BOTSWANA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
N O T I C E P A P E R
(TUESDAY 15TH DECEMBER, 2020)
NOTICE OF QUESTIONS
(FOR ORAL ANSWER ON FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER, 2020)
1. MR. S. J. BROOKS, MP. (KGALAGADI SOUTH): To ask the Minister of (174) Health and Wellness to state:
(i) the maternal mortality rates in the Kgalagadi South Constituency per year and of those who were referred to Princess Marina Hospital from Tsabong Primary Hospital;
(ii) what are the common causes of maternal mortalities; and
(iii) what happens to the affected babies during these unfortunate incidents.
2. MR. B. MATHOOTHE, MP. (SEROWE NORTH): To ask the Minister of (175) Transport and Communications:
(i) if he is aware of the airfield plot that is allocated to Civil Aviation Authority Botswana (CAAB) between Serowe and Palapye; and
(ii) when the Ministry will start construction of infrastructural developments on the airfield.
3. MR. M. REATILE, MP. (JWANENG-MABUTSANE): To ask the Minister of (176) Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism to state:
(i) how much revenue has been lost during the COVID-19 era so far in the tourism sector and in particular in Jwaneng– Mabutsane including closure of businesses and job losses;
(ii) the types of tourists enterprises affected; and
(iii) how many of the enterprises are citizen owned and what short and long term mitigation plans are being put in place to cushion the already poor Jwaneng-Mabutsane communities from the effects of COVID-19 and other future disasters.
1 4. MR. T. LETSHOLO, MP. (KANYE NORTH): To ask the Minister of Health (177) and Wellness if he does not consider digitisation as a key area for consideration in health service delivery and to further state:
(i) what innovations have been introduced since COVID-19 considering the inappropriateness of overcrowding, including the delivery of medication to patients; and
(ii) how Government is leveraging technology to access specialists and to deliver specialist surgical procedures remotely.
5. MR. O. RAMOGAPI, MP. (PALAPYE): To ask the Minister of Local (178) Government and Rural Development to apprise this Honourable House on 'Bogosi jwa Palapye' stating:
(i) all the vacant posts in Palapye from Senior Tribal Authority up to Headman of Arbitration;
(ii) why it takes long time to fill the vacant posts even where there is no dispute;
(iii) when the Minister will ensure that the vacant posts are filled.
6. MS. T. MONNAKGOTLA, MP. (KGALAGADI NORTH): To ask the Minister (179) of Finance and Economic Development if he will consider constructing a Border Post at Kaa between Botswana and Namibia which will be of economic benefit to the people of Kgalagadi.
7. MR. A. LESASO, MP. (SHOSHONG): To ask the Minister of Agricultural (180) Development and Food Security to state:
(i) how many young dairy farmers have been funded in the Shoshong, Serowe, Mahalapye, Palapye area;
(ii) how many of the projects are successful;
(iii) how many are selling milk to the Serowe milk processing plant;
(iv) whether this is not an opportunity to create youth employment through value chain in dairy farming.
8. MR. M. REATILE, MP. (JWANENG-MABUTSANE): To ask the Minister of (181) Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism to apprise this Honourable House on the position with the sengaparile plant:
(i) whether it has any known medicinal value and how much of it is harvested in the Jwaneng–Mabutsane area;
2 (ii) how much revenue it brings to the communities where it is found;
(iii) what efforts are being made to assist local harvesters and herbalists to create sustainable livelihoods such as patenting indigenous knowledge and selling it as well as producing and processing to bring in better income;
(iv) whether there are any graduates in Botswana and in particular from the Jwaneng-Mabutsane Constituency that have been identified that can assist Government in this regard to improve and turn around the fortunes of the Region.
9. MR. T. LETSHOLO, MP. (KANYE NORTH): To ask the Minister of (182) Transport and Communications if the design for the road between Kgomokasitwa and Tshweneyagae was ever done, years ago, by another Ministry, or the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in particular, and handed over to Ministry of Transport and Communications; and also:
(i) how much was spent on the design and will the design still be relevant whenever implementation will be done;
(ii) how much in total, and on an annual basis, has been spent on grading and maintaining the current road since the completion of the design to date.
10. MR. O. RAMOGAPI, MP. (PALAPYE): To ask the Minister of Local (183) Government and Rural Development to explain the importance of role of Customary Court of Appeal Members and state the following:
(i) independence of the Customary Court of Appeal;
(ii) the allowance Members get per sitting;
(iii) reporting structure of the Customary Court of Appeal;
(iv) who appoints the Members of the Customary Court of Appeal;
(v) if there is no need to have a Committie that recommends appointment of Customary Court of Appeal nominated Members.
11. MR. A. LESASO, MP. (SHOSHONG): To ask the Minister of Agricultural (184) Development and Food Security:
(i) how much is the milk demand in Botswana per day;
(ii) how much of the domestic market is supplied by local suppliers;
3 (iii) how much is imported; and
(iv) what is Government doing to close the gap and ensure self sufficiency.
12. DR. U. DOW, MP. (SPECIALLY ELECTED): To ask the Minister of Health (185) and Wellness:
(i) what constitutes grave endangerment to a woman’s mental health to justify the termination of pregnancy;
(ii) whether, regard being had to the availability of medical doctors, the current law on abortion is not more paper than substance;
(iii) how many women, during the year 2018, received pregnancy termination services and how many were in Gaborone, Kgalagadi, Chobe and Bobonong;
(iv) whether there are any plans to curb “baby dumping” cases by providing for anonymous leaving of babies and unwanted babies at places such as police stations and churches.
13. MR. D. L. KEORAPETSE, MP. (SELEBI PHIKWE WEST): To ask the Minister (186) of Basic Education if he is aware of the performance of Selebi Phikwe Primary Schools in the last 5-10 years and if so, the Minister to illustrate this performance per schools; and further state:
(i) the number of teachers per school promoted (not progression) in the past 5-10 years;
(ii) if the promotions policy is linked to results and if promotions of Selibe Phikwe teachers is commensurate with their performance in terms of examination results;
(iii) if he realises that lack of promotions for teachers of best performing schools could demoralise teachers with undesirable consequences.
14. MR. G. KEKGONEGILE, MP. (MAUN EAST): To ask the Minister of (187) Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development to brief this Honourable House on measures taken to improve Security Guards’ working conditions and protect their workplace rights and further state:
(i) total number of workers employed by Security Companies;
(ii) number of Security Guards’ grievances/cases pending in different Labour Departments;
(iii) the number involving severance benefits, unpaid leaves and none wage increments out of the pending cases.
4 15. MR. F. T. LEUWE, MP. (TAKATOKWANE): To ask the Minister of (188) Agricultural Development and Food Security if he is aware that the Brand certificate and Keeper Id’s expiry dates are different, if so, can they both be given the same expiry dates.
16. MR. T. B. LUCAS, MP. (BOBONONG): To ask the Minister of Health and (189) Wellness to update this Honourable House on the geographic spread of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) bases in the country and state:
(i) if such bases are equitably spread out in the country and if not, what he intends to do to remedy the situation;
(ii) if there are any immediate plans to establish EMS bases in Ghanzi, Tsabong and Shakawe;
(iii) if the Minister has any plans to acquire air support services (helicopter) to assist EMS operations to save lives; and
(iv) how much was incurred in the past five (5) years in hiring air support service (helicopters) from private emergency medical service providers.
17. DR. K. GOBOTSWANG, MP. (SEFHARE-RAMOKGONAMI): To ask the (190) Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security to update this Honourable House if there is a Government Policy on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs):
(i) if so, when was it published; and
(ii) if not, to explain whether there are any plans to have one in place and the timelines.
18. MR. W. B. MMOLOTSI, MP. (FRANCISTOWN SOUTH): To ask the Minister (191) of Health and Wellness to state the following:
(i) patient:doctor ratio at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital against international best practice;
(ii) nurse:patient ratio at the Hospital against international best practice; and
(iii) the length of time it takes at Nyangabgwe for patients requiring the services of specialists such as gynaecologists to be assisted.
19. MR. C. GREEFF, MP. (GABORONE BONNINGTON SOUTH): To ask the (192) Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry to state:
(i) how many non-citizen owned companies operate in the country; (ii) how many of them pay tax;
5 (iii) how many pay their employees’ salaries according to the Government set standards; and does the Ministry find it fit to reconsider reserving some of the businesses they operate for locals only especially those at the level of small Economic Services.
20. MR. D. SALESHANDO, MP. (MAUN WEST): To ask the Minister of (193) Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism to state the total number of international tourists that have used Maun Airport as their port of entry on their way into the Okavango Delta in the past three (3) years; the Minister should state the percentage of the arrivals that lodged in Maun before proceeding to the Delta or on their return.
21. MR. O. REGOENG, MP. (MOLEPOLOLE NORTH): To ask the Minister of (194) Health and Wellness to state:
(i) the number of nurses who lost their jobs as a result of the 2011 Public Service Strike;
(ii) how many have been re-instated to-date;
(iii) did those re-instated get what accrued to them during the period they were not at work; if not, why not.
22. MR. M. G. J. MOTSAMAI, MP. (GHANZI SOUTH): To ask the Minister of (195) Infrastructure and Housing Development what they intend to do with old Colonial Structures in the whole country since they attract criminals.
23. MR. D. TSHERE, MP. (MAHALAPYE WEST): To ask Minister of Local (196) Government and Rural Development to state whether or not he is considering or reviewing and increasing the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and Village Development Committee (VDC) allowances from once-off sitting allowance to monthly allowance to reflect the continuous nature of their engagement.
24. MR. S. N. MOABI, MP. (TATI WEST): To ask the Minister of Basic (197) Education when the Ministry intends to adopt to the Revised National Policy on Education.
25. MR. M. M. PULE, MP. (MOCHUDI EAST): To ask the Minister for (198) Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration if he is aware that investigations done under the Poverty Eradication Programme on “Fish Farming in Rural and Peri-Urban Areas of Botswana (HAND-BOOK/MANUAL)” have established that the soils around the Kgatleng area, particularly along the river villages of Mabalane, Sikwane, Mmathubudukwane, Ramonaka, Malolwane and Oliphants Drift are the most suitable for development of large scale fishery programme involving horticulture and other value chain fishery activities like processing for export, locally and
6 internationally, if so, can he update this Honourable House on timelines for development of same to address the high unemployment in the Region/Country as well as Economic Diversification Drive (EDD).
26. MR. P. MAJAGA, MP. (NATA-GWETA): To ask the Minister of (199) Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism to consider changing the policy where by tourists drive themselves when they access Chobe National Park; and to further state:
(i) if the Minister cannot consider assigning local tour operators to perform this activity;
(ii) when will the Ministry impose strict regulations so that there will be no access to National Parks without professional vehicles;
(iii) that the Ministry consider big companies in the tourism industry to support small companies by giving them activities;
(iv) if the Minister will consider collecting and monitoring bed levy funds to Batswana on behalf of the Government; and
(v) the Ministry to regulate the number of vehicles and boats owned by big companies in the tourism industry.
27. MR. J. L. THIITE, MP. (GHANZI NORTH): To ask the Minister of Land (200) Management, Water and Sanitation Services:
(i) if he is aware that allocation of a portion of land named GH10/11 was unceremoniously halted;
(ii) if the halt will not worsen the grazing pastures in Ghanzi District which have been under pressure for years due to recurring drought;
(iii) when will these farms be allocated; and
(iv) how many cattle ranches, small stock agricultural holdings, water points and game ranches will be availed.
28. DR. N. TSHABANG, MP. (NKANGE): To ask the Minister of Transport (201) and Communications to update this Honourable House on the status of Tutume-Maitengwe road and to further state:
(i) the lifespan of the road;
(ii) why resealing was preferred over reconstruction; and
(iii) the current state of the resealing and why construction is on a start-stop mode.
7 29. MR. K. C. HIKUAMA, MP. (NGAMI): To ask the Minister of Environment, (202) Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism to explain to this Honourable House the five (5) reserved concessions in the Okavango Delta to be allocated to 100 percent citizen owned companies, consortia and joint-venture partnerships; as stated on page 23 of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2020 by His Excellency the President of Botswana to specifically explain and state:
(i) the five (5) concessions; and
(ii) the criteria/formula that has been or to be followed in allocating the concessions.
30. DR. U. DOW, MP. (SPECIALLY ELECTED): To ask the Minister of Defence, (203) Justice and Security:
(i) how many men have ever been prosecuted as co-accused persons in “baby dumping” cases and if none, whether he considers a man who is aware that he has made a woman pregnant to have any obligations, including the legal obligation to care for the baby, upon its birth; and
(ii) what legal reforms he considers necessary to extend the obligation to care for a new born to the father of the same, thereby ensuring that the obligation does not rest with only one parent, the mother.
31. MR. S. J. BROOKS, MP. (KGALAGADI SOUTH): To ask the Minister of (204) Transport and Communications to state the following:
(i) when will the Ministry reconstruct Tsabong-Kokotsha road since it is in a bad state;
(ii) when will construction of the following roads commence;
(a) Mmathethe – Werda via Hereford; (b) Motopi – Makalamabedi; and (c) Tsabong – Maleshe.
32. MR. G. KEKGONEGILE, MP. (MAUN EAST): To ask Minister of Finance (205) and Economic Development if he is aware that award of tenders to lowest bidders in the Security Sector compromises quality of service and breeds continuous conflict between employee and employer; and to further clarify:
(i) if the Ministry has any intentions of engaging Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) to change the assessment criteria on the Security Sector;
(ii) if the current assessment criteria makes it compulsory for bidders to be considerate of possible minimum wage increments over the contract years; and
8 (iii) if the current assessment criteria makes it compulsory for bidders to include relief guards package and severance pay benefits in their bids.
33. MR. D. L. KEORAPETSE, MP. (SELEBI PHIKWE WEST): To ask the Minister (206) of Basic Education if he is aware of the performance of Selebi Phikwe Junior Secondary Schools in the last 5-10 years and if yes to illustrate this performance per school, especially top 10 countrywide in the last 10 years; the Minister should further state:
(i) the number of teachers per school promoted (not progression) in the past 5-10 years;
(ii) if promotions policy is linked to results and if promotions of Selibe Phikwe teachers is commensurate with their performance in terms of examination results; and
(iii) if he is aware that lack of promotions for teachers in best performing schools could demoralise teachers with undesirable consequences.
NOTICE OF TABLING OF A PAPER
(FOR WEDNESDAY 16TH DECEMBER, 2020)
Botswana Unified Revenue Service Annual Report, 2019.
(Minister of Finance and Economic Development)
(FOR WEDNESDAY 16TH DECEMBER, 2020)
PERSONAL EXPLANATION BY HON. DR. K. GOBOTSWANG, MP. (SEFHARE-RAMOKGONAMI)
NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF GOVERNMENT BILLS
(FOR WEDNESDAY 16TH DECEMBER, 2020)
1. Ntlo ya Dikgosi (Salaries and An Act to amend the Ntlo ya Dikgosi Allowances) (Amendment) Bill, (Salaries and Allowances) Act. 2020 (Bill No. 28 of 2020)
(Published on 11th December, 2020)
(Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration)
2. Judicial Services (Amendment) An Act to amend the Judicial Service Bill, 2020 (Bill No. 29 of 2020) Act.
(Published on 11th December, 2020)
(Minister of Defence, Justice and Security)
9 3. Specified Offices (Salaries and An Act to amend the Specified Offices Allowances) (Amendment) Bill, (Salaries and Allowances) Act. 2020 (Bill No. 30 of 2020)
(Published on 11th December, 2020)
(Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration)
NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS TO BE MOVED AT COMMITTEE
Sexual Offenders Registry Bill, An Act to make provision for the 2020 (Bill No. 22 of 2020) establishment of a sexual offenders register and a Sexual Offenders Inter- sectoral Council and for matters connected therewith.
(Published on 16th September, 2020)
(Minister of Defence, Justice and Security)
AMENDMENTS
1. Clause 2 appearing on Page B.157 is amended by substituting for the definitions of “targeted institution” and “vulnerable person” appearing therein, the following new definitions –
““targeted means a person, health facility (Including hospital), institution” business, entity or trade which –
(a) has a vulnerable person in his, her or its care; or
(b) provides a service to a vulnerable person; and
“vulnerable person” means a child, person with disability, a hospitalised person, or a person who has attained the age of 60 and above.”.
2. Clause 5 appearing on Page B.158 is amended by substituting for subsection (1) appearing therein, the following new subsection –
“(1) A person who has been convicted of a sexual offence in Botswana or outside Botswana shall disclose such conviction to a prospective or existing employer in an institution, entity or trade that has vulnerable persons in its care or that provides service to such persons, upon applying for employment or within 7 days or within a reasonable time after his or her application for employment.”.
(Mr. T. Letsholo, MP. – Kanye North)
10 3. Clause 6 appearing on Page B.159 is amended by substituting for section 6, the following new section
“Registration of sexual 6. (i) A person who has been convicted offenders entering Botswana of a sexual offence outside Botswana and whose particulars appear in an official sexual offenders in any foreign jurisdiction shall disclose such conviction to an authorised officer immediately upon entry into Botswana.
(2) An authorised officer shall immediately alert the Court Clerk or Registrar of the High Court through a system, established and maintained by the Minister in consultation with the Minister responsible for immigration, for informing the relevant authorities about a sexual offender entering Botswana.
(3) The Court Clerk or Registrar of the High Court shall immediately forward particulars of such person to the Commissioner of Police, who shall enter the particulars in the Register.
(4) A person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding P200 000 or to improvement for a term not exceeding five years, or to both.
(Minister of Defence, Justice and Security)
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