matters require the intervention of the His Excellency President of the Republic of Botswana. He PROCEEDINGS RESUMED AT 4:34 P.M. should go to Tsabong. I have spoken, and it is enough; I talked to the Ministers before this plan was made, and I “EXCHANGE OF SPEAKERSHIP” asked them to go and see for themselves what we mean ...Silence… when we talk about how overwhelmed the Tsabong hospital is. I know that they were dragging their feet MR SPEAKER (MR PULE): Honourable Members, deliberately, knowing that they will tell us these heart good afternoon again. When we broke for a health breaking news. break, Honourable Brooks was on the floor and he is left with 10 minutes 52 seconds. Honourable Brooks. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. MR BROOKS: Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, let MR BROOKS: I need to present three papers, could me conclude the issue about the hospital and the health you please… of people at Kgalagadi by pointing out that, we do not HONOURABLE MEMBER: No, Clarification. have doctors, we do not even have ambulances. Last time I stated that, we have been provided with only one MR BROOKS: Just a second. What was said this ambulance Mr Speaker and it was allocated to us just afternoon is very sad. That is why I am saying, I recently in 2019 if not 2020 early around January. These would like to know about the P270 million which are some of the things that I would like to highlight. was mentioned from way back during the times of Mr Mothibamele, Mr Moroka, Mr Toto and Mr Frans When you go to Khawa and other areas, you will find where they kept saying ‘tomorrow-tomorrow…’ I asked only one nurse who is supposed to assist people of that a question last time in Parliament about such incidents constituency. Mr Speaker, the way we treat nurses at where people would say, “if funds permit,” when would our constituencies makes it seem like they do not have

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challenges. This thing degrades their integrity and and be as honest as possible when we talk about them. demoralises them at work. We have to look into these things. Mr Speaker, when we talk about young farmers, we have to remind the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Mr Speaker, I will move on to one issue that I did not Food Security that time has come for them to look for want to leave out. Mr Speaker I want to focus on the a market for us and avoid facilitating us on livestock Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture farming, Farmers are out there who can mentor people Development. Time has come for us to review how about farming. The responsibility of the Ministry of we do things. I know and understand that as Botswana Agricultural Development and Food Security is to look Democratic Party (BDP), we sometimes have an for a market for people. Mr Speaker, farmers of your evaluation to see where we can take developments in standard and mine, our age mates and those of Nkamo’s order to improve people’s lives. My advice here to the father have been supporting agriculture and preserving Honourable Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport the wealth of this country without being told how to do and Culture Development is that, we should consider framing. Time has come for us to look for a market for the projects that we have been giving to the youth, we our agriculture produce, open borders so that people can should not only take pride in what we have achieved, we go and sell their produce… should also look at our failures. We should assess what might have caused that failure for these projects not to HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification my in law. be successful. MR BROOKS: …so that they can sustain themselves. One other thing that I would like to advise on is that, I will give you the last two minutes of my presentation. maybe the youth are venturing into farming projects and When I talk about Local Government Mr Speaker, we others because they have given up on looking for jobs; have to change the way we do things and realise that they know that they have Diploma, Masters and other the BDP government believes that Local Government qualifications from universities or any other institutions. should help Batswana. Everything that we are doing, We are now taking them to an area or field that they are we do it through the Ministry of Local Government and going to venture into just to pass time because there are Rural Development in rural areas and constituencies. no jobs. We should adopt what the Independent Electoral We have to go back to the drawing board. Elderly Commission (IEC) is doing, after every elections the people who we are appointing on contracts, it is time for person heading the IEC office at the constituency is them to retire, we should at least take the funds that we transferred. The same things should happen in Council are giving to the youth and give it to these elderly people Secretaries and commissioners. Let them be transferred so that they can venture into farming because they are after every elections so that others can be appointed… good at saving money; they know the good and the bad any politician, be it from the ruling party of opposition that comes with finances. We should then appoint the who will be taking over at that time should start youth on government posts so that they can also know everything a fresh, to see that… because all eyes will how it feels like to work in the office, they should also be on the politician. Mr Speaker, we have to know one experience that joy. Mr Speaker, we have to consider thing. Everything that is failing at the constituency; these things. These are the things that I would like to ask people do not pay attention to who introduced it, they the minister to take into consideration. know that it is failing because of a certain individual who is sitting on that position, as someone who has been I want to agree with him that, we do not promote Gender voted. People seem to trust their voters more than the Based Violence (GBV) at Botswana Democratic Party appointed people, irrespective of their positions. Mr (BDP) like some people might think, that is why even Speaker, we have to consider these things. our BDP Manifesto stated that we are going to combat GBV. If that was not the case, I would have not went Mr Speaker, one thing which I wonder is that, when to Tsabong over the weekend to attend to a case where we issue tenders to Councils to award them, we have a student has been abused throughout her life. I would a challenge there. During the time when Councillors have not went to Tsabong if Botswana Democratic Party dealt with tenders, we said that they were corrupt, that disregarded Gender Based Violence (GBV) issues Mr they award tenders to their friends. The question is, Speaker. We have to take these things into consideration this Adjudication Committee because it is appointed

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through the influence of Council Secretary, how sure are they are in. That is why I humbly submit that we should we that when contracts are being awarded, those who continue our journey with RDC and ensure we do the award them will not be corrupt? Mr Speaker, we have to best in Lobu, build comfortable accommodation so that critically look into these things. all the people can go there. Let us continue attracting investors to Kgalagadi, it is a beautiful land, with water Before I yield to the Honourable Members, I believe and all these things. Honourable Mzwinila is providing that the review of the Ipelegeng programme has been us with water day and night with a few hiccups but our carried out. Batswana at Bokspits, Rappelspan, Valhoek, children will secure jobs. Thank you sir. Struizendum (BORAVAST) or Kgalagadi Constituents at large are looking at us with broken hearts, whether MR MOTSAMAI (GHANZI SOUTH): Thank you you are a Member of the ruling party or Opposition, Mr Speaker after a long struggle. whether you say something meaningful or not, they are starving. For people to look at you when they are HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… starving is the most painful experiences. Honourable MR MOTSAMAI: Mr Speaker, let me focus first on Minister, our request is that before the end of this week, the Ministry of Health and indicate that it is true Corona Ipelegeng should be reinstated. Honourable Boko, I has wreaked havoc for Batswana and the whole of yield for you, for just a second. Africa. My request is that leaders should do forensic MR BOKO: What I wanted to say is no longer valid but audit because if we can just stay in the dark without thank you Honourable Member. knowledge of how funds have been used and for what, it will not be good for us. Some of us from rural areas did MR BROOKS: Thank you sir. Mr Speaker, those are not manage to get some things. I am saying this because the issues I wanted to address. We have Lobu which is if you go to Kalkfontein, East/West Hanahai, Bere- led by Rural Development Centre (RDC). Kacgae and Kole, we have cleaners who do not have protective clothing and as we speak, they could have HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… been the first ones to be bought protective clothing. We MR BROOKS: Lobu is a small stock farm in need a forensic audit on how COVID funds were spent Middlepits/Khuis. My wish is that we should expand not just an ordinary audit so that it becomes clear… what we have been doing. We should continue trying to HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… attract Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) and other private institutes to go MR MOTSAMAI: It should be extensive to see if and carry out their researches there and those who want funds were used properly or there was corruption. to check for the availability of natural resources such as Moving on to Ghanzi South, there was a plan to build mahupu (desert truffles)… bigger clinics at Ncojane, Charles Hill and Kalkfontein, ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL they were going to be rebuilt into modern ones in the DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MS past District Development Plan (DDP) of Council. MANAKE): Elucidation. Thank you Honourable I thought by that time, there were changes that came Member for yielding. On Lobu, last time we saw the from the responsible ministry saying that those clinics President going around the country giving small scale are going to be built. Land for extension was sought but farmers bucks and rams, we identified that they lack up to now, nothing has been done. Mr Speaker, the time certain things such as capacity building. Moreover, we has come for these type of clinics to be built to prioritise identified that they should go to Lobu for training so that the health of those people so that they do not live as they can change the way they have been doing things wild animals while others live with the dignity of being and rear the small stock that we have secured a market human beings not just human beings but special human for abroad. Therefore, we are going to expand and enjoy beings. We are in a very painful situation. Government the benefits. I thank you Honourable Member. made a decision to phase out health posts. At East/West Hanahai, Bere-Kacgae and Chobokwane, you find that MR BROOKS: Thank you Honourable Minister. Small there are no lights in a clinic, there is no electricity and stock is the diamond of Kgalagadi. That is why I said we they use candles and traditional lamps (moitaletsi). This are doing all we can as Government to ensure that the is a heartbreaking situation and it is sad, while others people of Kgalagadi are liberated from the poverty that are built state of the art hospitals with cameras. We do

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not have anything in rural areas, we only see state of the may be in any state that you can think of. EMS provides art hospitals in Moshupa. These things are very painful. them with first aid instead of handling them anyhow This shows that other Batswana are disadvantaged. which may increase their pain, resulting in unnecessary death Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, the situation at Charles Hill is heartbreaking. I spoke about it and I will never get tired of speaking about Accommodation offered when on night duty; doctors, it. I will talk until the last drop of my tears. Charles Hill nurses and staff welfare is vital. As I move on, transport is in the centre of Trans-Kalahari Road and it is a village is also a challenge in terms of roads; East/West Hanahai, which continues to expand. I request a primary hospital New Xanagas, Xade, Karakubis-New Xanagas, Charles for Charles Hill. We should not take primary hospital Hill-New Xanagas roads are dilapidated. People give to Ghanzi where right now as we speak, Botswana birth while traveling on these roads and their children’s Defence Force (BDF) camp project is ongoing. A fence medical cards will state that they were born at New is already erected and everything is moving. A mine is Xanagas of which is not true. The record has to clearly being opened at Ghanzi, this means that the population state that they were born on these roads. is increasing or it is already high therefore there is need to have a district hospital in Ghanzi. We also need a HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Laughter!)... referral hospital, either in Maun at Letsholathebe or MR MOTSAMAI: We are living like refugees because you find a location as you go to Kgalagadi; in Kang or women give birth while using these roads travelling near Jwaneng, where the referral hospital can be. We to the hospitals because of their bad condition. Not should not transport in an ambulance a patient who is in only that, these roads are similar to Shadishadi, excruciating pain and almost dying for a long distance roads which are in remote areas at journey to Gaborone because the patient may die along Tsabong and Kgalagadi. Everyone can see that these the way. Mr Speaker, this is not good for patients. roads are in a bad state but you are implementing Motsamai talks about having a specialised unit which projects with discrimination and great contempt. If can use the old Ghanzi hospital so that doctors can these things continue in this manner Mr Speaker, they rush there and attend to patients. We should not have will yield unpleasant results, so discrimination and a situation where one has to travel from Ghanzi or contempt has to stop. Metsimantsho and be told that there is no transport. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Are you listening When you travel to Marina, you get there and you are Honourable Molale? told that the orthopedic doctor or dentist you came for is unavailable. These things are not good. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)…

HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. HONOURABLE MEMBER: He is sleeping. MR MOTSAMAI: No, if it is elucidation I cannot HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… yield. If you were saying I was out of order, I would yield. MR MOTSAMAI: Mr Speaker, there are students who are graduating from Boitekanelo college, let us HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… train them so that they can join EMS. I am saying this because you mentioned that EMS require people who MR MOTSAMAI: Honourable Minister, digital cards have qualification in medicine. These students have are a welcome development. Here there is nothing like diploma so we can train them and let them join EMS so cards or information is lost or the cards are wet because that they can assist people. you were from Hanahai, and it rained on you causing cards to get wet. We need Emergency Medical Services I will go on to talk about the Ministry of Youth. Last (EMS) department which does not require a big facility. time I was talking about talents. There are students at Even if you can take the old police offices at Mamuno Kgalagadi who come from the rural areas but you are and establish an EMS there to quickly assist the people not engaging them by grooming them simply because who get injured in the Trans-Kalahari road, it will be you implement projects based on contempt. If you can fine. EMS does not deal with road accidents only, it also engage them, they will be able to use their talent and earn deals with accidents that occur at home. For example; a a living from it. Some of these students are Basarwa and person may be terribly burnt at home, horribly beaten or they are very good in athletics. I am saying this because

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none of them has been taken to other countries and are MR SPEAKER: Honourable Minister, can you sit not earning a living from their talent. You are not doing down. that, you simply engage students who are living in towns and surrounding areas. You simply go to Kgalagadi to MR RAKGARE: Mr Speaker... get herd boys and maids. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Murmurs)... HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Laughter!)... MR SPEAKER: Honourable Minister, it is not a point of procedure. MR MOTSAMAI: This is pathetic… MR SPEAKER: Honourable Motsamai. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION (MR MR MOTSAMAI: …in the nostrils of God’s stinking. SALESHANDO): Point of order. Mr Speaker, we have complained about how Honourable Rakgare is abusing HONOURABLE MEMBER: It is really a problem. procedure before. This is not the first time. Whenever HONOURABLE MEMBER: Proceed before they he wants to say something, he will ask for a point of waste your time. procedure even if it is not a procedure. He has done this on many occasions. So, how long will it take, what are MR MOTSAMAI: Local artists; Honourable Rakgare, you waiting for Mr Speaker since you are not taking your Ministry has neglected those who were performing action against his ill-mannered habit? You have warned in the past and present times. So, take action, find out him against doing this on many occasions and he has not how you can assist these people so that they can earn changed Mr Speaker. Should others therefore join him a living through their talents. Last time I was debating and should we accept that we will have to live with his here; where is Mr Ratsie Setlhako? Right now you are habit? I request you to warn him for the very last time promoting people who support his kind of music but with the agreement that if he continues, action will be where are his children, what did he leave for them? taken. We cannot accept his behavior. Where are Andries Bok’s children, what did he leave for HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Murmurs)... them? As we speak, you are going to leave houses, cars HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarity Mr Speaker. and wealth for your children… MR SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I have warned HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure Mr Speaker. him and I do not think he will repeat it. MR MOTSAMAI: …cattle and farms. Your children MR SPEAKER: Honourable Motsamai. have a lot of things and they are misusing some of those things while the children of former performers and HONOURABLE MEMBER: He will surely repeat it. artists are not living good lives and have given up. MR MOTSAMAI: According to me Mr Speaker, it is HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure Mr Speaker. the same as saying let the children come to me... HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Laughter!)...

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… MR MOTSAMAI: He is young and also representing young people, hence the saying ‘let the children come MINISTER OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, to me’. SPORT AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT (MR HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Laughter!)... RAKGARE): Point of procedure. Thank you Mr Speaker. We understand that the Member of Parliament MR MOTSAMAI: Mr Speaker, I want… has feelings but he has to tell people the truth. He mentioned that we have neglected people and that our HONOURABLE MEMBER: That is the procedure Ministry does not care about athletes or artists and Mr Speaker. performers who come from those areas; that is not true. MR MOTSAMAI: …to express that he has helped me We have competitions which are held in various areas … I almost forgot to raise another point concerning the across the country and he knows that... Ministry of Health. I want them to…

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HONOURABLE MEMBER: On a point of order. the former Councilors. So, I urge you to provide offices for Councilors who are in rural areas so that they can MR MOTSAMAI: …people who prescribe food are work from there. We should not have situations whereby doctors, hospitals and nurses… a Councilor will be attending to their family matters HONOURABLE MEMBER: On a point of order. during working hours. Honourable Molale, make sure that you deal with these issues which dignifies people MR MOTSAMAI: …so they have to start buying food instead of bragging about the return of Ipelegeng. It is not from people who own abattoirs and are in rural areas. pleasant to find your representative dealing with another A person may be restricted from eating chicken so, we situation while you seek help from them. So, attend to have to consider the youth who are keeping poultry, we issues which might affect these Councilors, consult must buy from them … Village Development Committees (VDCs) so that they can give them houses and furnish them. Moreover, get HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure Mr Speaker. Form 2 or Form 3 students to offer cleaning services and pay them through Ipelegeng, I know that is your MR MOTSAMAI: … so that people who are restricted intention. This will also help them to earn a living like from eating certain food products can get access to what you. Thank you Mr Speaker. they have to eat Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, not only that, a doctor may prescribe certain food items for a patient HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... as well as list those that they are restricted from eating. For example; a person may be allowed to eat Setswana LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): cuisine. So, let there be provision for Setswana cuisine Point of procedure. Mr Speaker, I did not want to just like… interrupt the debate by the Honourable Member because it was going to look like I am asking for a point of HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure Mr Speaker. procedure from him. My point of procedure therefore Mr Speaker is, as you are sitting there as the Speaker, MR MOTSAMAI: …in schools, they have been it is your right and full responsibility to ensure there is permitted to buy from the locals so that they can decorum in this House. And if you made a ruling, that be provided for in rural areas. It is a serious issue is the ultimate decision, no one can challenge it. We can Honourable... advise yes, but if you made a ruling, we know that you made a decision which does not favour anyone in this HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure Mr Speaker. House, it is the Speaker’s ruling. MR MOTSAMAI: …we mean business here. When Ministers deliver their presentations, they expect As I conclude Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Local to share ideas with Members of Parliament and listen to Government; Minister Molale… their suggestions because at the end of the day, they are going to respond. So, if a Member thinks that something HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Laughter!)... that is being said in this House is out of order then seeks MR MOTSAMAI: …there are rumours that people who procedure, he/she is not wrong. Mr Speaker, ultimately live in Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) live near you make a ruling. There is no Standing Order which areas that have wild animals so they are hunting them limits a Member of Parliament to a certain number of and doing other things. The question therefore is; how procedures. were these people able to hunt without your knowledge, HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… have you taught them about coexisting with these wild animals? I urge you to teach these people how to coexist MR TSOGWANE: I think you have made a ruling. with those wild animals, encourage them to open Trusts Procedures are sought from both sides of the House. which they can earn a living from Honourable Molale. There are also persistent procedure seekers we know across the aisle who sometimes then raise points which I also want to point out that your Ministry is one of are not procedure. Let us be patient with you, run this the most challenged Ministries because right now, House with no interference from us. Thank you Mr you are supervising councils. You have the power to Speaker. nominate, to dismiss council and do everything else but HONOURABLE MEMBER: On a point of order Mr you fail to plan something in terms of the welfare of Speaker.

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HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… If you stand to reprimand him as you did, he can hear you. Sometimes I do not have to make a ruling because MR SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Leader of the he can hear that you are not happy with his intervention. House. I think the majority of us are always eager to say Honourable Members, let us not disrespect each other something, however if you are a Minister or Assistant please. Can Honourable Rakgare please take the floor. Minister and have something that you feel is wrong, please note it, by the time you respond you touch on that MR TSOGWANE: On a point of procedure Mr thing and correct it rather than wasting time Honourable Speaker. Mr Speaker, when I stand on a point of Members. Let us respect time please. procedure, I am not asking for favour from anybody, I am doing so because I am the Leader of the House. I LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION (MR have people that I am leading this side. I did not ask for SALESHANDO): On a point of order Mr Speaker. favour from anybody and I will continue as and when it Please explain to us what the Honourable Vice President is necessary to make a point of procedure, without fear just did is called? There was a point of procedure sought or favour. There is no order which says a Leader of the which you made a ruling on. We continued. So is it Opposition should stand all the time to refute whatever I allowed that after the matter has long passed, he stands say to show the public, this is the behaviour, it is telling! in his capacity as the Leader of the House; perhaps you I will stand to raise a point of procedure as and when it should school us we do not know the role of the Leader is necessary or I deem it necessary. I am not going to of the House, then he stands up and starts preaching take orders from Leader of the Opposition. I am not! saying, “I want you to know that we respect you, if you have ruled; then you have ruled,” what is this? HONOURABLE MEMBER: Further procedure Mr Speaker. You see Mr Speaker, part of the problem is that you have allowed the Leader of the House to get used to standing MR SALESHANDO: On a point of order Mr Speaker. every time he feels like. He is at his house. If he stays You said you are not ruling because he heard me, now a long time without speaking, he stands and says just look at the consequences of failing to make a ruling. about anything to relive boredom. I said you should inform us if His Honour the Vice President’s behaviour is in order, if anybody can do HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… it; if one can just rise on a point of procedure and say whatever he/she wants to say then sit down? When MR SALESHANDO: Mr Speaker today I expect you we request you to reprimand/make a ruling, he takes to inform Leader of the House that what he did is not advantage that you did not make a ruling then continues allowed. If you do not do that, next time I will also stand doing that. when I feel bored then preach. I am going to expect you to allow me as you allowed him to preach, after I finish, HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… I am going to sit down and nothing should happen. Reprimand His Honour the Vice President, his position HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… does not allow him to act like that in Parliament. There MR SALESHANDO: Mr Speaker, I beseech you to is a saying ‘what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the make a ruling towards what he did after Honourable gander’, that is why Honourable Rakgare is behaving in Motsamai finished debating, is it allowed? If you say this manner. If you do not stop this, you will lose control yes, everyone who sits down after the debate, I will because we will also want to act in that same manner urge Honourable Members of the Opposition to stand they are doing. on procedure then preach about something completely HONOURABLE MEMBER: Exactly! unrelated to what was said then sit down.

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… I am repeating myself Mr Speaker, if you do not make a ruling and reprimand Leader of the House, you will MR SPEAKER: No, let us close the matter Honourable lose control. You hear that he said he will continue Members and stop disrespecting each other. There is a doing that as and when he pleases, he has been doing saying ‘mmualebe o a bo a bua la gagwe gore mona lentle that for a very long time. Everytime he wants to stand le ene a tle a tswe ka la gagwe’ (meaning; everyone has he says “procedure” even if it is not procedure; there an opinion). So he aired his views, he heard me and you. was nothing procedural about what he did or raised after

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Honourable Motsamai finished debating. Reprimand whoever is leading the sector, is the one who is going to Vice President, do not be afraid of him. The chair you answer. He has presented, he cannot present and debate. are sitting on holds that much authority to reprimand him. So please reprimand the Vice President. MR SPEAKER: You are quite right Honourable Keorapetse. I think it is a mistake Honourable Member, MR SPEAKER: I have been very clear in the earlier days sit down, I think it is wrong. I think I overlooked that about my role sitting here as a Speaker, that I am not a because Honourable Rakgare is in the Thematic Group. subject of anybody in this House. I am not controlled by Maybe it would not be really in order to now allow him Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition or anyone to ask himself questions. Honourable Rakgare, I am not else. Honourable Members, never say I am controlled going to allow you to comment. Let me now call the by Leader of the House. I have great respect for the two second person; Honourable Letsholathebe. positions; which is the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition. In terms of the Standing Orders, these MR RAKGARE: Procedure. Mr Speaker, I can are the two portfolios which provide guidelines to the hear what you are saying clearly, but this chapter has House. If you look at the Standing Orders, one of the different Ministries. There is Local Government and duties of the Leader of the House is to stand on points Rural Development, Agricultural Development and of procedure on the proceedings of the House, so the Food Security, Health and Wellness and Presidential Standing Order allows him to stand and speak. When he Affairs, Governance and Public Administration. I think is not standing on any point of procedure, I have always that I deserve a chance to debate on this chapter. ruled against that. Like yesterday, I ruled against what MR SPEAKER: Honourable Rakgare, I think I have he said, it is not like I allow him Honourable Members. made a ruling, because since you are a member of this Thematic Group, I do not think I am inclined to allow So, today since you are both Honourable Members, you you to debate. I will not be doing the right thing, I would have reprimanded and he heard you, then he also stood, be setting a wrong precedent. no one should stand raising something else against what was said. Let us allow the House to continue. Leader of MINISTER OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, the House in light of the complaint raised by the Leader RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DR of the Opposition, please stop rising just because of LETSHOLATHEBE): Thank you Mr Speaker … your capacity as the leader, rise knowing that there are procedures of the House. I request that we should stop MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR doing that. PRODUCTIVITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT (MR BALOPI): Point of order. Thank you Mr Speaker. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… Not that I want to suggest that your ruling is not appropriate, however, I think it would be very helpful MR SPEAKER: My last point is that, I respect the because when we are following the Standing Orders, it two of you. That is why sometimes I am reluctant to is important that when something that is not supposed to discipline you when one of you rises. I take it that you happen happens, maybe we have to point at something will assist me to respect your positions. that addresses that, in the form of a certain Standing Order or precedent, so that we do not have these kind of MINISTER OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, problems recurring. When it is said that it would not be SPORT AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT (MR appropriate, much as he is part of the Thematic Group RAKGARE): Thank you Mr Speaker. Let me also and he is saying he wanted to debate on a different comment. I think that when one of us wants to be a matter as a Member of Parliament elected to this House, referee in this House, he should be able to intervene on it is always going to be very helpful to be saying that both sides. Not instances where Honourable Motsamai as per this Standing Order, or as per whatever that has calls me a child, and then Honourable Saleshando keeps been agreed upon by either the Business Committee or quiet and says it is okay. the processes of this House, as we debate this issue. I MR KEORAPETSE: Procedure. Mr Speaker, I was was only requesting that maybe you can guide us Mr looking at the Order Paper, I was thinking that the sector Speaker so that one may not ask why that. Then we that is mentioned, includes Honourable Rakgare. I see know that there was something that you pointed at that that he has been given a chance to debate. I thought that will actually not allow that.

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The last one Mr Speaker, on a point of procedure also, if this ruling is procedural; it is true. The clarification 53.1 (a) of the Standing Orders states that, “by rising to a that I want is that, the way you explained that an point of order or procedure, to draw attention to a breach Honourable Minister cannot debate when they are on or misconduct.’ Now, some of these Clauses when you the Thematic Working Group, let me answer to say yes, try to read them in relation to 58.1, you can see that he cannot debate on his Ministry. Do you realise Mr there could be a misconduct on the basis of behavior Speaker that in that group, there is the presenter who or maybe challenges from the other side of someone presents that Thematic Working Group and goes on to talking to others. This misconduct, I am wondering if it answer questions in the end? That person in the case of is not the one that we are supposed to rise and say there today, the presenter was Honourable Morwaeng and he is misconduct that side, or say there is misconduct as per is the one who is going to answer what was said by the what was said by another Member in this House. It will Members of Parliament, even if this person can comment help that when you rule, you can be able to set precedent in his chapter, you as the Speaker have the power to that would not enable us to violate by stating exactly say you cannot talk to yourself; if you are talking about what is here that you are ruling against as per Members the youth and you presented on that. There are different or even the Leader of the House; he was rising in order players and actors in the Thematic Working Groups. to try and show what has not happened. That would be Otherwise, I think that taking that into consideration, I very helpful Mr Speaker. I thank you. want to know when it will be reviewed. Now it is going to disadvantage a lot of people whose intention is not MR SPEAKER: If you remember, when I stood up to respond in their own Ministries, but otherwise to earlier, I said, and I was very clear about this, that I respond to those Ministries that are not theirs. would prefer especially Honourable Ministers who are in the Thematic Group that if they have anything which HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Further procedure. is a misconduct on the other side, they should note it so that when a response is given, then they can answer MR SPEAKER: Wait a minute! This is not a subject to the misconduct that maybe has been actually picked for a debate. Let me do this, I have said, I have made a during the debate. That is the first thing. ruling and if I am otherwise advised by the Parliamentary Counsel, maybe I might relook at it and rescind my The second thing, unless I am otherwise advised decision. The ruling like I said, I am very clear, it is not because I have got a Parliamentary Counsel here and based on any particular Standing Order. I am looking at the Clerks at the table, I said as a matter of precedent, the precedence that probably I will be setting to allow it appears that it would not be okay for me to allow the the Minister within the Thematic Group to debate the Honourable Minister who is in the Thematic Group same issues in his Thematic Group. When you look at to respond or debate the matter which is part of that generality, I am not saying the Minister of Youth can group. Further to that Honourable Member, we have the talk about his … In terms of generality, the Thematic Business Advisory Committee and we also have two Group has one heading. If I allow him, he might be Whips. If I have made a ruling on a matter of precedent tempted to jump into some of the things related to his like I have done in this particular case, because I will constituency and debate. Then it would mean, I run the not make any specific reference to the Standing Order, risk of trying to control him to say, no, do not move this then the Whips can pick that, discuss this matter and side, do not do this. I do not want to set what I will refer take it to the Business Advisory so that if my ruling, to as a wrong precedence. I will urge them if they have which is supposed to be final, is challenged, then it is something very itchy, probably to talk to the Leader of challenged there; either to scrap it off as a bad ruling the Thematic Group and give him those comments, so or to set it as a precedent which may also be included that he can respond if there were issues that he probably in the Standing Orders. I thought that I was rising on wanted to hit on that came from the debates. that Standing Order, maybe it is not okay to tell the HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure Mr Speaker. Honourable Minister to continue. I made a ruling based on that, but if you like, I can pause for a second and ask …Silence… for guidance from the Parliamentary Counsel. MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I was HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR consulting my colleagues here. If you look at Standing TSOGWANE): Clarification. As you have said, when Order 2.1 and 2.1.1, let me read it loudly to you. Before you have made a ruling, it is up to others to go and see I read it, I was trying to exercise my mind around this

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particular issue. I think as a Speaker, I am allowed to that area with water. The issue of rationing water, saying do that. If a matter is brought before me and it is not we are taking it here this time, and next time we are covered within the Standing Orders, I can exercise and taking it there; let it be coordinated so that Batswana make a ruling on it. I am supported by Standing Order in Tati East would know how to prepare adequately for 2.1 which says, “the Speaker (or any Member presiding) this challenge. The Jojo tanks that you assisted us with is responsible for ruling whenever any question arises as Honourable Minister, maybe they should be filled up so to the interpretation or application of a Standing Order that Batswana would be able to use it. Just to add to and for deciding cases not otherwise provided for.” Then that Honourable Minister, the challenge that we have it says, “The ruling of the Speaker under this Standing is in regard to Matopi and Patayamatebele. They are Order shall be final.” Matter of fact, if you look at that still getting their water from the Ramokgwebana river. and support it with what I said earlier, that if you are not Please look into this issue Honourable Minister. We are happy with my ruling, then you still have that allowance told the plan has been done, water is needed. I trust that to talk to your Whip, who will take the matter to the you will look into this matter Honourable Minister. Business Advisory Committee and then challenge that I do not want to leave this ministry behind. It is the precedence that I have used. The Business Advisory ministry responsible for land. If you look at the Maslow’s Committee will make a decision on it. I have ruled that hierarchy of needs, water and land are some of the main Honourable Rakgare is not going to speak and then needs. Therefore, Honourable Minister, hold on. When allow Honourable Letsholathebe to continue. I talk about land, let me talk about Tati East or North MINISTER OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, East in general, we have issues with land. We do not RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY have enough land. Most of it is farms. That little which (DR LETSHOLATHEBE): I thank you Mr Speaker. I is remaining Mr Speaker, is not distributed properly. It appreciate the fact that you have given me an opportunity takes long; the youth take forever without being given to comment on this important matter. Let me also thank land. Honourable Minister, please look into this matter. I the Honourable Ministers who participated in this heard you saying we are going to try to allocate partially Thematic Working Group (TWG), they gave us very serviced land, that is really appreciated. It is something good presentations. Since time is an enemy, it would that we can be grateful for, very much. Do not forget appear as if I am just bringing concerns, but let me thank that it would be partially serviced land. So later when them. There are a lot of good things they have said. the funds are available, you should go back to them. I believe that for any dark cloud, there is a silver lining. I Mr Speaker, I am quite aware that this country is facing have faith that in a not so distant future, all shall be well; the COVID-19 pandemic, such that our diamonds are I am someone who fears God. So please, Honourable not being bought. This results in our economy going Minister, look into such matters. down. So when we talk about budgeting, we need to consider things which are easy to implement but being From there I would like to talk about Agriculture and of high impact. I am going to deliberate on those things, Food Security, Honourable Minister. This sector is one leaning more towards my employers, who happen to be that we need to look at. In Tati East as I have just said, the residents of Tati East. we have shortage of land. I will appeal to the Minister of Agriculture to maybe look at Tati East differently; there Mr Speaker as I said, the Honourable Ministers have should be a special case when it comes to agriculture. spoken, so maybe I should focus on COVID-19. Right Programmes such as ISPAAD and others are not serving at the beginning, we need water to fight this disease. Our a purpose for us because our lands are small. You will area has a challenge of water. I will take this time to discover that our fields are three to four hectares, and thank the Minister responsible for Land Management, most of you this side consider those as very small. On Water and Sanitation Services because last week he was our side, we are depending on them. You should look at the constituency for a ground breaking ceremony of at this as a special case, and tailor make programmes Ntimbale water project. This water is going to help us focusing on areas like that one. In Tlokweng and North a lot. The project is going to take place in 18 months, East there is no land, so, you should come up with according to what he said. Since this disease is among us, special programmes for such places for us to benefit. let me request that he should look at short-term solutions. We should consider that at this point in time, what is the The other thing that I am supposed to highlight is that main thing we are going to do to assist the people in although that is the case, we are trying our best. Villages

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like Matopi and Ditladi; I would like to thank your DR LETSHOLATHEBE: Thank you Mr Speaker. I predecessor because he paid us a visit, I believe he was was still talking about Agriculture, that despite shortage there on your behalf Honourable Minister. There are of land at that constituency, we are trying. One thing farmers in Matopi and Ditladi who are doing a great job. that troubles us that side, which I would like to ask the Maybe I could align the challenges that they are facing relevant Minister to look at is the issue of roads which with transport, the roads that go there… leads there, he should consult the relevant ministry, as I am about to consult relevant officials at Ministry ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL Transport and Communications. DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MS MANAKE): On a point of procedure. Thank you Mr Enablers; farmers at Ditladi and Patayamatebele struggle Speaker. I just wanted to say it is a bit noisy, so we to transport their produce from their fields to the market cannot hear Honourable Dr Letsholathebe properly. which is at Francistown. So, I would like you to share They should reduce the noise. I thank you. ideas with the relevant Minister so as to help these farmers. We agreed that we should be independent, that MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I am told it is we should not rely on other countries when it comes noisy. Well, I can hear the noise too, it sounds as if there to food production and people there are hardworking are small caucuses. Honourable Members! people who are really ready to do that. So Mr Speaker I HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Interruptions!)… request through you, that these issues should be attended so that farmers can be helped. MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members! Let me stand up. The decorum of this House dictates that there should The problem that we are not familiar with is the issue be silence all the time. Silence! Especially when one of elephants, these days we pay because we are a good Member is standing up, there should be silence. If you country and we take care of our wildlife. Elephants want to have your meetings and want to caucus, I will cause damages at our constituency. Minister, maybe you ask you to leave the House to go and caucus outside. should assist farmer clusters by erecting electric fence around their fields so as to protect their crops. MINISTER OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DR Mr Speaker, one thing that I would like to address calmly, LETSHOLATHEBE): Thank you Mr Speaker. I want since it is something which troubles me is the issue of to say... Omang under Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs. I would not leave this one out. Most ASSISTANT MINISTER OF INVESTMENT, of us know that Tati East is close to Zimbabwe hence TRADE AND INDUSTRY (MR MOLEBATSI): there is high intermarriage practice and the movement Procedure. It is just a quick one Mr Speaker. Some of people from Botswana to Zimbabwe and those who members have been provided with headphones while leave Zimbabwe to Botswana. This has resulted in a some have not been given any but maybe they could lot of people being stateless. They do not have Identity Cards (Omang). Last time when I addressed a meeting be helping us when there is noise like this. How do we with Matshelagabedi committee, when I asked how get them? many people do not have Omang, around 15 to 20 per HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Interruptions!)… cent of people stood up. What really pained me the most is that some of them raised me, people who I thought MR SPEAKER: Honourable Minister, like I said last had Omang, little did I know that they do not have time, we have a challenge of acoustics. As you can see identity cards. that when I move close to the speaker it makes a lot of noise. Some headphones are functioning. If I give One thing that I have realised when I did my own research you an example, I use this headphone at the Parliament is that, sometimes the problem is that the Government is chamber but when I try to insert it here, it does not doing its best but there is poor communication between function. I think there is a problem. There are some the government and the people. We have been trying microphones which have headphones and others do not to do that, but it seems like the offices which facilitate have, I think it is because of that. We will try to deal us at Francistown and Masunga are overwhelmed with the matter to find out from the technical department with work. I would like to ask the relevant minister, what the problem is. even though I once discussed this issue with her, there

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should be satellite offices at places like Tati Siding and which goes to Zimbabwe does not have tributaries which Matshelagabedi so that people can be facilitated. That run into the villages. So, everyone turns everywhere issue is really painful. I believe that the minister will he/she wants into those villages. That road is very attend it urgently. dangerous. Its lifespan is decreasing because people turn everywhere. Everybody turns where they wish. Minister One other thing that I would like to talk about is that pay attention; either you maintain the road which runs we are people who abide by the law but what I have parallel to the main road or build tributaries from the observed is that people break the law by crossing main road so that people can benefit from the good work borders without permits. When you take an area like that you have done. Siviya, it is an area which is far away from the border, the nearest border is more than 100 kilometres (km) Employment and Skills Development, something that I away. The village at Zimbabwe which is close to Siviya never want to leave out, I want to be remembered as is just less than 15 km away. Minister, this is one issue the Legislator who pushed the Technical, Vocational which you have to pay attention to, assist people who and Training Education (TVET). I really like TVET. live there, make an arrangement which will allow them I believe TVET like agriculture can turn around this to cross legally so that they can be able to attend burials country. I believe in TVET. I believe in vocational work. and gatherings. These are some of the things that I once Minister, pay attention to this issue. If we can work on discussed with you. I will continue to talk about them this issue together, it can turn around the economy of so that you can assist. our country since there are some TVET programmes in my ministry. Like I said, there are so many good things which were mentioned by ministers, but since time is not on my Senyawe village; last time Honourable Tshabang talked side, I will only address my worries. When I get into about brigades which have shut down, so we should Ministry of Transport and Communications… attend it as soon as possible so that it can be opened and also so that people can take their children there HONOURABLE MEMBER: E li kuti o na bogoma so as to produce those products, those who we will kgweni zwengapa? Why are you so stubborn? believe in, we will use them so that they can build our country. I always say that we are turning this country DR LETSHOLATHEBE: …(Laughter!)…when I from relying in minerals to relying in education. TVET get into Transport and Communications, as I have just can be a building block towards that. Maybe we should talked about Ditladi road, I would really appreciate it come up with courses which will be more appealing. We if you can help me with it. It is something which is a should come up with courses like robotics. We should troubling us at our constituency. Minister, one thing introduce Information Technology (IT) courses which that I would like to touch on is an issue concerning Tati they can use to do their plans so that courses can attract Siding. I went to the constituency during the weekend many students. I appeal to you Minister of Employment, and I found a place which has long been earmarked to Labour Productivity and Skills Development that you be a bus rank at Tati Siding. Tati Siding is a village like should focus on this issue together, so that we can build Mogoditshane, it is near the city and it is expanding. I TVET going forward. found taxi drivers parked where it was supposed to be a bus rank, it has been earmarked for a long time, and they I thank you, I always see you time and again consulting have designed a pseudo bus rank. It is heartbreaking. with workers and workers unions. Keep it up, Batswana Hey! Minister, pay attention to this issue and assist them should be educated about their rights. They should also with a bus rank to coordinate transport management in be taught about respecting the law so that they can build that big village. I thought I should touch on it. our country. We really need to do things differently. We need to change and do things in ways that can benefit us. I appreciate the road that leads to Zimbabwe even though I have a concerns about it. The road which leads Minister of Minerals Resource, Green Technology and to Zimbabwe passes through villages like Tsamaya and Energy Security; BCL and Tati Nickel. Minister, I heard Tshesebe, a road was constructed parallel to that road you saying that there is hope, there is hope that there and it was supposed to be used by residents of villages are three interested parties when it comes to opening along the main road. The road was not maintained the mines. Most of the youths in Tati East, have been properly. It is now full of potholes. So the main road hard hit by the closure of these mines. I want to say,

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Honourable Minister, be encouraged be encouraged, we Mr Speaker, I have realised that we are at a time where will be praying for you. Let that thing happen, because we are supposed to implement what we have been sent it can bring us hope and it can bring a lot of joy in my by the people to do, improve their lives and develop their constituency. Honourable Minister, you should also resources but now we are mixing things. Our priorities check these three investors out for yourself and not rely are all mixed up. on those you have sent to check them. Check progress every week. I commend you for that Honourable I have realised that this confusion is caused by tenders Minister. I have full confidence that you will deliver on which every time every Minister who stands, talks about that assignment. Tati Nickel and BCL should be opened incomplete projects. I am not saying that they are the sir. That could assist us a lot. ones delaying projects. I am saying, they are leading the people and somehow they are involved because when Mr Speaker, Ministry of Health and Wellness; I would something goes wrong, we look at them. These are all not have done my job if I cannot commend this ministry building projects. for fighting COVID-19. I should not just come to make requests. They did a good job. The Former Minister Our view as Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is of Health and the current one, we really thank you. If that, infrastructure should fall under one ministry. They we could not have fought this disease, we could be in should make their plans, prepare their resources and see trouble as a country more than we are right now. As we how they can be taken to that ministry to be executed. are still in a fight against COVID-19, Tati Siding and We have the Ministry of Infrastructure, which I will other constituencies need hospitals. call a very lazy ministry. Right now things are cracked, MR SPEAKER: Your time is up Honourable Minister. damaged and there is no progress, yet that ministry is Honourable Lesaso. there. It should focus on buildings and renovation but it is just there. Right now ministries are here decrying MINISTER OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, lack of infrastructure development and maintenance yet SPORT AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT (MR it is just there. RAKGARE): Procedure. Mr Speaker, I am not rising to challenge your ruling. This chapter we are Even its name, Infrastructure and Building is not in, Honourable Morwaeng presented, and he will be appealing. responding after we finish. My question is, is he going HONOURABLE MEMBER: Housing. to respond to himself, because he presented when we started. It is numbered Mr Speaker, one, two, three up to MR LESASO: What? Infrastructure and Housing. How seven. Seven will be his response. do you differentiate infrastructure and housing? What is infrastructure? What is housing? It means the same Secondly Mr Speaker, please be objective when you run thing. Housing is infrastructure and housing is part of the House. I am not... infrastructure. Find a name that will be suitable for the MR SPEAKER: Honourable Rakgare, can you sit mandate. As I start, I request that this name be changed down. Honourable Rakgare, let me stand. I will not to Infrastructure Development and Asset or Facility respond to the first one because it has an obvious answer. Management so that this country may know where it is going in terms of developments. The second one, let me reprimand you. Read Standing Order 59.1. I am going to read it back to you. “the Right now Honourable Molale wrote that he is going to Speaker shall be responsible for the observance of maintain infrastructure. the rules of order. His or her decision on the point of HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. order shall be final.” I have made a ruling, I donot have to explain why I made that ruling. I have finished. MR LESASO: He is saying he is going to maintain Honourable Lesaso. infrastructure and build infrastructure under the Ministry of Local Government. He has a lot on his plate; assisting MR LESASO (SHOSHONG): Thank you Mr Speaker. the destitute and so many other things but still he wants I will focus on three principles looking at the Ministers’ to also focus on building schools. presentations on the issue of social upliftment and then move on to Shoshong on how marginalised it is. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation.

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MR LESASO: Mr Speaker, these things need to be we need to expand in this country and beyond, goods divided among ministries. Roads are under the Ministry being transported from South Africa passing through of Transport and Communications. Right now transport Botswana to other countries but dual carriage is our is at a standstill, airplanes are not flying, trains are not main trunk road which is just left like that and we are moving, there is nothing and they are just concentrating told that there is a road which will be constructed from on infrastructure. When you look at the Ministry of Mmathethe to Bray costing +P500 million. This is the Lands, Water and Sanitation services, yes, they once road which transports the goods of this country between tried to have a programme management office which was Ramatlabama to Ramokgwebana, it is not considered dealing with infrastructure and water. Water Utilities is now in the next three years. We need to look into these failing to provide people with water, they are focusing things carefully and see if they can be rectified and do on tenders. Railways; trains are not moving because… things which can develop this country.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. Rehabilitation of major villages water supply; we get expensive water from the North to supply the Southern MR LESASO: Please allow me to debate. You were area. We also supply the West and East with this debating and I did not interrupt you. water but we do not consider rectifying the existing HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. infrastructure water reticulation. All we do is to source very expensive fresh water and pour it on the ground. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Let us help you. We also source underground water from Masama and we pour it on the ground where there is leakage in areas MR LESASO: Airports; these are things that should like Kanye, Thamaga, Moshupa, Ramotswa and others. fall under infrastructure while airplanes fly under the That is a waste. It is a waste of resources which we do Ministry of Transport and Communication. Mr Speaker, not have and we will be in distress in the future when we these are the things that I am talking about that there run out of water. so, I urge us to conserve the resources is need to divide them accordingly. We should have a that we have. Let us move on to the issue of… super ministry with a department. This department… before I move on let me talk about education. Teachers HONOURABLE MEMBER: … they are using pipes are tired, Principals are always carrying burdens that from China. maintenance plans of schools are not working. Their focus is on maintenance of buildings whereas the MR LESASO: We must make it a point to always Ministry of Infrastructure and Asset Management could rectify things… be there but it is inactive. Mr Speaker, these things need MR LUCAS: On a point of clarification. Honourable to be divided. We want a super Ministry of Infrastructure Lesaso, you are on point. Development and Asset Management. MR SPEAKER: Honourable Lucas, who gave you It should be the one responsible for coordinating all permission to stand up? ministries that is getting plans from different ministries and what they want and they implement. This will MR LUCAS: Sorry Mr Speaker. assist us to put these tenders in one place so that we can ensure that corruption does not spread all over the MR SPEAKER: Can you sit down Honourable Lucas. country because it delays developments. People do not MR LUCAS: Thank you very much Mr Speaker. see the developments of this country because tenders Honourable Lesaso, is on point. Can you give us an are all over and therefore open to corruption. Therefore estimation of how much water we are losing through let these tenders be put in one place. leakage which is caused by pipes that do not match the Mr Speaker, the second issue is that of the so called pressure from these dams? Thank you. projects of high impact in Botswana. I was looking MR LESASO: Yes. I will give you an example of a at the programme as ministries were submitting. The village like Kanye; if you require 100,000 litres of Ministry of Transport and Communications, A1 road, water, you will find that 40,000 litres of water is lost dual carriageway has P20 million set aside in the through leakage. next three years. I am wondering if we are serious. When Honourable Serame talks about the trade that HONOURABLE MEMBER: That is bad!

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MR LESASO: We source underground water from what we can call a floodplain. Shoshong is surrounded Masama, it leaks on the ground then it is pumped from by hills so when it rains, water usually flows to the same place so that it can flow there and be thrown Shoshong from these hills. You know that some people away. These are some of the things or the damage that were moved because of the floods. So we plead with we have to rectify Mr Speaker. you to plan something for Shoshong and improve these conditions. It is the only big village that side which does I have other issues to discuss but I will talk about not have a tarred road, there are no roads, streets lights, Shoshong first. As Honourable Lucas has mentioned, we health facilities, water and they have leakages. We have have a village called Shoshong which has been neglected a school which was offering studies in technology. by the Government of this country. Surprisingly, it is a This school is producing poor results; it is always the village which has rich history that has a long... the first lowest in terms of performance simply because the Trade in Afrika took place in Shoshong and they also Principal is no longer doing their job. Principal is now a went to Cape Town, but it is neglected. Maintenance Officer because the school is dilapidated. I suggested that you should always inform the Ministry We do not have a hospital in Shoshong so we have to of… create time and go there Honourable Kereng so pay attention to that issue. Kalamare is also surrounded that you can find how that village can be developed by hills; water flows from these hills and passes through through tourism. this village. We also have many rivers in this village. Shoshong hospital was included in National So, I urge you to consider making a proper storm water Development Plan (NDP) 8. It was requested and drainage system at Kalamare and Shoshong. I am deferred to 2021, it is not in the plan up to now. It has placing this request before you. been removed just as the Honourable Member said. Construct roads at Shoshong. Construct roads which HONOURABLE MEMBER: Was it not finalised? leads from Dibete, from Palla Road to Tobela, from Mosolotshane to Moralane and from Poloka to Ikongwe MR LESASO: I do not know what happened to it so that subsistence farmers can use them when going to because it has not been included. All we are saying their fields and cattle-posts. You have to do this because is, it is important to have this hospital Honourable you are failing to provide these people with services. If Members. This is a Constituency which has greatly you do that, these people are going to be able to earn a been affected by dire poverty. People who come from living from farming. this Constituency cannot afford transport fee from Otse to Mahalapye to travel for medical reasons. They cannot In my conclusion Mr Speaker, I have an idea that we afford transport fee to travel from Kodibeleng to catch should allow Constituencies to start making their a bus at Moralane from farms to Mahalapye for medical Constituency Development Plans where they will be reasons. They really need provision of a health facility expected to submit them here all the time. It will be near them. in such a way that every Constituency submits their plan, then the National Development Plan (NDP) will Moving on to roads, they are not there. I heard that incorporate them in their plans. I am aware that we have the Ministry of Agriculture managed to build roads what is known as grassroots plans which are drafted by somewhere. As we speak, the Mosolotshane-Moralane Village Development Committees (VDCs). These things road is damaged by farmers who travel from here to lose their way because they are sometimes neglected Sandveld farms. So, I urge the Ministry of Agriculture along the way. So a Member of Parliament will be to maintain this road. You have to start maintaining expected to come here to defend their Constituency Dibete-Otse road because I want it to be tarred. This Plan. They will be expected to make a proposal which road joins Sandveld with Tuli Block, Sandveld with outlines what they intend to do in their Constituency and A1 and Sandveld with infrastructure. It is a very high it will have to be approved here. impact road which you have to maintain and include in your current national development plan. That is what I HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... want Honourable Members. MR LESASO: …and then when we draft NDP, we Rural village infrastructure; we need good roads and will ensure that it covers these things, it will enable street lights at Shoshong Honourable Molale. We live in us to address these things during our debates. Every

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Member of Parliament will be allowed to argue for their I am grateful for that, I pray God bless SMME groups constituency plan in this Parliament. That is my idea. more. I would like to thank Barloworld and BMW … So, consider assisting us through this idea because the (Inaudible)… masks at my constituency. I thank all people of Shoshong are suffering. those who made donations to my constituency. I implore them to keep those donations coming, it is not enough as Shoshong Constituency is requesting for a clinic. As we they know that it is a poor constituency. speak, they are building a clinic which does not have a maternity at Dibete. We know about this because we are I would also like to thank De Beers for the fancy clinic concerned about women who do not have a choice but to they are building at my village of Maboane which travel long distances in order to go to Mahalapye to give I would like to implore the Ministry of Health and birth. That is a really bad situation. Unfortunately, we Wellness not to… had requested for a clinic at Kodibeleng but you refused HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… to bring it closer to the people and you did not even bother to give us a reasonable answer for doing that. MR LEUWE: What is he saying? We also requested for a hospital…what do you really expect us to do? What should we do to be appreciated HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… as a constituency which has been voting Domkrag for MR LEUWE: Debswana, thank you Honourable many years? Do you really have to mercilessly make us Member. Let me thank Debswana for the fancy clinic suffer just because I have been voted to represent these they are building at my constituency at Maboane village people? No, Honourable Members! That is too much, which will be the best out of Takatokwane constituency. why are you punishing us? That is the only question that I would like to further request the Government not to I will ask. That is all Mr Speaker. halt that clinic, they should know that headquarters of HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... Takatokwane constituency is at Takatokwane. It will be surprising to have a fancy clinic at a small village MR SPEAKER: Honourable Leuwe and then while the big village which is the headquarters of the Honourable Modukanele in that order. After Honourable constituency comes out second best. Leuwe, it is Honourable Modukanele. I would like to thank all health care workers and directly MR LEUWE (TAKATOKWANE): Thank you Mr inform Ministry of Health and Wellness that I have a Speaker. May God bless this House and shine his light few reservations regarding essential service. If you take upon us so that we debate diligently. I wish to start for example nurses who are under essential service by addressing the Health Sector. I will firstly start and look at their conditions of service comparing it by appreciating Government efforts which we are with others who are also essential. One, their salaries benefiting from. I would like to commend officials from are a bit lower. Health care fraternity has its own risk the Ministry of Health concerning the efforts that they which everyone is aware of and would like to urge the made regarding COVID-19 and they are still doing the Ministry of Health and Wellness to review. I visited all same today. I will go on to thank all who felt it was 14 clinics in my constituency and not even one clinic necessary to assist the Government, especially the impressed me. You will find that health care workers do Ministry of Health in my constituency because many of not even have uniform then you wonder if we are still them were able to partake. maintaining the status of the nurses. I implore that health care workers be accorded respect that they are essential I also thank De Beers and Lucara Mine for the assistance services; they should be provided with uniform. In fact, which they offered to my Constituency. Additionally, when I scrutinise I think we may have created a mistake I thank Khudu Social Club which was formed by the by centralising health care facilities from councils to people of Khudumelapye who managed to set up the Ministry of Health and Wellness because when they displacement sanitisers and even donated sanitisers to were still under the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the school. Let me profusely thank those people. everything was going well. I thank Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMME) HONOURABLE MEMBER: At Council. groups at Motokwe Village, who decided to install geysers at Motokwe Primary School upon realising that MR LEUWE: While they were still under councils. there is no hot water for students to wash their hands. There was never a time when there was shortage of

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uniforms and ambulances. Right now ambulances are I would now like to discuss the Ministry of Transport repaired from Molepolole but during decentralisation and Communications; I firmly believe that this ministry each clinic had an ambulance. And when they were is making tremendous efforts. Road construction is very taken for servicing, they were given first preference. expensive but I believe all plans should be implemented. I implore that this ministry speed up decentralisation We have a road I can estimate to be 100 kilometres from policy. The intention was to rectify but we can see that Letlhakeng to Khutse. This road passes through three it is not working. villages; it passes through Khudumelapye which is 22 kilometres from Letlhakeng, then 36 kilometres from Moving on to the Ministry of Land Management, Water Khudumelapye to and an extra 36 kilometres and Sanitation Services; I admit that they are making to a village called . After that it is five or efforts but I have a huge concern because I have a less kilometres to Khutse gate which we believe is village called Khudumelapye. To date that village still our greatest source of revenue. We request that roads experiences extreme water shortage, they have to wait which generate revenue for the Government should be for 12 midnight to get water. It is the only village out of prioritised because it can attract tourists as they will not all the villages in Botswana with such a disheartening be hindered by poor road conditions. If the road is in situation regarding water shortage but its population poor condition, we might lose money as they feel the is more than 3 000. I believe in the next population road is bad and can damage their vehicles. It should census the numbers will have increased to 4 000 or also be prioritised because when the President was 5 000. The other concern about water is that there is addressing a meeting at Salajwe, he asked for their conflict between consumers and those supplying water support and promised them that the road they have been regarding payments. Prepaid meters can address this complaining about will be dealt with so the belief was problem as it will help both parties; the consumer and that in the National Development Plan (NDP) 11; Mid- the one supplying water so I would like us to adopt that Term Review it will be a priority as much as delivering initiative. on promises goes. We have a road from Metsibotlhoko HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation, Kopano’s to Khudumelapye which is 16 kilometres; tenders were father. already awarded so it was at that stage but to date, we do not have an update. An update should be delivered to MR LEUWE: I would like to talk about roads. Time, the right people so that they know when their road will Nkamo’s father. be constructed.

MR MOATLHODI: I will be brief Kopano’s father. I would like to thank Honourable Segokgo because we Mr Speaker, you are the only one who is…(Inaudible)… have a plan that he should visit to view the condition of that road and comprehend its significance. It is very MR SPEAKER: Elucidation, Honourable Moatlhodi. important. MR MOATLHODI: Thank you sir. I had to wait for I would like to talk about the issue of electricity. I am your authority my Lord. Thank you very much my grateful that Honourable Members are celebrating that colleague who I love so dearly and is also my fellow all villages have been connected but that is not the case believer in Christ. The issue of water you are discussing, at my constituency. My constituency of Takatokwane looking at how our elderly who earn an allowance called still has four villages, big villages which are not tandabala (Old Age Pension) and its insufficiency to connected. Our request is that those villages should be meet their needs, they cannot afford to pay water bills assessed more especially those four which are referred and end up being cut off. Do you not think you can to as Rural Area Development Programme (RADP). request this Government of ours to review and exempt I have this constant fear that they might think that all our elders who earn tandabala from paying water bills villages have been connected whereas ours have been since they have served this country for a long time? overlooked. So please scrutinise those villages. The other village is only seven kilometres away from the MR LEUWE: Thank you Nkamo’s father. That should power plant which is at Motokwe; the other village is 30 be implemented, but our request will be informed by kilometres away from where there is electricity. current circumstances. I believe that as we managed The other one is 35 kilometres from Salajwe where to exempt elders from paying clinic fees, we can also there is electricity, the other one is , where consider undertaking this initiative. a meeting was once held, they were promised that they

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were going to be connected to the national grid but we MR SPEAKER: Your time is up Honourable Member. do not know how far the plan is Honourable Members. MR LEUWE: …especially that they will be from I want to talk about Omang (identity card), they have here… talked about it. I have to be quick. People who got their Omang when they go to renew them, there was a MR SPEAKER: Honourable Member! problem, I request that you respond to it in regards to MR LEUWE: Oh! Thank you. all the statements that were made by all the Honourable Members. My request is that the Honourable Minister MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I nearly made who is responsible for Omang, churches are a great another mistake by calling Honourable Modukanele, concern to us. We already think that we are going to I forgot that he is in the same thematic group. I really live with Corona, we are requesting for churches to be appreciate his understanding because I gave him a opened, spread the word and pray for this virus. They legitimate expectation, now I am crossing over to are elders they will take care of themselves. This time Honourable Tshere to take the floor. should really be of essence. MR TSHERE (MAHALAPYE WEST): Thank you I want to move on to Ministry of Trade; let me congratulate very much Honourable Speaker. Let me also get straight them and also request them to go and educate people at into the issue that… rural areas, especially in regards to the issue of Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). They MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR should go and explain the new guidelines to the public PRODUCTIVITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMEMT and it should also not only be an explanation by word (MR BALOPI): Procedure. I am humbly requesting Mr of mouth, it is going to be done as it was explained, Speaker that really this is a slot that we requested. Instead with relaxed options. My request is that just like we saw of giving it to them, with our procedure of numbers it is Honourable Serame saying that they are going to review not going according to plan like we requested. Can you the Liquor Act, let them consider it from a perspective not allow us to include someone again because we have that this sector also creates a lot of jobs, I think more others that are still waiting for a slot? than 30 000 people are employed by the alcohol sector and some make a living with it. Let it not be that when MR SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I requested you you go to review, you are quick to mention the bad many times that if I make a ruling, do not expect me to things that people who drink alcohol do, also consider review it. I have requested that many times. On this side, the good things that are done by people who consume five Members have spoken and on this side, only three. alcohol. We should conclude by seeing that the time is Now I will be giving them the fourth. I know that I have up for us to open for them to consume alcohol. At least, to give like… we can give an order that we are going to monitor to see that you are in compliance with what we ordered, just HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… like in other programmes where we say we are going to HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… operate this way and if we are not complying, we will be breaking the law, and we can follow that person and MR SPEAKER: Honourable Molao! Honourable charge them. Molao, do not do that to me. I am saying the ratio was 6:4, but since I called Honourable Modukanele by I want to quickly get into the issue of agriculture. mistake, that is why I am saying let me finish this side Agriculture can create a lot of jobs for us, if we can do and then get back here because I did not have another it in a way that is necessary. In my constituency, I have name that was available. I have made a ruling that I am an area called Phuduhudu Cluster, those people are good moving this side, now you are saying I should stop and farmers. If we can engage them and sit down with them, go back. and give them all the necessary assistance they need in agriculture, I believe that they can create a lot of jobs MR TSHERE: Thank you very much Honourable for us. Their wish is that since we buy seeds that are Speaker. Let me get straight into the issues because produced in other countries, they should also be given the time I have been given is not enough to talk about the opportunity to grow seeds that we will buy locally, Mahalapye issues. I want to start with the issue that I and also… talked about a while back during the Budget Session.

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I was saying that the people of Mahalapye are being Secondly; what the engineers told me about Mahalapye, troubled by water in their homes. I remember that you they say they are requesting us to build a second trench were chairing when I said that. I want to emphasize because the first one is not big enough. I think money this statement because that is what they sent me to do. ran out during that time and now I am here to request Mahalapye people say that they understand that they more following the footsteps of General Merafhe, may cannot want everything because if that does not happen, his soul rest in peace so that we can build a trench similar they will not get anything. They have sent me to come to the one he built. This time, the second one is going and say one thing only that is of concern to them. We are to the northern side because the river there is about 5 concerned about rain water all over Mahalapye which kilometres away, which we can divert this water to. cannot be controlled, and ends up getting into people’s The plan is that when water approaches Mahalapye, we homes, businesses, and leave them devastated (poor divert it before it reaches the village of Mahalapye, and storm water drainage). As you can see that rain clouds are that is the major plan that we would like to implement. gathering, at Mahalapye there is sadness, because they That is the biggest challenge we are facing about water, will bring devastating problems. Let me briefly state Mr as I was saying. The people of Mahalapye have no Speaker that this issue of water in Mahalapye; comes a stadium, bus rank and many other amenities Mr Speaker. long way, it is not only happening now. In Mahalapye in Nevertheless, they have said those are not a priority, the the past, there were valleys with water, you can tell from priority is water because it enters their houses while the people talking about Nkabowa; ‘I will rather go back they are sleeping. I believe since Honourable Molale is because I see there is a lot of water.’ You can hear from here, he is hearing what I am saying. Just like I asked the words that are used at Mahalapye. This water is not a question here last time, it showed that it dates back, from Mahalapye, it comes from Bonwapitse/Mmutlane, from National Development Plan (NDP) 8 or so. As I at the hills, and now it flows through Mahalapye and it said Mr Merafhe attended it, and there has not been a comes in large quantities from the likes of Shoshong, solution. They costed it around the year 2009, where through Mmutlane road. His Honour the Vice President; they did the layout and they estimated how much the project would cost, and they mentioned something well Leader of the House was in Mahalapye. When the rains over half a million. If I were to say it, the storm water starts, he comes to Mahalapye but there is nothing that drainage is in line with road construction, so we do not is useful about him coming to Mahalapye. The water have roads in Mahalapye, but we are not talking about drainage system programme was made useful by Mr them, we are talking about a second open trench that Merafhe in order to resolve this situation, may his soul can be made. Maybe we should even do it in phases; rest in peace. He constructed an open trench, if you others within the village could be made at a later time, have been to Mahalapye you should have seen it, it goes so maybe at the beginning, we should focus on the open through the village from the top. Now what happened trench that will divert water out of Mahalapye village, is that it begins on the road. Where the water comes so that the villagers would be able to sleep at night. from, where I am talking about is at the circle on your way to Shoshong, that is where this concerning water of The other point, as I am about to conclude… Mahalapye is from. Now where this water is from, Mr HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. Merafhe took it and diverted it to a small dam by the circle of Shoshong road in an effort to delay the water. MR TSHERE: Honourable, I will yield for you in Now when the dam is full, it leaves the dam in large a minute. As I conclude the point on storm water quantities, from the dam there is nowhere the water drainage; Mr Speaker, I believe I have laid down this can flow to. This structure I am taking about of an open burden, now I have put it on you the Speaker and the trench, starts about a kilometre away from where the Minister responsible. Including even the Vice President; source of water is. When the water leaves the dam it actually, he knows about Mahalapye issues, I cannot disperses throughout the village, residents of Ngakaagae tell him anything new about them because every time it rains, he comes. and Parwe are just living in this kind of marshland. That is what the village of Mahalapye is concerned about. The other thing is that I would like to thank Honourable Our intention was to maybe construct and link with the Mzwinila, he explained that water would be connected, structure that is already there like I said that there is a that he was going to implement the water master plan kilometre of water that flows freely. and water would be purified in Mahalapye so that it

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would be given to the people of Tewane, because they MR TSHERE: Thank you very much, it is my prayer do not have water. So when I heard him saying he will and that of the people of Mahalapye that their cry should ensure that those people have water, that made me very be heard and taken heed of. Like I was saying, they grateful. could have talked about many things Mr Speaker, we do not have a lot of things that we need; roads, stadia, The other thing is that, I think his plan to connect bus rank, we have none, but those are not a priority; water in Mahalapye will address the issue that we the priority is to attend to the water which invades their have nowadays. Mr Speaker, we have an average of 80 homes, that is the issue. pipe bursts, leaking taps; 80 per month in Mahalapye. I asked the engineer that side, ‘what is happening?’ I was about to conclude by talking about the BR; as I was Okay fine, at a normal pressure, we have 80 bursts per saying, it is a senior resident in Mahalapye, so it could month. The truth is that half of the water pipes were not be helping us, now the problem is that the Government refurbished last time when we were upgrading. A new is not injecting enough money into it so that it could pipe was connected to an old one, so when the water make an impact in the lives of the people of Mahalapye. comes with pressure, there is a leakage. The Water Affairs employees are always working. I hope when the First of all, their workshop that side is very old, it is Minister completes this project, it will address the issue small, and it cannot do anything; they are short staffed of our pipes that are already extremely worn out, and but they have so much to do. They are saying they want they leak on a daily basis. a workshop where they would be able to have trains going past each other like this, having a train facing this The other important thing that I have to say is that way when they are fixing it, even assembling of trains you will understand that Mahalapye is the home for should be done in Mahalapye. Because I … Botswana Railways (BR), so you will hear me talking about it, as well as the Minister that side. There is a MR SPEAKER: Honourable Tshere, I would like to major issue that the BR is talking about, as a very senior call the Honourable Members to order about something. resident for that matter in Mahalapye, regarding the Honourable Members, as much as you can, avoid taking train workshop… the Clerks from their tables, please! I can see that there is direct communication with the Clerks from the floor, HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… that is wrong. MR TSHERE: Yes, let me give you a minute, I will… HONOURABLE MEMBER: It is not allowed. MR MOATLHODI: Point of elucidation. I thank you MR SPEAKER: It is not allowed, because they are Mr Speaker, you will realise that I am augmenting the busy here. Please let us not do that. debates by seeking points of elucidation. I thank you Honourable Member for Mahalapye West, I agree with MR TSHERE: Thank you Mr Speaker. As I continue, you word for word, comma for comma, regarding the there is an issue about BR, about the commuter train... lamentations of the people of your constituency, may God help you, may He strengthen you so that we MINISTER OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, may reach where we are going. I would like to give a SPORT AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT (MR suggestion that there is a Disaster Management Unit at RAKGARE): Point of procedure. Thank you Mr the Office of the President (OP), and it has more than Speaker. I doubt we are in procedure. The Honourable enough funds. Go to your constituency and get the Member has thanked Honourable Mzwinila for water, Village Development Committee (VDC), Kgosi and the he is talking about the BR Transport, and so forth, but it Honourable Councillor and go to OP and submit this is not part of Chapter 5. Please ask him to come back on petition, and request that this department should attend track Mr Speaker. I thank you. to the cry in Mahalapye. I beseech you Honourable HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… Minister Morwaeng, do not look at me like that, instead MR SPEAKER: Please wait, you now want to start a agree with me on this point so that we can assist fracas…(Laughter!)… Honourable Tshere. May God help you to achieve this my brother. HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)…

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MR SPEAKER: Honourable Tshere, please continue p.m. Now that it is time up, I shall call upon the Leader with your debate and avoid being irrelevant. Please, can of the House to pass a Motion of adjournment. you observe the Standing Orders. MOTION MR TSHERE: Thank you Mr Speaker, I am so relevant... ADJOURNMENT

MR MOATLHODI: Point of procedure. I thank you LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): Mr Mr Speaker. Standing Order 43.1 allows Honourable Speaker, I now move that this House do now adjourn. Tshere to say what he is saying at personal explanation, Question put and agreed to. that covers him adequately, word for word, comma for comma. I thank you sir. The Assembly accordingly adjourned at 6:48 p.m. until Wednesday 2nd September, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. MR SPEAKER: Honourable Moatlhodi, if you are reading in context, let me read the whole of it so that we can understand it. Standing Order 43.1...

HONOURABLE MEMBER: ...(Inaudible)...

MR SPEAKER: No, you must read it in totality, to have a total meaning of it. It says, “with the leave of the Speaker, a Member may make a personal explanation,” “may,” with the leave of the Speaker, he has not actually asked for any leave from the Speaker.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: He apologises.

MR SPEAKER: “Although there is no question before the Assembly, but no controversial matter may be brought forward nor may debate arise upon the explanation. The terms of the proposed statement shall be submitted in full to the Speaker when his or her leave to make it is sought.” So he has not sought for leave, but I think I ruled on it, so now you are bringing a new issue. I had said since Honourable Rakgare was saying he is being irrelevant, I asked him to please come back because sometimes when one is debating, they are tempted to go outside the line because they want to make personal explanations, but come back sir, come back Honourable Member.

MR TSHERE: Thank you Honourable Speaker. Here I am advocating for the people of Mahalapye, Honourable Rakgare is just slobbering because he is not advocating for the people of Mogoditshane. So we have long waited for Mahalapye Rail Park Mall before Gaborone Rail Park was built. I said that Mahalapye is home for Botswana Railways. Mahalapye Rail Park Mall is still not being built.

Commuter Train…

MR SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable Member. I almost made a mistake because of you. It is now 18:43

Hansard No198 59 HANSARD RECORDERS Mr. T. Gaodumelwe, Mr T. Monakwe, Ms T. D. Kebonang HANSARD REPORTERS Mr M. Buti, Ms Z. Molemi, Mr J. Samunzala, Ms N. Selebogo, Ms A. Ramadi, Ms D. Thibedi, Ms G. Baotsi, Ms N. Mokoka

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

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

60 Hansard No 198