THE SECOND MEETING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT MONDAY 15 MARCH 2021

ENGLISH VERSION HANSARD NO: 201 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. (Molepolole South) - Administration

Hon. K. T. Mmusi, MP. (Gabane-Mmankgodi) - 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. (Mogoditshane) - 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. (Lentsweletau-Mmopane) - 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 (Botswana Democratic Party) Hon. L. Kablay, MP. (Government Whip) Letlhakeng-Lephephe Hon. Dr U. Dow, MP. Specially Elected 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. Takatokwane 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. Thamaga-Kumakwane Hon. O. Regoeng, MP. Molepolole North Hon. J. L. Thiite, MP. Ghanzi North Hon. P. P. P. Moatlhodi, MP. Tonota Hon. A. Lesaso, MP. Shoshong OPPOSITION (Umbrella for Democratic Change) Hon. D. Saleshando, MP. (Leader of the Opposition) Maun West Hon. M. G. J. Motsamai, MP. (Opposition Whip) Ghanzi South 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. T. B. Lucas, MP. Bobonong Hon. K. Nkawana, MP. Selebi Phikwe East Hon. O. Ramogapi, MP. Palapye Hon. Dr N. Tshabang, MP. Nkange Hon. D. Tshere, MP. Mahalapye West Hon. M. I. Moswaane, MP. Francistown West (Botswana Patriotic Front) Hon. T. S. Khama, MP. Serowe West Hon. L. Lesedi, MP. Serowe South Hon. B. Mathoothe, MP. Serowe North Hon. M. Reatile, MP. Jwaneng-Mabutsane (Alliance for Progressives) Hon. W. B. Mmolotsi, MP. Francistown South TABLE OF CONTENTS THE SECOND MEETING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT MONDAY 15th MARCH, 2021

CONTENTS PAGE (S) QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER...... 1-7

QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE...... 8-9

Appropriation (2021/2022) Bill, 2021 (No. 2 Of 2021) Organisation 0600 - Ministry Of Basic Education Committee of Supply (Resumed Debate)...... 10-19 Organisation 2700 – Ministry Of Tertiary Education, Research, Science And Technology Committee of Supply...... 20-37

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Monday 15th March, 2021 (i) when the appointment of the Senior Sub-tribal Authority in Tutume will be done; THE ASSEMBLY met at 2:00 p. m. (ii) contract renewals for Magapatona and Mabuwe (THE SPEAKER in the Chair) Headmen of Arbitration and Nkange Village P R A Y E R S Headman of Records; and

* * * * (iii) the appointments of Goshwe and Changate villages Headmen of Records and the Thini Headman of QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER Arbitration.

MR SPEAKER (MR SKELEMANI): Good afternoon ASSISTANT MINISTER OF LOCAL Honourable Members. Let us start today’s business with GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT questions. (MR MODUKANELE): Thank you Mr Speaker. Let me also thank Honourable Member of Parliament AMOUNT SPENT ON PRIVATE HOSPITALS Tshabang for the question.

MR C. GREEFF (GABORONE BONNINGTON (i) Mr Speaker, the position for Senior Sub-tribal SOUTH): asked the Minister of Health and Wellness: Authority at Tutume should be filled very soon. Let me point out that, we are dealing with this (i) to update this Honourable House on the amount issue, and after we are satisfied with certain things spent so far on patients referred to Bokamoso here and there, we will respond to it as soon as Private Hospital, Gaborone Private Hospital and possible. the Republic of South Africa; What I am talking about Mr Speaker, is similar to the (ii) when Government will have its own radiotherapy issue of the Headmen of Arbitration at Magapatona machine; and which is one of the issues we are assessing and very soon, we would have filled it. (iii) whether apart from assisting cancer patients with chemotherapy, it is not high time they have a clinic (ii) Let me indicate that, as the Member of Parliament specifically for cancer patients, like the ones for has asked about the issues of Mabuwe and th diabetic and hypertension patients at Block 6 in Nkange, they were filled on the 5 February 2021 Gaborone. Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Minister of Health and Wellness! (iii) The issue of Goshwe; let me indicate that, consultations were held at the Kgotla as required HONOURABLE MEMBER: … (Inaudible) … by the law, but after that some of the people of Goshwe were suspicious that these consultations HONOURABLE MEMBER: Are you asleep. were not conducted accordingly. So, we are MR SPEAKER: It seems so. going to carry out those consultations again when the COVID-19 protocols allow. We indicated a HONOURABLE MEMBER: Should he not be few days ago that, we are not able to have these assisted with technology? consultations because according to the Bogosi Act, they have to be held in the Kgotla. We do not MR SPEAKER: We saw him, so we do not know what need 50 people, the Act says if it is Goshwe, then his problem is. Let us move on, I hope he will come the tribe of Goshwe should be at the Kgotla. As back quickly. we know that COVID-19 protocols allow only 50 APPOINTMENT OF HEADMEN IN THE people to be in attendance, this makes it difficult NKANGE CONSTITUENCY to for have those consultations to be held.

DR N. TSHABANG (NKANGE): asked the Minister With regards to the Headman of Changate, we are in the of Local Government and Rural Development to update process of filling it. As the Honourable Member knows, this Honourable House on: the sister was acting for the Headman, but now he is

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back home, and what is left is for us to verify and then can expeditiously so that these positions are filled and the Minister issues a letter. I think that one is clear. we are through with them.

Mr Speaker, let me thank you and also thank Honourable MR SPEAKER: Honourable Motaosane. Dr Tshabang for the questions. Thank you Mr Speaker. DR TSHABANG: Mr Speaker, there is the issue of DR TSHABANG: Thank you Mr Speaker. With regards Thini. to the issue of Goshwe and Sub-Tribal Authority, you have long told the people to wait, even today you are MR MODUKANELE: I apologise for the issue of still saying you will do it very soon and that is what you Thini Mr Speaker, but we are also going to work on it have been telling people. So let us put a definite date like swiftly as we did with the Magapatona one. I am not you did with the issue of Mabuwe and Nkange because denying that we took long Honourable Member, but let me ask you to take my word for it; we are going to do they have been taking long, even before COVID-19, our best to fill them as soon as possible. they already took years. MR MOTAOSANE: Supplementary. Thank you Mr On the issue of Goshwe which you said they were Speaker. Minister, I have heard your answer, but the some complains, my query is, why did you take long concern whereby issues take long, consultations also to resolve it? It was still like this a year or so before take long to the extent of exceeding two to three years, COVID-19. I think that the goodwill to solve it is not do you think this is a good thing? Are we doing justice there. So, do you not think you are delaying people with to the people in that area? that issue? The second one; among the questions that were asked You left the other one of Thini at (iii) you did not answer by Honourable Tshabang, I have a similar issue in it properly. I did not hear you and I do not know why Kumakwane, we have long requested for Kgosi to have you left it out. Thank you Mr Speaker. an assistant. When Kgosi Seboni is not around, there is no one to assist him, so we have long asked for that MR MODUKANELE: Thank you Mr Speaker. Let position to be filled.Lletters have been written and you me thank Honourable Member for the supplementary do not even respond to them, at least to say, ‘we have questions. Let me admit that the issue of Goshwe not found a suitable candidate to fill that position’ or just took long. What I want to indicate is that, issues of to issue an acknowledgement of receipt of the letter. I Chieftainship really need to be handled with utmost thank you Honourable Minister. care. I admit that maybe it was caught by COVID-19 due to the delay which was caused by the fact that, we are MR MODUKANELE: Let me thank you Honourable compelled together with the Minister as the appointing Member of Parliament for Thamaga, Honourable authority, to be satisfied that the consultations went Motaosane. The one regarding Kumakwane, the well before he issues the letters. If they did not go well, letters have reached us, it is indeed true. If there was it ends up taking even longer because others will not no acknowledgment given, I do apologise Honourable be available, and sometimes these issues end up at the Member. The issue of Kumakwane is delayed by the fact Courts Mr Speaker. I do not want to present things as if I that, right now there is no post, but we shall consider am hiding something. I want to promise the Honourable your request Mr Motaosane. Member that, we are going to do everything we possibly The first one you mentioned, where you asked whether could to address these issues, if the situation permits, we do not see that it is not good, it is true, we accept we will conclude the issue of Goshwe. Mr Speaker. As I have said, the solution to it is for us to The issue of Magapatona, Senior Tribal and Senior expedite the process. I believe no matter what kind of Chief representative of Tutume, I have also admitted words you may use, the truth is expediting to ensure that them and I think that Honourable Member of Parliament they are addressed. I thank you Mr Speaker. heard himself; even though he said I should set a date, REHABILITATION OF THE RAILWAY LINE let me request not to set a date Honourable Member FENCE because like I am saying, these issues take long for consultations to be made, so I do not want us to set a MR B. MATHOOTHE (SEROWE NORTH): asked date. Let me assure you that, we will do everything we the Minister of Transport and Communications when he

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will consider rehabilitating the fence along the railway (i) to update this Honourable House on the amount line from Palapye to Serule as the current one is in a spent so far on patients referred to Bokamoso bad state. Private Hospital, Gaborone Private Hospital and the Republic of South Africa; MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS (MR SEGOKGO): I thank (ii) when Government will have its own radiotherapy you Mr Speaker. machine; and

Mr Speaker, I know the situation concerning the fence (iii) whether apart from assisting patients with along the railway line between Palapye and Serule, my chemotherapy, it is not high time they have clinic ministry in conjunction with the Botswana Railways specifically for cancer patients, like the ones for (BR), is in the process of rehabilitating the fence. We diabetic and hypertension patients at Block 6 in Gaborone. will however be guided by the availability of funds to be able to embark on that exercise. The project is ongoing ASSISTANT MINISTER OF HEALTH AND as we speak, on the other side of the fence between WELLNESS (MR LELATISITSWE): Thank you Mr Palapye and Serule. The length of the whole fence is 74 Speaker. Mr Speaker, considering the question from the kilometres (km) and there is already a portion we are Honourable Member for Gaborone Bonnington South, working on. Honourable Greeff, he did not specify, so I assumed that he requires the latest figures of the year 2020/2021. Mr Speaker, let me reiterate that, in 2005, BR removed These are the ones I will give him. the barbed wire that was there, and replaced it with the veld span, which is stock-proof, and there was a lot of (i) How much did the Government use to take patients vandalism on that fence which has affected the quality to private hospitals? of the fence. I thank you Mr Speaker. • Bokamoso Private Hospital - P155,396,548.38 MR MATHOOTHE: Supplementary. Thank you Mr Speaker. I just wanted the Minster to specifically mention • Gaborone Private Hospital - P 92,920,822.46 those areas from Palapye to Serule because there are • Sidilega Private Hospital - P 45,834,307.75 some places which do not have a fence completely, like Lechana and Topisi, where the people’s cattle are • Republic of South Africa - P 21,599,384.63 currently being killed by the train. That is for financial year 2020/2021, starting April 2020, MR SEGOKGO: Mr Speaker, I might not mention those up to 8 February 2021. places specifically by name as he has been saying, but I can use what BR uses for the rail line. There are signs (ii) Mr Speaker, the Government has a plan to have that they use. What I can say is that, the maintenance has radio therapy machines, the ones we have at Sir already started between 320 and 339, between Palapye Ketumile Masire are not currently in use. We are and Serule. It involves removing grass, shrubs, trees waiting for the hospital to be officially opened. It and so forth. It is a 4 kilometre stretch that we have is in our plan that in the coming financial year… already worked on, and as I have been saying, we are (Inaudible)…then all the items at Sir Ketumile repairing the fence, and the whole stretch is 74 km. As I would be utilised Mr Speaker. We are having have explained, we have started working on it. For us to talks Mr Speaker because Sir Ketumile is the only be able to complete this whole project, we need funds one that can save us from these issues because the amounting to P103 million, somewhere there. machines are already there.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you very much Honourable (iii) Mr Speaker, we do not have any plan as a ministry Segokgo. Honourable Lelatisitswe, can you answer to create a facility which is specifically for Question number 1. cancer. In Botswana, there is a unit in some of our hospitals, where the cancer patients are taken AMOUNT SPENT ON PRIVATE HOSPITALS care of. In Botswana, we have placed them taking MR C. GREEFF (GABORONE BONNINGTON into consideration the population and the distance SOUTH): asked the Minister of Health and Wellness: between facilities. In Government we have a unit

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where they are assisted at Marina, Nyangabgwe, are going to re-construct this staffroom because the Sekgoma and Letsholathebe. place where the burnt staffroom was constructed is too crowded and there is no space hence we are relocating Having said that Mr Speaker, we acknowledge the it. I believe that the Honourable Member is going to be concern raised by the Honourable Member and we will happy with this answer. We are going to construct it this factor that envisaged improvement in our Universal year with a budget amounting to P8.5 million. Thank Healthcare programme Mr Speaker. Thank you. you.

MR GREEFF: Thank you Honourable Speaker. Thank MR TSHERE: Thank you Honourable Speaker. I am you Honourable Minister. I think that the Minister happy with the answer. should explain to us where Batswana who currently need the radiotherapy machine get assistance? He PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES should also tell us, what the waiting period is for one to get assistance, if at all there is a place where they get the MR P. K. MOTAOSANE (THAMAGA- assistance either in South Africa or in some hospitals in KUMAKWANE): asked the Minister of Environment, Botswana? Since you pointed out that the radiotherapy Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism: machine is in Sir Ketumile but it has never operated, (i) to brief this Honourable House on the vehicles where do people who need that assistance get it? that were purchased by her ministry and parked MR LELATISITSWE: Thank you so much Mr at the Special Support Group (SSG) Camp and if Speaker. I believe that regarding the issue that the procurement procedures were followed; Honourable Member is raising, when our patients (ii) to state the tender number and date; require this in Gaborone. Where I am now, I do not have the waiting period as to how long these patients have (iii) whether the vehicles were ever used and if not, to wait. Honourable Members, I believe that we will why not; and answer that one if it can be tabled as a straightforward question because it is quite clear. (iv) to state the cost of vehicles.

HECTARES RESERVED FOR THE YOUTH MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND TOURISM MR S. N. MOABI (TATI WEST): asked the Minister of (MS KERENG): Thank you Mr Speaker. I would Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development also like to greet this Honourable House. Thank you how much land in hectares is reserved for the youth in Honourable Motaosane for that answer. Honourable, the North East District for Agro business. vehicles which you are talking about are not parked at Special Support Group (SSG) camp like you highlighted. Later Date. These vehicles are parked at the Department of Wildlife MADIBA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL and National Parks supplies warehouse near SSG camp. STAFF ROOM Maybe there was an error there.

MR D. TSHERE (MAHALAPYE WEST): asked the These vehicles were purchased for the ministry in Minister of Basic Education to update this Honourable order to try and improve our services, to protect people House on progress regarding the re-construction of against wildlife, to look after wildlife and also to protect the staff room/administration block at Madiba Senior them. Those vehicles were purchased at Germany from Secondary School in Mahalapye. a company whose name I am not able to pronounce but I will just say from the company called FWW MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION (MR Fahrzeugwerk GmBH, in Germany. MOLAO): Thank you Mr Speaker. In short, my ministry managed to secure funding for the 2021/2022 financial Mr Speaker, these vehicles were 45 and comprised of year, P8.5 million budget for the re-construction of Mercedes Benz GD250 as patrol vehicles which go Madiba staffroom and also to construct staff parking around patrolling and attending to the challenges we area. I can briefly answer the question which is asked experience out there as a ministry. There were also by the Honourable Member by highlighting that, we Mercedes Benz vehicles which are fuel tankers and already secured the budget and the location where we others which are water bowsers. There are some vehicles

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which transport officers, troop carriers that carry people carrying out investigations as I just pointed out that the going for war or going to attend to challenges. There documentation is not satisfactory. are ambulances, bus and mobile workshops which are going to be used to repair vehicles in the bush, using The Honourable Member asked about the tender cars which have all the tools inside them. Those vehicles number and date of procurement of these vehicles; the also comprise of mobile kitchens and recovery trailers vehicles were procured during 2015-16 financial year as which are going to attend to accidents. Those are the per contract N0, MTC- DWNP 2000 /8 /1 VII (16) 2015 purchased vehicles Honourable. – 2016 for supply and delivery of specialized used field vehicles and equipment for the Department of Wildlife The Honourable Member also asked if procurement and National Parks. procedures were followed when purchasing those The last point was whether the vehicles were ever used, vehicles. Honourable, I will fail to confidently answer Mr Speaker, it appears that some of these vehicles have if procurement procedures were indeed followed. The never been used ever since they arrived. Majority of the challenge that is there is that, there is no satisfactory used vehicles were initially used at Matopi, Nkange and documentation that explained or justified the direct Gweta for wildlife control. Later the fleet was deployed procurement of those vehicles as well as the challenges to Kgalagadi and Chobe Districts for anti – poaching which were experienced. From the records that we activities. The main challenge was this pre-owned have, there is no information or justification that it was fleet had multiple faults and their parts could only be necessary to procure second hand vehicles, as I pointed acquired abroad. There is also an issue of delays and out earlier that they are second hand vehicles. There is no funds which basically means that, it is going to be costly justification that they had to buy vehicles of that model for these vehicles to be back on the road. Currently, only and that indeed it was appropriate to buy them from a 10 of the 45 vehicles are active. country as far as Germany, and if there were no suitable In conclusion Mr Speaker, we took a decision to have cars in Botswana or in our region to purchase instead those vehicles boarded since their maintenance cost of procuring vehicles from far a country, considering is very high and some were very old sour plan is to issues of maintenance. There is no documentation that procure proper vehicles. shows us if this procedure allowed direct procurement, whereby even the procurement process which is Lastly, these vehicles were procured at an amount of approved by Public Procurement and Asset Disposal USD 1 431 000.00. Thank you Mr Speaker. Board (PPADB) states that you can purchase goods or services from a company or the person providing those MR SPEAKER: Honourable Motaosane. services without putting them in a competition. You can ...(Inaudible)… be able to write that you want a certain service and the HONOURABLE MEMBER: Honourable Speaker? person who you will be buying from does not administer it as a tender which should be competed for. MR SPEAKER: There is your answer.

As I highlighted, there is no information from the MR MOTAOSANE: Yes Sir. available documentations, to show that those vehicles were suitable for us and that they correspond with the Mr Speaker, I heard the Honourable Minister and I am challenges that we have this side, roads and all other also going to request that answer in writing because I conditions that they were going to operate on and if think I need to resubmit some new questions concerning we checked whether there are no vehicles of that kind these vehicles. locally and in our region. Honourable Minister, right now we are decrying Mr Speaker, let me point out that, due to the huge shortage of funds and yet you need to procure vehicles challenges that we had about these vehicles, the ministry as people out there are calling you for assistance and came to a decision that it would be best to go forward the response they get is, there is no transport. Out of and investigate many questions which arose from the these 45 vehicles, only 10 are active. Is that not putting procurements of these vehicles, and I will highlight the Government under pressure given our financial status? challenges that we have. I would like to point out that, Right now we want funds to assist with the current Covid the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime is pandemic . Do you not think that maladministration and

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spending these huge funds led to Government being villages closer to the city, is sold mostly to foreign financially constrained? So, you need to state who nationals at an alarming rate. authorised direct procurement of these vehicles. Thank you Mr Speaker. (ii) Mr Speaker, the transfer of land rights is a Constitutional right and it accrues to any Motswana MS KERENG: Thank you Honourable Member. I will who wishes to transfer their land. However, answer you and will receive questions from anyone who customary land rights are by law reserved for can assist us in this matter. Batswana only.

We are aware of the impacts of shortage of vehicles However, these rights are registerable once converted generally as I normally receive questions and from customary to common law through the issuance complaints that we are unable to respond to reports of of a lease. Common law rights can consequently be damages done by wild animals and other challenges transferred to Botswana registered companies that out there. Sometimes they are there, it is just that they have break downs along the way which hinders have a citizen majority shareholding, that is 51 per them to provide timely and efficient service. Another cent shareholding and above. This can be done without challenge Honourable Member is that, we have this seeking consent from the Minister; unlike with non- fleet of vehicles which are not active and it is hard to citizens or non-citizen majority shareholding companies convince Dr Matsheka to procure vehicles under the that desire to acquire tribal land in Botswana who have circumstances. As a ministry, we are already making to seek consent from the Minister in the particular case. preparations to ensure that procurements are legal and have been adequately assessed to choose the right It has been observed that after these transfers, Batswana method of procurement. Honourable Member, direct shareholders either resign or assume a significantly procurement also has its processes which at this moment lower shareholding stake in these companies, effectively we cannot confirm if they were observed. transferring their land rights to majority shareholders The report I have, shows that the direct procurement who usually are non-citizens. came as a direct order from the then Minister. Thank These transitions in ownership, circumvent legislation you Mr Speaker. that dictates that foreigners cannot own tribal land MR SPEAKER: I think we should go ahead. without the Minister’s consent and my Ministry finds itself in an unenviable position, as culprits apply HONOURABLE MEMBER: Which Minister? legislation domiciled in a different ministry for this purpose. MR SPEAKER: She said, the then Minister, what do you not understand? In light of the above challenges, my Ministry enacted HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Laughter!)… in 2018, the new Tribal Land Act, which at Section 33 (1) (c) provides that, “the rights conferred upon any SELLING OF LAND TO FOREIGN NATIONALS person in respect of any grant or lease of any tribal land whether made under or in accordance with the Act, or MR M. M. PULE (MOCHUDI EAST): asked the made prior to the coming into operation of the Act, shall Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation not, without the consent of the land board concerned, be Services if he is aware that land in the Mochudi East the subject of the following transactions which include; Constituency, especially in villages closer to the city, is transfer of that property without the land board being sold mostly to foreign nationals at an alarming rate; if informed about changes in the shareholding of that so, what does his Ministry intend to do to manage and company.” In other words Mr Speaker, the transfer control this state of affairs. of land through the sale of shares of a company that MINISTER OF LAND MANAGEMENT, WATER owns tribal land will, once the new Tribal Land Act is AND SANITATION SERVICES (MR MZWINILA): commenced, require the consent of the respective land Thank you Mr Speaker. board, unlike at the present moment. Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) will be legally (i) We have not ...(Inaudible)... reports that land entitled to require proof of consent of the land board in the Mochudi East constituency especially in before registering the transfer of shares.

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Mr Speaker, I intend to commence the new Tribal Land MR M. REATILE (JWANENG-MABUTSANE): Act imminently, however, in the meantime, I encourage asked the Minister of Health and Wellness: Batswana not to disempower themselves through these transfers but rather consider leasing instead of outright (i) to update this Honourable House on the disease transfers to foreigners. burden in the country especially;

In addition, we had cases where it was alleged that (a) cancer; land was being transferred to foreigners, but upon (b) diabetes; our investigations, it was found that the concerned individuals were not foreigners but naturalised (c) other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Batswana. I thank you Mr Speaker. order of burden;

MR PULE: Supplementary. Thank you Mr Speaker. (ii) what is the mortality rate of these diseases in I appreciate the Minister’s response. Maybe I am the Botswana; one who does not understand some things because I am (iii) to state the common causes of these diseases; and wondering if this is happening, as a Minister, is it not time to release a team of experts from your ministry (iv) what is Botswana’s strategy to address these to go and investigate if the people who own land in diseases, and whether it is effective. Mochudi East, especially at Matebeleng, Oodi up to ASSISTANT MINISTER OF HEALTH AND Dikwididi are really Batswana. I understand you but WELLNESS (MR LELATISITSWE): Thank you so the complaints I always receive when I hold meetings much Mr Speaker. The answer is too long. Can I request with Batswana whose land is repossessed and old that I share it with the Honourable Member? women who are cheated out of their land, maybe the time has come Minister for you to also go and conduct MR SPEAKER: Noted, it is fine. You can summarise and share it with the Honourable Member. your investigations and be sure as to whether these plots belong to Batswana or some are in the hands of MR LELATISITSWE: Thank you Mr Speaker… foreigners. We are not enquiring for ourselves, when (inaudible)… we go around the village we are told that a certain plot has been sold to someone else and another field sold to (i) Cancer; 1 400 diagnosed per year; diabetes, 6 so and so who are not residents. Honourable Minister, per cent are male adults aged 15 to 69 years. As do you not think it is important to conduct your own far as Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are investigations in this matter? concerned, we are dealing with hypertension, stroke, and heart attack. Among those, the order of MR MZWINILA: Thank you Mr Speaker. Like I burden is led by hypertension which accounts for 23 mentioned, we conducted those investigations because per cent among adults aged 15 to 69 years. this is not the first time we hear this. In one ofthe investigations, we found that people do not understand (ii) Mr Speaker, the mortality rate of the diseases in that those people who were said to be foreigners are Botswana is as follows; actually naturalised Batswana and we have seen their (a) NCDs are responsible for 46 per cent of deaths in Omang. Botswana.

Another thing I explained is, at the beginning they apply (b) Deaths due to the four main NCDs are: for a plot as a citizen owned company. As time goes on they change the shareholding and foreigners come in. • cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, stroke, It is difficult to prevent this at this moment as I earlier and heart attack – 18 per cent; explained. A decision was made to amend the Tribal • cancer – 7 per cent; Land Act to have a system in place that can prevent this process. Once the new Tribal Land Act commences, we • diabetes – 6 per cent; will be able to put a stop to this. Thank you Honourable. • chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma – 4 per NCDS IN BOTSWANA cent.

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(c) Deaths due to other NCDs such as chronic kidney unfortunate because I could not hear Mr Speaker. I diseases, mental illness, diseases of neurological do not know the kind of bandwidth that Honourable and musculoskeletal system are 11 per cent. is using because if he was a leader of this ministry, it would make sense. (iii) Mr Speaker, in general, the common risk factors associated with NCDs can be classified in three Mr Speaker, the issue that I wanted the Honourable categories; … (inaudible)… behavioural and Minister to assist me with is that, the mortality will socioeconomic. Of these, the four behavioural advice us on the intervention that you intend to come risks that were identified by the World Health up with as a comprehensive plan. Reasons being, my Organisation (WHO) are termed lifestyle factors. belief concerning layman is that, our challenge in terms Those are unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, of the mortality rate that we have as a result of NCDs is tobacco consumption, and harmful use of alcohol. the waiting period for patients to see specialists. So can Evidence shows that two thirds of NCDs burden you tell this House the waiting period for a patient to on deaths are linked to the modifiable behavioural see a specialist; how long do they take? Can you tell us risks such as unhealthy behaviours. the turnaround time Honourable Minister? I thank you Honourable Speaker. (iv) Mr Speaker, the country’s effort to address NCDs is (inaudible)… strategy for the prevention and MR LELATISITSWE: Thank you so much Mr Speaker. control of the NCDs 2018-2023 strategy. The I did not anticipate that question Mr Speaker, that we strategy’s mission is to reduce the burden of are going to talk about waiting periods. The thing is, we NCDs and their modifiable risk … (inaudible)… have many kinds of NCDs like hypertension, diabetes ... evidence-based and cost effective approaches for the four priority areas that have been identified as MR SPEAKER: Honourable Minister, if you cannot anchors. Those priority areas are aligned with the answer the question, that is okay. Honourable Members, World Behavioural Action Plan for the prevention let us pass on to Question without Notice. and control of NCDs. These include prevention and QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE health promotion; early detection, quality treatment, care and support; monitoring, surveillance and COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON research; governance … (inaudible)... CHURCHES

Mr Speaker, effective execution is going to require a MR M. G. J. MOTSAMAI (GHANZI SOUTH): considerable and complementary effort by all officials, asked the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance members of the public, as well as firm leadership, and Public Administration to explain the rationale including from this August House, in so far as resource for COVID-19 restrictions imposed on churches in and other enabling support, is concerned. The support particular 50 people for physical attendance, the two we need will include the implementation of Integrated days in a week prayer gatherings, and the two hours Community Based Health Services Strategy, … length of time; the Minister should specifically state and (inaudible)… started disseminating to the general public explain: and was shared with all of you Honourable Members in (i) why the number was decreased to 50, whilst November, 2020. The strategy involves working with many churches have huge carrying capacities, and variety of partners such as World Health Organisation the rationale given that buses for instance, carry (WHO), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), bigger numbers for longer periods of time; United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), The Centre (ii) challenges faced by churches resulting from these tough measures; and for Disease Control (CDC), the benefiting communities, Dikgosi, among many partners …(inaudible)… Mr (iii) the sorts of consultations between Government Speaker, I thank you. and church organisations on the restrictions and on how best the matter can be handled. MR SPEAKER: Honourable Reatile, there is a problem at Health. Honourable Reatile? MINISTER FOR PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS, GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC MR REATILE: Thank you Mr Speaker. It is very ADMINISTRATION (MR MORWAENG): Let

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me start by thanking you Mr Speaker, and also thank church organisations. We realise and acknowledge the Honourable Motsamai for his question. significance of consultation and bringing new ideas.

Mr Speaker, let me start highlighting that Government In conclusion Mr Speaker, let me admit that, there is no generally take religious matters seriously. We consult decision which can please everyone at the same time with leaders from different religions in Botswana from more especially since it impedes people’s freedom which time to time. Moreover, not long ago, they were the first they have been given by the Constitution of this country. ones to take action when the President asked the nation Therefore, our plea is, let us all accept that the priority is to pray for COVID-19 on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays to save our people’s health and lives. That is to sacrifice and Sundays. All the leaders from different religious certain things in the nation at large including different denominations started leading this programme which faith-based communities. Thank you Mr Speaker. was broadcasted live on Botswana Television (BTV) and Radio Botswana. MR MOTSAMAI: Supplementary. Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister’s attempt to answer the question although Moreover, different religions are also members of the answer is weak. Mr Speaker, can the Minister confirm our Task Force who a leading in our fight against that they consult all religious organisations or they they COVID-19. This is the evidence and testimony to the only consult certain churches? The questions we are fact that indeed, Government highly regards different asking here Mr Speaker are from the churches, they religious denominations. Moving on, the decision to have expressed concern about the lack of consultation. decrease the number to 50 was made looking at the When was the last time they consulted churches in the increase of COVID-19 cases in Botswana as a whole in regions? When was the last time they announced that January 2021. Some of the things that we also looked at they will consider the submitted suggestions? when making this decision are as follows: Lastly Mr Speaker, there is an issue that…Are you · gatherings generally increase the spread, this aware that at the shops there are no restrictions imposed usually happen when people who know each other meet regarding the number of people who can be allowed to especially at religious gatherings; enter grocery shops and others like bars? Will he dispute · on another note, public transport is usually the statement I am about to make , there are restrictions used by people who do not know each other, that alone imposed on churches because they do not own them encourages them to take precautions thus, avoiding the so they lifted restrictions where they benefit from Mr spread of the virus; Speaker?

· we also considered our capability in terms Mr Speaker, he stated that numerous church activities containing the spread of the virus. have been suspended and this is the time when the church should be assisting by strengthening the mental It is not an easy decision because people’s lives are and spiritual well being of people more especially those affected. We have to acknowledge that saving the lives affected by the virus. …Some people do not die because of people is a priority however ,we will continue to see they tested positive, they die because of their mental how we can enforce more safety measures in public well being and the way they are treated in quarantines transportation. Mr Speaker. What is their view regarding this situation? What have they offered the church so that it can meet We acknowledge that church and faith in general is the these kind of people Mr Speaker? backbone in behavioral change and the fight against COVID-19. Church builds human character therefore HONOURABLE MEMBER: You are now debating. decreasing the numbers has reduced the role of the church in this aspect. MR MOTSAMAI: Thank you Mr Speaker. Do not take chances, you will get burnt. Secondly the church itself has been affected because they need certain numbers for them to carry out their MR MORWAENG: Thank you Mr Speaker. First let mandate. Nonetheless Mr Speaker, we should all realise me indicate that the church is not closed, it is running that decreasing numbers is not a punishment to the faith and executing its mandate, the only restriction imposed community. The Government will continue to consult is numbers.

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Secondly, let me refute the Honourable Member’s claim Mmolotsi was on the floor and was left with one minute that the church is oppressed, it is not true. The church is 24 seconds. not oppressed, as I indicated that there are consultations between the Government and church organisations. MR MMOLOTSI (FRANCISTOWN SOUTH): Thank you Mr Chairperson. I take it that the Minister Let me indicate that, the organisations which currently has heard, I had actually concluded my deliberations. I sit in the Task Force is the Organisation of African thank you… Instituted Churches (OAIC) led by Bishop Motlhagodi. This organisation encompass all churches in Botswana. ASSISTANT MINISTER OF YOUTH There is an organisation called Evangelical Fellowship EMPOWERMENT, SPORT AND CULTURE of Botswana (EFB), which encompass a lot of churches, DEVELOPMENT (MR BILLY): Thank you Mr there is also Botswana Council of Churches (BCC) Chairperson. I support the Minister of Basic Education, which also encompass some churches …(Inaudible)… Honourable Molao. I support him because education is an organisation which encompass faith communities is important in a person’s upbringing as it provides such as Hindu, Muslim, Islam and other churches. them with skills, it makes them understand things that We are not consulting individual churches like Pastor can make them survive and have a good relationship Motsamai’s church there. No! We consult church with people and the environment they are living in. organisations which are also part of the Task Force. Education can also reduce poverty as one can use These are the organisations which lead prayers. So there education to make a living. That is not all, it reduces the are consultations in place there is no oppression as you differences that are caused by lack of understanding of allude Honourable. some concepts because of being uneducated. My wish is that we should take education very serious. Lastly as a little piece of advice; it is better to consult these organisations first before noticing questions and Honourable Members we should understand that, we Motions of this nature so that they furnish you with have been talking and we continuing to talk a lot about information because you will find that the issues asked a knowledge-based economy, and the fundamental here are on the table, we are consulting them, just like retirement is that people can use education to find jobs or last week, I was with these organisations. There are create jobs. When you have those skills, you can be able ongoing consultations as I speak but the priority is to to make a living with things around your environment save our people’s lives in our country. Thank you Mr like I have just explained. For good education to be Speaker. realised, it has to be manageable, there should be strategies of education or systems that can produce HONOURABLE MEMBER: I am raising my hand. what is needed by the market. When the market says we need people with certain expertise, we should know MR SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Minister. We that when we introduce subjects, we do that looking at have run out of time. We move to Committee of Supply. the market needs in Botswana and the world at large. ASSEMBLY IN COMMITTEE People from Botswana should work outside the country and boost the economy of Botswana, because when they (CHAIRPERSON in the Chair) earn salaries outside, the investments they make are normally in their native countries or Botswana. APPROPRIATION (2021/2022) BILL, 2021 (NO. 2 OF 2021) Mr Chairperson, as I explained, education boosts the economy of the country. It is important to ascertain ORGANISATION 0600 - MINISTRY OF whether our education system where a lot funds are BASIC EDUCATION injected, produces skills that are needed by this country. (Resumed Debate) We should come up with ways to ensure that, the students we have currently, are provided with skills that MR CHAIRPERSON (MR SKELEMANI): Order! this country needs, which we call upskilling. That is Honourable Members, the debate is resuming. I shall very important in sustaining our economy so that we can call upon the Minister to reply to the debate at 15:20 have significant changes. We can do those things if we today, and the question will be put at 15:50 hours today. have quality assurance; we intend to produce students When the House adjourned last Thursday, Honourable who can be able to compete with other students globally

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and that will give us the assurance that our education is that I liked very much that, in primary schools every focused on the skills that are needed, because if we are teacher should have a minimum qualification of a only going to have students who are only marketable in diploma. We should know that that requirement is Botswana then that will be a setback. supposed to change everytime and we will now require that at primary school level, every teacher should have With regards to the resources, it seems like everytime a minimum qualification of a Masters’ Degree. We can when we do our budget, the Ministry of Education gets only be successful in education if we improve what we the largest share of the budget. Even worldwide, over 90 have, which is the skills of teachers so that they can take percent of the budget is spent on the education sector. education where it is supposed to be. Even if you can look at the education sector all over the world, you will find that it spends a lot of money, We still have a shortage of books in our schools. There over 90 per cent of the budget goes to education, and it is lot of shortage of science and maths books, which are is used to pay recurrent costs. We should monitor that the two main subjects. Our students are not doing well in carefully, so that we can figure out if we are getting the maths and science but we still have students who share results or the outcome we need. We should ensure that if text books whereas these subjects are very important in you respond, it is in line with the results we get. If it is our country. not in line with the results we are getting then, we have to find what is causing that, so that we do not spend a lot At primary schools Mr Chairperson, you will find that a of funds whereas the results do not reflect that we are senior teacher for students with learning difficulties is using huge funds. on that post whereas they are not trained for that field. Here we are talking about students who need remedial If you look at the results of students a currently you lessons. We should employ teachers who are trained, will realise that, they are going down. The schools that who specialise in offering remedial lessons. From used to do well are no longer doing well. I know some Standard 1 to Standard 4 there should be a teacher who people will blame COVID-19 for the poor results, but is trained to teach students who need remedial lessons because the development of children is different. we should also consider why those that were doing well You will find that children are the same age but their were outclassed by those that were not doing well. If grasping of information is different, the other one will you look at our education system, you will find that be slow, maybe because of their brain development or other regions are going up while others are going down the way they understand things is slow.. We should also and one wonders what causes that? That is caused by consider that in that way. the fact that, we are not careful that, what we want to achieve is in line with gaining what we want. If you can We have also been seeing challenges that a senior look at the performance of Masunga Senior Secondary teacher for guidance in primary schools is dealing with School from the past years, you will find that, it has 800 pupils. When you go to secondary schools, you performed exceptionally well which indicates that, this will find out that the role of a guidance teacher is just region is more serious than other regions. That shows to guide the students,. This other one on the other hand that we need to have a monitoring system, where we is dealing with 800 student and also having a class, monitor whether those who provide education or the they are teaching. We have to know the importance stakeholders in the education system take education of guidance in improving the performance of students seriously. Stakeholders in education may be private because when the students are given guidance as to how companies, government, teachers and students. they should behave, they…

I understand Mr Chairperson that, we have challenges MR CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Honourable where you will find that there is a shortage of teachers Minister. You time is up. in schools. Even though there is shortage of teachers in schools at the moment, we continue to engage MR BOKO (MAHALAPYE EAST): Thank you temporary teachers. This system of temporary teachers Mr Chairperson. I appreciate your giving me the should be applied where it is really necessary. What we opportunity to comment on these issues of education. should do is employ permanent teachers. If you look at Mr Chairperson, it appears and it is quite evident that our schools, you will realise that, there is need for the there are problems in our primary schools in Botswana, teachers to be trained. Recently there was a requirement which fall under a ministry led by Honourable Fidelis

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Molao. I am saying this because I have already toured for COVID-19. These poor teachers, who do not earn all the areas in my constituency, and there is no school much, had no idea where to put them. There are no that I have not had an opportunity to visit. I found them buildings. Those which are there are dilapidated Mr in a very dismal state. I will try to speak the truth without Chairperson, they are not suitable for students to be mincing it. I found very embarrassing situations. If other taught in. countries were to see what is happening in our schools, they would condemn it vehemently. Honourable Minister, let us take these issues seriously if we want to improve our education. We should make Mr Chairperson, I found some students being taught sure that schools are provided with the basics. It is very outside. As they are taught outside like this, they do not embarrassing for a junior or a primary school not to even have blackboards for the teacher to write on or the have chalk, a teacher having to go out to the shops to chalk boards if you may. There is this other piece of go and buy chalk so that they would be able to teach paper, I am not sure if you know it Mr Chairperson, I am because they have a desire to produce Ministers and not sure if it was there during your time when you went lawyers from amongst these students… to school a long time ago, it is called manila. Sometimes they use this manila paper to write on it or draw MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Moatlhodi is diagrams on it as teaching aids. Two student would hold asking for clarification. this manila sheet; the other one on this side, the other MR BOKO: Just a second botate (Honourable one on the other side and that is how learning goes in Moatlhodi). There is not enough time. our schools. The teacher would be there, pointing at the manila, at whatever he or she would be teaching these MR MOATLHODI: I thank you Mr Chairperson. students, it means these two who would be holding the I thank you Honourable Member of Parliament for manila sheet would not be able to see anything. They do Mahalapye East. Although I can hear the painful this because there are no blackboards or chalk boards. statements you are uttering, do you not think a time has This situation is very embarrassing. I would like to say come for us to lament to the parents saying to them, for once the Minister should take these issues seriously “parents, here are the children, they do not have enough and address them. resources. They have to hold on to manila sheets. Is it not important for us to raise funds for our children?” I visited some schools and they told me that they did not That is to say, there should be a fund where parents even have bostik, they do not have crayons. I will try can contribute some funds to, which the teachers could to use the language used in schools. They do not have source from and buy resources such as manila and even dusters Mr Chairperson. It is very embarrassing that these black boards, rather than having a heart-breaking these teachers who are not even well paid, actually our situation you are talking about. I thank you Honourable teachers at primary, junior and at senior schools are not Member. paid well. They are literally volunteers; they work for free, there is nothing they are getting. At the end of the MR BOKO: Thank you Honourable Pono Moatlhodi. month when you look at their payslips, you will not find I hear you. Your words would hold even more water anything much or the little that will be there would not if when we told you last time that the old age pension afford them to do anything. You can imagine a teacher should be increased to P1,500.00, you agreed that wishing they could buy certain things for the students, indeed it should be P1,500.00. By the way, parents to because some teachers have a desire to do so. these kids come from the house of Lazarus; they do not come from the house of Job, as it is known Honourable I went to one village called Makwate…and Shakwe. I Members. Therefore, those of us who come from had passed through my former school, Xhosa Primary the house of Lazarus know that a parent can fail to School where I did my Standard 1 up to Standard contribute P200 as a fundraising contribution at school. 7, it is much better comparatively. I went to schools Most of the people in my constituency or those in like Kudumatse and Mookane. In the past few weeks, many constituencies come from the house of Lazarus. one Friday when Parliament adjourned at 12:30 p.m. Therefore, sometimes Members of Parliament do not I rushed to Mookane Junior School. I found a dismal understand a number of things because most of them situation there. It was even more heart-breaking because grew up in the house of Job. They fail to understand that there were about 50 students there who tested positive parents do not have money.

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Yes, Honourable P.P.P. I believe next time we will Nkate amongst others, but it was a bit better. Minister, come up with a Motion to say the parents should also do not listen to these utterances as if we are just talking have their pensions increased, so that they would be politics. We are actually telling the truth, unwavering able to assist with issues that affect these school going truth. Wake up, see to it that these things are provided. children. Not only that, even the workers should have their salaries increased. The salaries that people are Members of Parliament have to assist but my thinking is earning, they cannot afford to share it with Government that, when I go to a school, I have to assist where there in taking care of students in schools. The Government is lack here and there, not having to assist all schools. has a responsibility to ensure that students are taught in They end up lamenting to us all the time, saying we a conducive environment. If it is a serious Government, should pop out money from our pockets. We do so. which pays attention to detail, these things have to I always end up popping money for my household, be easy for them. It is very embarrassing to come to because I respect education very much. I saw education a school and one is told, ‘for this whole week we had making me who I am; it took me from where I was in no chalk.” What is that? It is very shameful to go to the miry clay, and placed me where I am. So Minister, a school and you are told, “We spent this whole week I would like to see those children elevating from where without markers to write for students on these white they are to where I am and that is why I visit all the boards.” That is very embarrassing. It shows that the schools in my constituency. You should visit schools Minister and those he is working with, do not take these in...(Interruption)…it is evident that you do not even issues seriously Mr Chairperson. visit schools. Thank you.

During my time when I was still attending school, it MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION (MR was far much better. I could see that there was not much MOLAO): Thank you Mr Chairperson. How much of a shortage for those things, they were plenty; chalk, time do I have Mr Chairperson? black boards were available. The current Government, although it is still the same, it shows that it keeps MR CHAIRPERSON: Thirty minutes. deteriorating. Sometimes I get shocked because even MR MOLAO: Thank you Mr Chairperson. Let me when Batswana see that people are not doing what point out that I requested a budget amounting to Nine they are supposed to do; why are they still clinging to Billion, Five Hundred and Twenty-Four Million, Three them, voting them back into Government? That is very Hundred and Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy shameful. In any case, I do not want to delve deep into Pula (P9.524.302,570) for Recurrent Budget, and One politics. Billion, Six Hundred and Ten Million (P1 610 000 000) I would like to say, Minister awaken yourself. I am for Development Budget. I would like to point out that disappointed by what I saw in the schools I visited. when a person looks at the weight of this budget, he or When I arrived, the poor people turned into beggars. she can think that it is a lot of money. When you look Are you amused by seeing Batswana as beggars? They at Ministry of Basic Education, the total number of our would say, “Hey, Honourable Member of Parliament, staff is close to 40 000, but almost 80 per cent of this please assist us with a chalk board, help us with this…” budget goes to salaries of officers under this ministry or These things are embarrassing. A school should not find Recurrent Budget which means that only about 20 per itself in a state of being a beggar. These things should cent is left for developments. be provided. They should be available at all times. I Maybe I should just highlight the issue that if funds wonder what the main problem is. were enough, we could be able to execute some of the Honourable Minister, I humbly request you before the things that the Honourable Members are requesting. Speaker that we should develop schools back in our I will start with the last one, you will understand that constituencies. Let us develop our primary schools. Let there are shortages in our schools. Maybe I should just us make sure that they have everything that they need so refer in passing that like Honourable Boko was saying, that we could have better academic results. The reason even though he was fuming like this, and yes he has a why results are deteriorating like this…during our time right to be angry that there are shortages of resources they were much better, but now they are collapsing. The in schools, but to a certain degree, his anger proved reason is that even the Ministers seem not to be serious that he does not know that infrastructure and resources with what they are doing. I was there during the time of of primary schools are provided by Ministry of Local

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Government and Rural Development. Maybe if he had repeating what Honourable Member has said, there is no knowledge, he could have not been as angry as he was, point of order like that. uttering statements which he was uttering. MR MOLAO: Thank you Mr Chairperson. You will I believe that whenever there are shortages, they continue to educate and I believe that they will one day should be addressed in order to eliminate them so that grasp that knowledge. education can improve. It is not right and I believe that it What I was saying is that, when we talk about our issues is irresponsible for Members of Parliament to stand here as leaders, we should encourage parents to contribute the and say, parents do not have any responsibility and that little that they are asked to contribute at schools. Every the Government should do everything. I am shocked time when children complete their studies, parents call and I am wondering what kind of leadership we have and say, ‘my child has an outstanding balance, I have here whereby we can just stand here and say that parents never paid PTA fees;’ but these fees are little, someone should not take any responsibility when it comes to can just contribute P10 or P20 throughout the year. their children’s education and saying that that child P1 throughout, during the course of the year. Even in is the responsibility of the Government. Honourable schools, it is never announced that when someone is Boko, this is being irresponsible. We are not supposed supposed to pay P100 PTA fee for example, he or she to do that as leaders, we have to encourage parents and should pay the whole P100 on that day, he or she is different stakeholders so that they join forces with the allowed to pay it in bits and pieces. We have a small Government when it comes to their children’s education. amount which is being paid, 5 per cent which some The Government cannot do everything alone; there are people refer to as school fees at our junior and senior shortages. So we have to encourage parents that the little schools; P300 per annum. Parents are also requested to that they are asked to contribute, Parents and Teachers pay P20, P10 up until it adds up to P300. Sometimes we Association (PTA) fees which are requested from them have instances whereby a parent would not pay school when children start school are not that much. fees from the time his or her children start Form 1, Form 2, Form 3, without even contributing a mere P10 and DR GOBOTSWANG: On a point of procedure. when that child completes his or her studies, it will then Mr Chairperson, I was saying that even though the seem like it is a lot of money which he or she cannot Honourable Minister is offended by the disheartening afford to pay. situations of Mahalapye East, he should not impute improper motives on the Honourable Member and say I encourage parents to contribute whatever amount that he said that parents should completely not take part they find. As leaders, we should endorse co-operation in their children’s education. Honourable Chairperson, between parents and the Government when it comes to that statement was not uttered, but I do not know if the supporting our children’s education with everything that Honourable Minister can provide evidence that proves we can. If we can say that the Government is supposed that that statement was uttered or otherwise withdraw to do everything, we will be telling parents to relax and that statement. Thank you Mr Chairperson. not take part in their children’s education. We did not say that parents should go and construct classrooms, MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Dr Gobotswang, we cannot do that; we do not expect parents to go and that is not a procedure, you are correcting him. There is construct classroom or teacher’s quarters, those will not nothing procedural about that. be appropriate considerations. we are saying that the MR MOTSAMAI: On a point of order. Mr little money that they can find, they should go and pay Chairperson, I would like to enlighten the Minister PTA fees and assist or co-operate with the Government that during Honourable Boko’s debate, he said ‘when I when it comes to issues which involve their children’s visit schools, I should find them in a good condition so education so that their children can have a bright future. that I can offer little assistance, not instances whereby I would like to emphasis those few words. teachers will look at me and say there is no chalk, table, MR BOKO: On a point of order. You will guide me classroom.’ Mr Chairperson if this is a point of order. I get upset HONOURABLE MEMBER: ...(Laughter!)... when I realise that the Honourable Minister wants to impute improper motives on me, and that he wants to MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Motsamai, you are turn people against me when he says that I said that

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parents should not offer assistance. Mr Chairperson, I that and it happened because we had a problem with was explaining that most of our parents are poor, the the contractor awarded that project. Then there were Honourable Minister grew up in riches so he does not regulations which were put in place on how the contract know these issues. I said that we should not assign them can be terminated when the contractor is failing to do huge responsibilities; to assist on issues pertaining to the project. That has delayed dealing with the issue of education. Parents do assist because they are humans, Maiteko but we are working on it. We are still dealing they know that they have to do something about their with termination of contract so that we can find another childrens’ education. You do not have to tell them, they company which can take over and complete this project. do. Whether you tell them or you do not tell them, they Sometimes Batswana companies are awarded a contract know what they are supposed to do. I was saying that and do what they did at Maiteko. At the moment, we are the Government should put more effort so that parents delayed by the process of termination of the contract. do not lead it, the Government should lead parents and I am aware of the situation at Maiteko because I went do something. So these things Honourable Minister... there in one of the official trips I make to schools. I am aware of that Honourable Member and we will continue MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Boko, I am still working on it. listening for a point of order. There is shortage of accommodation and classrooms MR BOKO: I was saying he is out of order if he wants at Molongwa boarding facility like you said. We are to put words in my mouth which are not true. The reason attending to that one as well and already we have a plan why the Ministry of Education is failing is because they of increasing boarding houses at Molongwa. Botswana have this kind of Ministers who never want to tell the Housing Corporation (BHC) will also assist us with truth. teachers’ accommodation. We are on it.

MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Member, Kgosimpe at Jwaneng needs classroom, kitchen, multi- Honourable Motsamai and Honourable Dr Gobotswang purpose hall and construction of a laboratory. We are tried that and I said that there is no order in what you are going ahead with it, we are going to build boys and girls saying. You are correcting him. If the interpretation of toilets and extend the kitchen at Kgosimpe. This has been what he said, shows that he is making people lose faith an ongoing project for 2021/2022. We are looking at in you, I can understand that but it does not put us out increasing the number of classrooms with prefabricated of order. classrooms during 2021/2022 at Kgosimpe.

MR BOKO: It is wrong. He talked about transferring teachers to work closer to their families. Although we wish to do that, it is not as MR CHAIRPERSON: It may be wrong but you cannot easy as we might think. Firstly, it is a challenge since order... teachers are around 38,000. These are issues where sometimes we have some families staying together in MR BOKO: A whole Minister? Jesus! or around Gaborone and there is one for instance at MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Molao! Maiteko in Mabutsane, who has been there for 10, 15 or 20 years. So, sometimes these transfers are done in MR MOLAO: Mr Chairperson, the only response response to overstays because sometimes people think is, that is the story of our lives. Let me respond to since they stay with their families in Gaborone, it means Honourable Reatile since he was the first to debate. He they are now no longer transferrable. Then the thing talked about schools in his constituency which are in is, those in far off places like Kgalagadi, Maun and need of infrastructure, although infrastructure is not our Okavango also wish to come closer to Gaborone and Francistown. So, these transfers sometimes are to avoid core mandate but there are some ways where we work overstays and allow them to work in different areas. So, with the Ministry of Infrastructure. We also work with that arrangement will have some complaining that they the Department of Technical Services (DTS). There is have been separated with their spouses. Sometimes we need to have developments which can help in hastening have cases… the building of our infrastructure so that schools are in good condition. In Maiteko at Mabutsane, it is true MR CHAIRPERSON: …(Inaudible)… clarification. that there are houses which were built and it has now been seven years with no progress. We are aware of MR MOLAO: Pardon?

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MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Kekgonegile is Honourable Lesedi, I hear you, I was trying to answer asking for clarification. without skipping those who debated. Do not be impatient Honourable Member, the likes of Mothamo will also get MR MOLAO: He should be quick. Please do not something. I will explain further on them next time. At debate Honourable Member. the end of our budget session, as you can see that some MR KEKGONEGILE: Clarification. Thank you Ministers have been going to the television to share Minister. Briefly Minister, although you have not this budget with the nation, we are going to give more touched on this issue yet; the number of grants issued to details in terms of what we are targeting this year. So I attend mission schools is very small. The likes of Maun can assure you that you are also going to be included Senior are struggling. What is your view on it? Is the Honourable. Recurrent Budget going to assist us so that this year we So I will now talk about … I was still discussing the do not encounter this challenge? issue of transfers, that it is quite difficult for us. We are The second one is on multiple pathways that, are you trying to transfer people to where their families live but introducing it as another way of progression or the it is not possible to do that at our desired rate. Some old process used for promotion is not relevant to the of them are transferred for health reasons, a situation subjects? In the tourism sector of multiple pathways of where we transfer them to areas that have facilities like Maun Senior, you have employed more teachers than hospitals based on the kind of diseases that they have. hospitality and tourism personnel. Honourable Minister, This kind of transfer also has challenges because we are you need to look into these things. Thank you. expected to transfer someone who lives there to cater for the sick. So it is quite a challenge but we are working on MR MOLAO: Thank you Honourable. I believe some it. I thought to summarise it in that manner. are advises that we need to consider. Our aim is to work with the industry where students who pursue that, for We also have the issue of water shortage in schools. We example Maun; hotels near the school, such as Maun collaborate with Honourable Mzwinila’s ministry such Lodge and others, we are in consultation to find out that in a situation where we have a cluster of villages how best to do this. Even the teachers taken to pathways which are experiencing water shortage, they can assist schools, we were trying to attach those that have some us with their bowsers to at least bowse schools. We are relevant training to what they will be teaching. They aware that they are making great efforts but they are not are also given some crash courses that will enable them enough. We also got few bowsers to rectify where there to teach this and they will continue to be trained going is shortage. On that note, we will continue to collaborate forward. with Honourable Mzwinila’s ministry so that they may bowse our schools, especially boarding schools. MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Minister, there is someone with a procedure. Honourable Kwape also responded by appreciating our efforts and we will continue to do that. Regarding primary MR LESEDI: Procedure. Thank you Mr Chairperson. schools, he mentioned that we should do something I do not think it is procedural for the Minister to cite about Kgwakgwe primary. We collaborate with the examples of schools which have been mentioned while Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development we did not get the opportunity to debate because it now as they are the ones who bring about infrastructure in our primary schools while we chip in when it comes to appears as if we are being side-lined. He could just teaching or learning. We collaborate with Honourable respond in general terms for all schools with shortage of accommodation, especially where the students are Molale on that. I must highlight that we did not include boarding. Thank you Mr Chairperson. schools in National Development Plan (NDP) 11 which we are working on. So we keep expanding some of MR CHAIRPERSON: No, you should have asked for them to increase classrooms. I believe we will try to clarification. It is not procedure. collaborate with others in our next NDP and ask for expansion of schools in areas that villages are expanding MR MOLAO: Thank you Mr Chairperson. Mission towards. In this manner, we will be able to rectify the schools’ grants, it is true Honourable that grants are not situation where some learners cover a distance of seven enough. It is something that we are assessing with them kilometres or 10 kilometres before arriving at schools to find how we can help each other going forward. like it is the case at Honourable Regoeng’s constituency.

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Maintenance Honourable Regoeng; we are expecting mentioned that learners attend lessons in outdoor areas. maintenance of schools like Tshegetsang and So teaching space is one of the things that we are going Motswasele in 2021/2022. We are also intending to to prioritise in the 2021/2022 budget. Our top priority directly hand money to schools like Kgari Sechele and is going to be laboratories so that we may manage to others so that they can do minor maintenance since we reduce the number of learners who attend lessons in did not manage to source funds for major maintenance. outdoor areas. We must understand that when we got in to the COVID-19 era… our learners were crowding in As Honourable Lesedi mentioned, we have tried to classes. A situation where we had 50 or 60 learners in a rectify issues that we have in a few schools that we classroom and so on and so forth. So as precautionary have in different constituencies of different Honourable measures to fight against COVID-19, we were compelled Members within the budget that we have. I cannot to divide those classes of 60 into two. We know that we manage to list these schools because of time but we cannot afford to build more classrooms in a short space have managed to cover some of the schools in areas like of time. That is why we have some learners who attend North East, Central, Kgatleng, Kweneng, South East, outdoor lessons in some instances. In some instances, Southern, North West and Kgalagadi. we also have a programme where learners attend lessons MR CHAIRPERSON: …(Inaudible)…Your neighbour through shifting in schools; some come in the morning Moatlhodi wants clarification. while others come in the afternoon. This is one of the measures that we took to reduce the number of learners MR MOTLHAODI: Clarification. Thank you in classes. This alone also poses a challenge that used to Honourable Chairperson. Honourable Lesedi told me. be minor in the past because we used to accommodate more than 30 learners in a classroom. This means, we MR CHAIRPERSON: Continue Minister. have to build more classrooms as well as appoint more …Silence… teachers. That is an ongoing process right now.

MR CHAIRPERSON: Minister continue. Connectivity of Kweneng and other areas; we collaborate with Honourable Segokgo’s ministry, Botswana MR MOLAO: Oh! I did not press the microphone Mr Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) Chairperson. Thank you. Honourable Regoeng talked in trying to upgrade connectivity of internet in areas, about Mogoditshane houses, the shortages that they have Kweneng at large. I believe this is a solution to what in Kweneng. Let me highlight that there is an ongoing Honourable was talking about. We have a plan to pursue process where we maintain some houses in Block 7. Smart Botswana as an effort to ensure that we connect Thereafter, we are going to determine the number of internet to more than 200 villages. It is something … people who can live in those houses in Kweneng. It is not enough but we are surely going to accommodate MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Minister we have them when we are done with maintenance at Block 7. reached the … (Inaudible)…you should move your budget…(Inaudible)…on television. Issues of photocopies in schools does not only affect Kweneng but Botswana as a whole. We intend to engage MR MOLAO: This 30 minutes duration was so short. private companies who specialise on this job, those that Let me highlight that Mr Chairperson, we are intending can rectify this issue. For example; we managed to to appoint about 1.3 temporary teachers into permanent provide Motswasele Junior Secondary School which positions this year. This budget allows us to do that and is in Molepolole with an industrial machine so that the we will continue with that process for three consecutive surrounding schools may go there for photocopying years. services. We did this because we cannot afford to In conclusion Mr Chairperson, as I indicated, I provide every school with an industrial machine. We therefore conclude our proposal for 2021; Recurrent will engage private companies to assist us and we will and Development Budget request for Ministry of also pay accordingly. I have mentioned that we have Basic Education. I therefore, move that the sum of managed to do that at Motswasele school and we will P9,524,302,570 under the Recurrent Budget and continue to do that in different schools. P1,610,000,000 under Development Budget be Shortage of laboratories; we are doing our best to approved and stand part of the Schedule of the 2021/2022 address this issue. Teaching space; some members Appropriation Bill (No. 1 of 2021) for Organisation

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0600 in the Development Fund Estimates. I so move Mr Chairperson.

MR CHAIRPERSON: We are voting Honourable Members. Can you please make sure that you have connected your videos, so that if there is any problem, we will be able to see you struggling and try to do something about that. Please connect your videos, so that we can see whether you are struggling or not. We are now going for the voting by a roll call. Get ready Honourable Members, check your gadgets.

CLERK:

MEMBER’S NAME AYE NO ABSTAIN ABSENT His Excellency Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi Honourable Autlwetse Honourable Balopi Honourable Boko Honourable Brooks √ Honourable Billy √ Honourable Dr Dikoloti √ Honourable Dr Dow √ Honourable Gare Honourable Dr Gobotswang √ Honourable Greeff Honourable Hikuama √ Honourable Kablay √ Honourable Kapinga √ Honourable Kekgonegile √ Honourable Keorapetse √ Honourable Kereng √ Honourable Kgafela √ Honourable Khama Honourable Dr Kwape Honourable Lesedi √ Honourable Lelatisitswe √ Honourable Lesaso Honourable Dr Letsholathebe √ Honourable Letsholo √ Honourable Leuwe √ Honourable Lucas √ Honourable Majaga √ Honourable Makwinja √ Honourable Manake √ Honourable Mangwegape-Healy Honourable Mathoothe Honourable Dr Matsheka √

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Honourable Mmolotsi √ Honourable Mmusi √ Honourable Moabi √ Honourable Moagi √ Honourable Moatlhodi √ Honourable Modukanele √ Honourable Mokgethi Honourable Molale √ Honourable Molao √ Honourable Molebatsi √ Honourable Monnakgotla √ Honourable Morwaeng √ Honourable Moswaane Honourable Motaosane Honourable Motsamai √ Honourable Mthimkhulu Honourable Mzwinila √ Honourable Nkawana √ Honourable Pule √ Honourable Rakgare √ Honourable Ramogapi √ Honourable Reatile √

MEMBER’S NAME YES NO ABSTAIN ABSENT Honourable Regoeng √ Honourable Saleshando √ Honourable Segokgo √ Honourable Serame √ Honourable Shamukuni √ Honourable Thiite √ Honourable Dr Tshabang √ Honourable Tshere √ His Honour Tsogwane √

…Silence…

MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Lesaso, from Shoshong? Honourable Lesaso, where are you?

MR TSOGWANE: Mr Chairperson, he wrote in chat. He said he is voting ‘Aye’.

CLERK:

MEMBER’S NAME YES NO ABSTAIN ABSENT Honourable Lesaso √

MR CHAIRPERSON: The Ayes 48, Absent 16. Therefore, the Ayes have it the Ayes have it.

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Question put and agreed to. To this end, my ministry endeavours to continue investing in education as it is the credible means to ORGANISATION 2700 – MINISTRY OF develop our people and empower them with knowledge TERTIARY EDUCATION, RESEARCH, and skills to survive in order to contribute to the SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY economic development of the country. MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Members, note Mr Chairperson, my ministry commits to drive initiatives that two hours 35 minutes have been allocated to this on investment in appropriate and adaptable Information Organisation, and I shall call upon the Honourable and Communication Technology (ICT) based learning Minister to reply to the debate at 1755 hours today. management systems to mitigate the risk effects Honourable Minister of Tertiary Education, Honourable resulting from COVID-19 so that we remain relevant in Dr Letsholathebe. the delivery of the curriculum and instruction. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Mr Chairperson.... Mr Chairperson, my ministry will continue to implement MR CHAIRPERSON: I have given the floor to Dr projects geared towards the upgrading of the Local Area Letsholathebe to present. Network (LAN) as well as the supply, configuration and installation of ICT equipment in our respective MINISTER OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, institutions. In addition, to manage the usage of ICT RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY in the teaching and learning, we will render to develop (DR LETSHOLATHEBE): Thank you very much a number of ICT related policies such as Computer Mr Chairperson. Mr Chairperson, I have the honour to Network Usage Policy, ICT Security Policy and Internet present to you and this Honourable House, my ministry’s Usage Policy which will guide those in institutions. budget estimates for the financial year 2021/2022. My budget request, as shown in the estimates, is Mr Chairperson, the Botswana Accountancy College an ambitious one, though it falls significantly short (BAC), having previously started its journey towards in the area of research and innovation. The budget adoption of Information Communication Technologies estimates reflect my desire, and indeed my commitment to enhance student learning experience, embraced and responsibility to transform our country from a and accepted that COVID-19 advent has come as a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy through catalyst for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The educational transformation and investing in research college therefore, had to adopt even more pragmatic and innovation. The budget builds on my ministry’s interventions in the face of COVID-19 so as to ensure efforts in 2020/2021 where we endeavoured to play the that the student learning experience is not adversely critical role as the drivers of research and innovation in affected. Botswana. Mr Chairperson, my ministry is mandated to administer Mr Chairperson, I will start with appraising this the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF). The Honourable House on how my ministry has performed HRDF which is a levy based Fund was established to on some of its major activities during the 2020/2021 finance workplace learning. Amid the effects brought financial year. It is worth noting that 2020/2021 fiscal by the Coronavirus pandemic, measures were put in year was a tough year particularly because of the place to ensure continuity in training after Government COVID-19 pandemic. suspended the training levy payment to ease the effects of the pandemic. Companies were supported with REVIEW OF 2020/2021 MAJOR ACTIVITIES fund reserves to continue to train their employees and claim reimbursement of training costs. For the financial Human Resource Development year 2019/20 over 30,000 employees were trained in Mr Chairperson, the advent of COVID-19 pandemic programmes such as ICT, hospitality, Human Resources, compromised all the business/academic continuity Structured Apprenticeship Programmes in mining and plans as it resulted in continuous disruptions in teaching wholesale retail. The level of uptake as measured by the and learning at our respective tertiary institutions for number of companies that are claiming from the fund the year 2020. Notably, COVID-19 created the largest relative to the number of eligible levy payers, was 24 disruptions of the education systems in history, resulting per cent as at the end of December 2020 compared to in prolonged academic calendars. 23.5 per cent for the same period the previous year. The

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amount of money spent on such training initiatives for to capacity building, diversification of employment, as the period was One Hundred and Twenty-Four Million, well as advances in research and development. This Eight Hundred and Eighty Thousand and Four Hundred is under the research and innovation Mr Chairperson. and Seventy-Five Pula (P124,880,475). This reflects an In this regard, my ministry has advanced progress increase of 2 per cent from 2019/2020 of disbursements on the development of the Indigenous Knowledge to the industry for training. Systems Strategy (IKSS). The draft strategy is ready for circulation to Government ministries and independent Mr Chairperson, HRDC, as the coordinator for skills agencies for comments. Once approved, the IKSS will training and development has prioritised the delivery of intensify collaborative research between indigenous quality education. Technical and Vocational Education knowledge holders, researchers and scientists. Local and Training (TVET) which is a key sub-sector in the partnerships in the area will lead to the development of economy has been Human Resource Development new products and services with potential commercial Council (HRDC) focus, hence in February 2019, the value. Mr Chairperson, I am happy to inform this organisation hosted the Technical and Vocational Honourable House that as an illustration of the value of Education and Training (TVET) Pitso. One of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), my ministry is significant outputs of the Pitso is the TVET Action supporting the research optimisation and documentation Plan. So far, two TVET related draft policies, being the of traditional brewing practises; initial focus is on National TVET Policy and the Apprenticeship Training Sekhokho in particular, so that communities can begin and Student Internship Policy have been developed to benefit from the wealth of available technologies. and are to be submitted to Cabinet for consideration. Establishment of the TVET governance body is in Mr Chairperson, as the Space Science Strategy is progress. During the financial year 2021/2022, HRDC being finalised, already there are major developments will continue with TVET Pitso plan implementation and in the satellite space. Botswana has joined the satellite monitoring, as well as hosting of the next Pitso. knowledge space as an answer to the quest to be a knowledge driven economy. My Ministry is supporting Mr Chairperson, the Draft National Apprenticeship the Cube Satellite Project, which is being led by the Training and Student Internship Policy with a Botswana International University of Science and Framework and Implementation Guidelines, as well as Technology (BIUST), where the aim is to, after the funding model is in place and will be submitted to my satellite launch, capture data that will enable us to ministry by HRDC for consideration and subsequent practise smart agriculture and also address various approval by Cabinet. Once approved, the policy will aspects of the tourism sector. BIUST is also driving support TVET and strengthen industry participation radio astronomy as part of Botswana’s participation in skills training and development. Implementation of in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. We the policy has been prioritised for the financial year are positively anticipating that the University of 2021/2022. Botswana (UB) will finalise its plans to venture into the Mr Chairperson, the Botswana Qualifications Authority communication domain of the satellite technology. (BQA) continues to contribute to the transformation or The advert of COVID-19 Mr Chairperson, has probed process of the country’s education and training system. our local research and technology actors to develop This is being undertaken through the implementation local solutions to reduce the effect of this pandemic. We of the National Credit and Qualifications Framework witnessed a new development of partnerships between (NCQF) and the monitoring of Education and Training our institutions demonstrating the acknowledgement Providers (ETPs), to ensure that the quality of education that expertise and resources ought to be shared to provided is of high standards. The authority continues improve efficiency. The Botswana Innovation Hub to review its strategies to deliver on its mandate and (BIH) partnered with the Alliance for Accelerating serve the nation, albeit addressing challenges that Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) of the African are associated with growth of the education sector, Academy of Sciences (AAS) to be part of the Grand harmonisation, quality and transposition key. Challenges Africa family. This partnership is key for the RESEARCH AND INNOVATION Grand Challenges Botswana agenda, as Botswana will be able to leverage on innovation expertise and funding Mr Chairperson, my ministry is committed to contribute that comes through the Grand Challenges as countries

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such as Canada, USA, Brazil, South Africa, India and Saharan African countries under the Science Granting Ethiopia are key members. Council Initiative (SGCI). The Research Chair is hosted by BIUST and will receive funding to the tune Mr Chairperson, my ministry has been working around of R3 million for the period of five years starting this the clock to set up core actions to start igniting actions year (2021) from the National Research Fund of South in the research and innovation space. We have embarked Africa. The highly prestigious Chair under the Oliver on extensive consultation with our constituency on Tambo Research Chair Initiative as it is dubbed, is issues that affect them. My ministry secured a total of granted in recognition of individual leadership and P45 million to stimulate and support local research and talent and recognise the commitment of universities to innovation, as well as to build capacity in these areas. supporting high-quality research. Chairs foster prestige Key projects with potential for high impact and national and visibility for individuals to catalyse expertise in a relevance that are being conducted in the public research given area and train the next generation of scholars. My sector are being supported. For the first time, we have ministry has for the five-year duration of the initiative availed funding to support the transition of proven committed P5,230,000.00 to enable the university to projects so that they can reach the market. enrol more research-focused Masters and PhD students.

Through the expertise offered by UB, Botswana Institute Botswana in 2020 launched a Joint Research call between for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI), the the Botswana Innovation Hub and the Research Council private sector, as well as the international partners, my of Zimbabwe, also under the Science Granting Council ministry is supporting the electric mobility themed Initiative. This call was made in the area of mining and project, in addition to the Nano-Satellite. This project mineral technology and two projects were awarded to the will allow for flexing of the local research innovation BIUST and in collaborations with other two universities muscle to facilitate global competitiveness. In this era of Zimbabwe. The projects are in the areas of nano of globalisation Mr Chairperson, collaborations are engineered reagents for froth mineral flotation and coal central to the development of any country’s economy. beneficiation for metallurgical industry. The project is My ministry has therefore facilitated local, regional valued at Canadian Dollars (CND$300,000.00), with a and international collaborations to build and strengthen 15 per cent contribution from my ministry. local capacity in research, science, technology and the A draft strategy for engaging private sector in innovation. research, science, technology and innovation has Mr Chairperson, my ministry sees research to encompass been developed Mr Chairperson, and it is waiting for all aspects of human lives. Therefore, my ministry has adoption by stakeholders. This strategy was funded supported a project to evaluate rare earth elements by Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI) with that form part of the components for sophisticated the intention to interest industry to play a larger role electronics that are part of circuits for watches and cell in Research and Innovation. Botswana’s participation phones. Further, my ministry is supporting a study that in the SGCI furthermore afforded two local research focuses on Gender-Based Violence (GBV). teams funding support in their response to a Regional Research Call entitled COVID-19 Africa Rapid Grant. Mr Chairperson, the review of the 2011 Research, The Call aimed to support generation of knowledge Science, Technology and Innovation Policy in on COVID-19 pandemic and disseminate coordinated collaboration with the United Nations Conference science communication outputs to allow readers access on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) started in to factual information. September 2020. As a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions and need for social distancing, my ministry Public Safety and Security in the Use of Nuclear has resorted to virtual stakeholder consultations on Technology this policy review. Having experienced delays due to Mr Chairperson, my ministry continues to provide connectivity challenges initially, the review is expected regulatory oversight and promote the safe and secure to be completed in November 2021. use of nuclear technology in the country. Strengthening I am happy to announce Mr Chairperson, that Botswana of the legal and regulatory framework is ongoing has a Research Chair through a collaboration project which will continue into 2021/2022 to provide for that my ministry is participating in with 14 other sub- comprehensive management of radioactive and nuclear

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material. The framework will also provide to enhance My ministry’s overall proposal for Financial Year national measures related to nuclear security. 2021/2022 Development Budget, Mr Chairperson, is Two Hundred and Thirty-Three Million, Six Hundred My ministry is still pursuing its goal of constructing a and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and national storage and conditioning facility for disused Twenty-Five Pula (P233,697,225). This proposed radioactive sources/material to ensure accountability budget is dominated by the Research and Development in line with the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Management which programme which constitutes close to 50 per cent Botswana is party to. Preliminary works will be initiated or One Hundred and Twelve Million, Four Hundred at an identified site during Financial Year 2021/2022. and Seventy-Three Thousand, Three Hundred Pula Mr Chairperson, the installation of radiation detectors at (P112,473,300) of the entire financial year’s allocation. ports of entry is still ongoing and will continue during 2021/2022. Monitoring of compliance to nuclear safety Mr Chairperson, out of this amount, the sum of Sixty and security standards, import and export controls of Million Pula (P60,000,000) will finance the Innovation; radioactive materials, and monitoring of radioactivity in Research; and Research Capacity Building funds’ the environment will also continue during 2021/2022. projects, which are very critical during this era of the Corona pandemic. The remaining amount of Fifty- Mr Chairperson, I shall now present the budget proposals Two Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Three for financial year 2021/2022, for Organisation 2700. Thousand, Three Hundred Pula (P52,473,300) will go to the ongoing Botswana Institute for Technology 2021/2022 PROPOSED BUDGET Research and Innovation (BITRI) Research Projects; Mr Chairperson, my ministry has proposed an estimated Implementation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems total budget of Four Billion, Eight Hundred and Thirty- Policy; and Implementation of Research, Science and Six Million, Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Technology Innovation projects. Three Hundred and Fifty-Five Pula (P4,836,359,355), for the Financial Year 2021/2022. This comprises Four Mr Chairperson, the other 50 per cent or One Hundred Billion, Six Hundred and Two Million, Six Hundred and Twenty-One Million, Two Hundred and Twenty- and Sixty-Two Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty Pula Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Five Pula (P4,602,662,130) for the Recurrent Budget and Two (P112,223,925) of the proposed Development Budget is Hundred and Thirty-Three Million, Six Hundred and earmarked for the remaining four programmes, which Ninety-Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty- include: MoTE Infrastructure… Five Pula (P233,697,225) for the Development Budget. MR CHAIRPERSON: Your time is up Minister! 2021/2022 RECURRENT BUDGET DR LETSHOLATHEBE: I therefore, move that the Mr Chairperson, the sum of Four Billion, Six Hundred sum of Four Billion, Six Hundred and Two Million, and Two Million, Six Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand, One Hundred One Hundred and Thirty Pula (P4,602,662,130) is and Thirty Pula (P4,602,662,130) for the Recurrent proposed for my ministry’s Recurrent Expenditure. Budget, be approved and stand part of the Schedule of This reflects a decrease of One Hundred and Twenty- the 2021/2022 Appropriation Bill (No. 1 of 2020) for Six Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand, Organisation 2700; and that the sum of Two Hundred Seven Hundred and Forty-Nine Pula (P126,958,749) and Thirty-Three Million, Six Hundred and Ninety- or 2.68 per cent compared to the 2020/2021 allocation. Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty-Five How much time do I have Mr Chair? Pula (P233,697,225) for Organisation 2700 in the Development Fund Estimates be approved and form “EXCHANGE OF SPEAKERSHIP” part of those Estimates. I thank you very much Mr Chairperson. MR CHAIRPERSON (MR PULE): You only have one minute seven seconds. MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Members, the Minister has presented. Now that the question has DR LETSHOLATHEBE: I have one minute, okay. been put, the debate is going to follow, but I can see Thank you very much Mr Chair. there are some Honourable Members who are not listed 2021/2022 DEVELOPMENT BUDGET from their groups to talk today, and they have raised

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their hands. I would like to ask the Whips to control MR CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much this situation and tell the Honourable Member that he Honourable Kablay. That is how a Chief Whip works. is not on the list, because I believe that these lists are from the Whips. The first person to stand on the floor is HONOURABLE MEMBER: Further clarification. Honourable Peggy Serame. MR CHAIRPERSON: Before that clarification Honourable Motsamai, let me ask Honourable P.P.P MR MOATLHODI: Procedure Mr Chairperson. if he agrees that the House should adopt that because I wrote on the chat, but I thank you Mr Chairperson. I fully believe Honourable Kgafela could be having Good afternoon sir. The procedure that I am rising on something in the contrary. So, if he does not agree with is that last week Thursday, the Honourable Minister of us, we will settle for an agreement with him, then come Infrastructure and Housing Development did an usual back and brief the House. thing, and I rose on a point of procedure, and then you said that you will go and talk to your advisors. I was MR MOATLHODI: Mr Chairperson, I agree with you. hoping that you will clarify that issue before starting the You are on track. Go and deal with it with your staff and business of the day. Thank you sir. even consult Honourable Minister and then give us the right answer Sir. Thank you very much. MR CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Triple P, you are Let me explain that I abide by the law. My hand is not quite right. We actually discussed it and we agreed that there, I know I was not put on the list but I have asked to we should consult the Honourable Member because in be put on the list somewhere. our discussion, we realised that he is partly correct, but the procedure of this House is that me the nomenclature MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Motsamai, that we have adopted is that you move at the beginning clarification! and then there could be some changes in the process, MR MOTSAMAI: Mr Chairperson, give me a minute which might compel you to move at the end. Even if to get back to you on that clarification because I am still there are no changes, he is compelled as a Minister to sorting something out this side. Thank you. move for the second time because that is the culture that we have adopted. MR CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Honourable Motsamai. Honourable Serame! I must be honest, we have not discussed this with the Minister and that is why my believe is, what is currently MINISTER OF INVESTMENT, TRADE AND ongoing, is what we have correctly adopted. We will INDUSTRY (MS SERAME): Thank you Mr discuss it with the Minister so that no Minister will Chairperson, good afternoon. Good afternoon to you all repeat the same mistake, because the nomenclature that Honourable Members. we have adopted is that the Ministers will have to move twice; at the beginning and then at the end. We have not Let me take this time to indicate my support for the really discussed it with the Minister. So let me say, we Ministry of Tertiary Education’s budget proposal. will discuss it with the Minister because we discussed Honourable Minister, in supporting your proposal, we it last week Friday and then today we have not had a also appreciate what you have managed to achieve chance to talk to the Minister as you know, Cabinet was as a ministry. It is also important that I explain from on today. Then we will discuss it with him tomorrow, the onset that it is not only the Government which has so that if he has something in the contrary, then we can an important role to play pertaining to the Ministry continue our discussion and reach a final conclusion. of Tertiary Education. We should also appreciate the Then I will come and share it with you. If that is okay stakeholders who for us to go forward and have a Honourable Triple P. knowledge based economy, it is important that every stakeholder know their role and execute it. MR KABLAY: Clarification Mr Chairperson. Thank you Mr Chairperson. Mr Chairperson, the list that you Therefore, I encourage and appreciate that the Minister are seeing before you, is correct, so if there is anyone in his presentation talked about partnerships. For you who is raising his or her hand even though he or she to succeed as a ministry, it is important to identify is not on the list, then it means that you have to ignore your key partners who can contribute in developing us them sir. as a country. That is why I encourage the initiative in

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paragraph 27 where you formed partnerships with those we make them in such a way that they can be safe for outside Botswana. This again Honourable Minister, consumption? Mr Chairperson, today I cannot see the Honourable Chairperson and Honourable Members, time. They should be made safe so that we can package I believe that when we say funding for research is not them and take them to the international market. I believe enough, we can meet and work with them and they there are so many things, some we talk about them can assist us even with funding our research. They jokingly but they are businesses which can create jobs can also assist us in other things such as steps to take and generate a substantial income. after research is done. Therefore, that is something I highly recommend. If you partner with them in that way Role of research; you said you acknowledge the role of Honourable Minister and your ministry, even some of research and you intend to do more. I am saying, it is not us who are interested in taking the research you have enough. All Government ministries for example have a turned into business, you should also work closely with research unit. Reconcile these researches Honourable us because we are ready and are in a position to take Minister and connect us all so that we can achieve these things further. something great that can benefit our country.

Secondly, I have realised that we have taken this National Food Technology Research Centre (NFTRC), time to find out how we can protect ourselves against Botswana Institute for Technology Research and COVID-19. I appreciate the role played especially by Innovation (BITRI) and others have done a lot of the universities and your research institutions in taking researches. I think the only link missing, is how do we us as a country forward. convert research into business. In that area Honourable Minister, we as the Ministry of Investment, Trade and In my view, I believe we are one of the countries with Industry are ready to assess. That is why when we revised a lot of educated people. Imagine right now how many Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) doctors we have in Parliament. I believe we could have guidelines we included innovation as one of the priority done more. This is just motivation not condemnation. I sectors. This was made to ensure that anyone who am not condemning the Ministry of Tertiary Education comes with innovation and technology project becomes that if we have so many universities and the private a priority when we fund. Where research has been done sector, we can do something where we are and be able and we see that we can make mass production, we can to achieve more than what we already have. Going request for funding from you to promote those which forward, we should be found among countries listed can be businesses or companies. There are so many to be manufacturing their own medications and have researches which were done by NFTRC. If we were to people benchmark from us in other things where we can count them, they are about 100 and these are products also propagate that. we can produce and take to Botswana and even the I am grateful that you talked about indigenous international market. knowledge. I remember that there is one Professor I believe Honourable Members heard you on the electric at the University of Botswana (UB) who said, he is car. I believe in your response, you will expand on it in researching some things and he hopes that he can be terms of your progress and what you intend to do. one of the people who can find the cure. I do not know how far with that. I believe as we talk of producing Since I suspect that time is moving fast, the last medicines and other things, our indigenous knowledge one I want to conclude with is training levy and the should not be left out. information system, Labour Market Observatory (LMO). I appreciate the importance of LMO. I believe I have read that you are also testing local brews. the information we get from it can help us as different You were talking about…(Inaudible)…is it setopoti ministries to also see how we can take from it to improve (watermelon brew) one of those. I believe there is so Government policy, laws and strategies that we have. much we can do. Last time I spoke with those who like these other alcoholic brews which bear difficult names Training levy; I have realised it helped us but used us to pronounce, that we should market and package them in some ways. So, as we review and develop different for sale. I am not sure if modaefok is safe. I believe these programmes, there are some things which I suspect. We are some researches that you can conduct to find out used to have local companies which wanted to do things if these things are safe. If they are not safe, how can which were never done before. Our training levy says,

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train your staff first and you will claim after. Is it not respond to the presentation by the Minister of Tertiary time to review training levy to see if local companies Education. we think are in the priority sector can help to build capacity? Is there no way we can find that training levy Let me say we have noted the issues that you discussed can help us that even upfront before someone finishes sir, your achievements and shortcomings in this financial their training, payment can be made? This is something year which is about to come to an end. We have also that we can review to assist us. noted what you intend to do going forth. I believe we are supporting you on that note. You have reported to us that I am also grateful for apprenticeship, which you said is P4.6 billion was allocated to you. I agree that Parliament on the table. I believe you are wrapping it up, it will be has to approve it so that you use it accordingly so that presented before Government so that we can circulate we may move forward. it. I believe this to be very important. There are some sectors we are relying on which are controlled by non- I am going to discuss few points. I will start with the locals. Honourable Minister, I believe you are wrapping issue of Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) in Molepolole up this apprenticeship programme but it should not which I usually talk about. I expected the Minister to come to stakeholders when you have already finished raise a serious point about it in his speech. Unfortunately, everything, more especially industry. They need to he addressed it in general terms. The thing is Minister, make an input of what they have observed and as the Government spent a lot of money constructing IHS in general public should also tell you that we are tired of Molepolole. When that school was built, it was designed shortage of maids, that is an example I can give as a in such a way that it may offer five to seven programmes, woman. We need to consider that. When you are looking one of which was Community Health Nursing. As I for a maid to work in your home, chances of finding a speak, it is not offered there. Programmes like Eye Motswana maid are very slim. I want us to look into that. Nursing, Pharmacy and Midwifery were also supposed Over and above that, engage stakeholders before you to be offered but that is not the case. This institution finalise because it should not come to us as a finished is only offering General Nursing but we spent a lot of programme. I believe there are other ideas or advices money constructing it. that we can give to you, those that may profit us. Minister Matsheka mentioned 37 per cent which we are I believe I am already running out of time Mr always going to refer to in his speech. This means, this Chairperson and with those words, let me give other 37 per cent is accounted for even here. So you cannot Honourable Members a chance. On that note, I believe talk about these things as if we cannot see that they you will pay attention to those points; you will come up are not there. On this note Minister, I request you to with strategies to address Training Levy and there are pay attention to this issue to ensure that we put those some points that we have to assess together concerning Government or national buildings into use. Let it not be apprenticeship. like we constructed them in vain.

Taking our research; we have to produce some products Every year, that school enrols 40 people for General from our prototypes and take them to the market. I Nursing on average. This is really ridiculous looking at commit myself as Ministry of Investment, Trade and the fact that that school is very big. So I encourage you to industry that let us be prepared to work together and pay something to these issues. Perhaps going forth, come partner and find what to do with the prototypes that up with a plan to increase this enrolment of 40 people. I were produced from many researches that we managed am saying this because you have about five institutions to carry out. Let us find what we can do together to which I believe also enrol 40 people on average. If you manufacture products which may improve companies ensure that the five of them enrol 40 each, it means we as well as create jobs in Botswana. are going to have a total number of about 200 nurses trained in Botswana. If you calculate the total number With those words Mr Chairperson, I thank you. I stood of nurses who leave either though retirement, resigning to support the Minister’s report and budget proposal. for any other reason, seeking green pastures elsewhere Thank you. or being dismissed for other reasons, it amounts to more MR REGOENG (MOLEPOLOLE NORTH): Thank than 200. This means we are going down in our health you Mr Chairperson for giving me the opportunity to service or health system instead of growing in numbers.

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Since we constructed these buildings sir, I expected us to standardise the entry requirements of these different to produce many students who are trained in different universities depending on their ranks. I am saying this fields to supply both Botswana and international because when students who enrol in some of these markets. Why can we not do that? So Minister I request universities through Government sponsorship complete you to pay attention to this situation and find how you their studies and go to the job market, they are informed can rectify it sir. that we do not recognise that institution. That is wrong. So I encourage you to pay attention to them and find You have indicated somewhere that 50 per cent of how we can address them. your Development Budget is going for maintenance of colleges and IHS. So I believe Molepolole IHS is part Another important point to consider is registration of of this... these universities, especially private universities. You must find out if some of them are really accredited MR MOTSAMAI: On a point of elucidation. Mr and whether they have been registered to provide such Chairperson, I agree with the Honourable Member on programmes because some of them are just there. A the issue of IHS which is at Molepolole on the basis situation whereby you will find one of them located that indeed Government spend a lot of money on it, behind this building, serving as a university. How and it has been functioning for a long time, therefore, come? We do not know. So you have to pay attention to we expect to see some improvements there. If some of these things and sort them out in a particular way going these buildings are not put to the fullest use, they decline forth so that they get in a position that can benefit us sir. our economy. Lastly, I request the Minister to give us timeframes as opposed to when he expects to change I would also talk about self-sponsored students; locally gears and do something about that situation because and internationally. Some universities have a very many Honourable Members have also complained high entry requirement and as thus, some students much about that situation. Thank you sir. cannot enrol in them, those with a very high pass rate. For this reason, parents are compelled to enrol them MR REGOENG: Thank you sir. You also mentioned in international universities and it is a challenge for that you will reserve 4 per cent of your Recurrent them. So can you reconsider this issue that somehow Budget for the development of health personnel and Government can assist international students who other training. The truth is, our budget is not sufficient to are self-sponsored? We agree that parents have to be address some of the issues that we have in Molepolole. involved in their children’s education, so since they We are also experiencing shortage of lecturers at IHS. I are making effort, let us come up with a plan so that request you to take some people for training in a relevant Government can assist. I encourage you to somehow school so that they can lecture in this school. We are revisit that position and devise how they can be assisted. experiencing shortage and I believe the reason why you That is my other request Honourable Minister. do not start some of these programmes is because you do not have personnel. So from this budget, ensure that The other point that I want to raise before concluding is you upgrade some of the people who are still there. I that the universities that I have been mentioning are not will move on Mr Chairperson but I urge you to increase strictly compliant with regulations while Government IHS enrolment so that we may produce many trained continue to pay for students who after graduating are nurses. I am saying this because we are experiencing not competitive in the international and local market. shortage of nurses at an alarming rate in Molepolole. So Find ways to close these gaps. make sure that you increase that enrolment. I am drawing to the conclusion, there is Department of I would also like to talk about education training and Tertiary Education Financing. Minister, please monitor providers. Sir, we have Government universities that department, there might be something happening or public institutions like Botswana International there. There is too much flouting of policies and University of Science and Technology (BIUST), guidelines at that department, so monitor it. Government Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural is losing a lot of money sponsoring students who do Resources (BUAN) and Botswana Open University not exist. She pays for student accommodation and (BOU) and private universities. I believe a time has transportation but students are not using those yet your come for us to rank these universities because we no department is paying. So please monitor such things. longer understand their ranking. Thereafter, we have One cannot even understand the criteria of sponsorship.

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Honourable Minister, you should monitor to see if these owned universities. You went on to state how much you institutes follow your guidelines at the department as have allocated to Botswana University of Agriculture expected. I did not want to be long Mr Chairperson. and Natural Resources (BUAN) and the University of With those words, I support the Minister’s budget Botswana (UB), but we cannot see the budget allocation proposal. We notice his efforts although there are some for tuition fees at private institutions. The budget is gaps here and there. I take it that he will get there. Thank huge, so we should know how much it is. That must you Mr Chairperson. be elucidated Honourable Letsholathebe so that we understand. DR TSHABANG (NKANGE): Thank you Mr Chairperson. Let me thank you for the time you afforded I am also aware that tuition fees for private schools is me to also comment on the Ministry of Tertiary Education, very high, some cost as high as P90, 000.00. If you Research, Science and Technology. First of all, I want to compare with state-owned universities, you will find that blame Honourable Letsholathebe for the slow progress maybe UB charges P17, 000.00 for a particular subject of Research Fund or research. Currently, we should not but a private university charges P90, 000.00. I think you be having uncoordinated research activities where funds need to look into that Honourable Letsholathebe and are disbursed to different departments then it is alluded see how you can rectify. Why are private institutions that it is a strategy of research. I think if you want to allowed to charge such high amounts while state-owned transform education, you must have a Research Fund institutions are restricted? I know that there is a reason which all researchers will source funds from, this fund usually relayed that they are given subvention but you will also assist us to pay for post graduate students to will find that it is not enough to uplift these universities pursue Masters and PhD. We can create Post Graduate whereas private institutions, the money they charge for Funding as well. In the current situation, Batswana are fees, they can easily do administration and make a huge self-sponsoring for Masters and PhDs. The Government profit. stops at first Degree, so we implore you to rectify this issue so that we can be able to articulate sponsorship Mr Chairperson, let me not forget to say it seems like through Post Graduate Funding. you hate UB, I do not know why you hate it because when you increase salaries of civil servants, you do Mr Chairperson, we would like this ministry to conduct not extend the same opportunity to the employees tracer studies because apparently universities and other there. It has been four or five years overlooking them. institutions produce graduates into the market, and after You celebrate them but when it comes to money you that they are unable to get jobs. A much better option overlook them. So I do not know why you hate them will be to observe the skills gap so that universities and Honourable Minister. Perhaps you can briefly explain institutions can produce graduates who can be absorbed when you are going to rectify this abnormality so that in the market or the market should be adjusted so that when you increase civil servants` salaries, you can also at least it can absorb graduates from universities. This increase theirs. I think you also have interest to benefit is the issue which require your attention Honourable something there Honourable Letsholathebe. Minister. You should also consider what is called employability of your graduates from universities, can Honourable Minister, your ministry… they be quickly absorbed and can they quickly adapt in MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Dr Tshabang, the work environment. Honourable Serame is asking for clarification.

The other thing that we picked from Honourable DR TSHABANG: Wait first Honourable Serame, I will Letsholathebe’s ministry Mr Chairperson is in yield for you at the end if I have time. I know that you Paragraph 42, you wrote it in English that, “you are and I have no conflict. requesting an amount more than P2 billion, which is 50 per cent of the ministry’s Recurrent Budget for Tertiary There is an issue that your ministry paid for a building Education Financing, 97 per cent is for tuition fees and at Central Business District (CBD) for two years, right student allowances.” I want to believe that this budget at the mall, in the region of P50 million. You have never is for state universities and private ones or state-owned occupied that building yet you are paying rent. I also institutions and private tertiary institutions. However, in have information that you have no intention to occupy your presentation you highlighted the budget for state- that building. Therefore, I want you to explain to us that

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you are requesting for funds but wasting some, what DR TSHABANG: Thank you very much. That is exactly do you want us to do Honourable Minister? really not a clarification as such, it is an elucidation. Clarify that to us Honourable Minister. We have always argued that projects are given enough money to make profit to run their institutions. So why The other issue Honourable Minister, going back to are Government universities not given money, to charge private institutions; you should closely monitor as it school fees that can run these institutions, and can make seems like these private institutions hire a lot of non- profit and pay its workers? That is where Government citizens as compared to citizens to the extent that has made it hard for universities be liberalised so that Batswana may form one third or one quarter of the they can make profit and pay their workers. people employed at these private institutions. You also Lastly Honourable Letsholathebe, through you Chair, wonder why these institutions like hiring foreigners there are institutions like BUAN, and a research whereas there are Batswana with better qualifications institution called National Agricultural Research and and experience. You should pay close attention, the Development Institution (NARDI), which is coming up reason should not just be since foreigners cannot join now. We want to understand why more universities are unions they can get paid low salaries, so Batswana refuse not under the Ministry of Tertiary Education, can you... those salaries. You should also pay attention to this issue because the students attending those institutions MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Dr Tshabang, your are Batswana and they are sponsored by Government. time is up! Basically, these institutions are flourishing because of MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND Government money that comes through tuition fees. So COMMUNICATIONS (MR SEGOKGO): Thank pay attention to this issue and establish the root cause of you Mr Chairperson. Let me start by indicating that I the problem. support the request by the Minister. He is requesting an amount of P4.8 billion. In his request, one thing that I There is another issue of Botswana Qualifications looked into is the request he made that he is going to Authority (BQA) and Botswana Health Professions use P4.6 billion in the recurrent budget, and he will use Council (BHPC). Botswana Qualifications Authority P2.3 billion for development. I think this is a concern as will accredit courses that are offered especially in it seems like the money for development is a bit low. I private institutions and students will attend classes and will request that, maybe on the recurrent you can give complete their studies, and when they are supposed to some of the money to universities, tertiary institutions be hired, BHPC refuses to give them practising licences which also engage in research. I really emphasise that saying the Degrees or Diplomas they have are of low they should utilise that money, as I know that there are quality, whereas they have been accredited by BQA. things they need to use the money for, and they should What causes that gap? At the moment we have students ensure that the money is also utilised under research. who are in the streets, whereas these courses are still Let me briefly indicate that, really it is impossible for ongoing, they are paid large sums of money of about me to talk about Honourable Minister’s ministry without P90, 000 per student. Courses continue and students talking about some issues at Honourable Molao’s are not able to be accredited so that they can be given Ministry of Basic Education, or Honourable Balopi’s licences by BHPC. I will allow Honourable Peggy to Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills hear where modaefok is (home brewed alcohol) so that Development. The reason being that, he is collaborating we help each other… (Laughter!)… with these ministries on numerous projects. Let me MINISTER OF INVESTMENT, TRADE AND start by thanking him that he has indicated that a lot of INDUSTRY (MS SERAME): On a point of education, they will try to provide it by using the internet. clarification. Thank you Mr Chairperson. Honourable We are thankful for this, especially during these times. Dr Tshabang, very briefly, I heard you say that the likes He is talking about a lot that they are implementing, that of UB for example, when salaries of public officers are includes good use of the internet, and ensuring that it increased and their allowances are not increased. Do is focused on what the ministry is really dealing with. you not think that the time has come for these tertiary I also realised that you talked about using technology institutions to start generating income with the work that helps him to learn about the type of skills that are they do and research, so that they can stop relying on needed in the market and so on. I am also thankful for the Government a lot? Thank you. that.

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Let me address the issues by saying, really one thing same size, but just see the extent at which the other that I think is important is that in this education that the institution has expanded its programmes. That is why Minister is responsible for, it also includes the one that I am saying we should try to assist private institutions Honourable Balopi is responsible for. We should also so that they can assist in these situations. What we have focus not only on educating people to go and look for to ensure as the Government is that Batswana are not jobs, we want to educate them so that they can be the taken advantage of, and the education standards are of ones creating the jobs; entrepreneurs. This thing Mr value, which is the main responsibility of BQA. The Chairperson, I believe that it is important to first educate Department of Tertiary Education Fund should ensure students on running businesses, and that is something that the money they are paying is effectively utilised. that has to be implemented. I will move on and talk about research and innovation. The other thing is that these schools should be given Let me commend the Minister for talking about licences, like others have been saying about… indigenous knowledge systems and their strategy, which (Inaudible)…so that they can be able to start businesses. I believe is important. He talked about sekhokho, I am I want to give you an example or examples, at Tlokweng, not sure whether it is an alcoholic beverage or not, but it there is a brigade even though it is under Honourable is alcohol, if I understood properly. Alcohol, particularly Balopi’s ministry, the courses they offer like carpentry this one which is consumed regularly, clear beer is made and joinery and so on... (Inaudible)…at Tlokweng they from grains, they were developed further to come up can get assistance from them if they need carpenters, with clear beer. We also have to look at our alcoholic or the things that were made by those carpenters. That beverages and improve them so that they would be is why I am requesting that, this can be encouraging in a desirable state; we should add flavour as in some and also give them practical experience of a business, cases they use hops. We have to have those things that pricing, customer service and everything related to could add flavour so that we could be in a position to business. differentiate the beverages through what we call brands.

Mr Chairperson, let me move on and now talk about What I would like to request from the Minister, which education training providers. Yes, we know that there I once talked about some time back is that our research are those that belong to the Government, and they are should teach people about material science. That is to say departments that were established by the Government. all developments; all businesses rely on using materials. I have failed to find a proper word to explain those in Really it is already evident that most of the things that the Setswana. The other thing he could do, especially with Government is doing, can be given to private companies assisting the Minister of Tourism and ensuring that the to do them, especially because we have hope that they environment is not polluted, they should start to focus can do these things at a charge and maybe utilise money on research still under material science that focuses on better than Government. I will give examples by the us building this secular economy, which is lean as they constituency I am from, Tlokweng. I talked about the were saying. We should be mining or using things that Tlokweng brigade which has space, but they are offering are sourced naturally. We would use those materials and about four courses or programmes, being dressmaking, when we are done we would dispose them off with the carpentry and joinery, computer studies and secretarial refuse, in pits. What we have used should be reused studies, and I really wish they can be increased. There in the economy. That would be the future economy. I is a lot that could be offered there. The other example is request that the Honourable Minister should look into the Teacher Training College (TTC) which offers only this issue. I am not sure how much time I am left with Diploma in Primary Education, and I compare them to Mr Chairperson. I wanted to add some more points. a private school called Boitekanelo, which I commend. They offer Degree and Diploma Certificates. They offer; MR CHAIRPERSON: 23 seconds. counselling, clinical technology, emergency medical care, pharmacy, health care management, occupational MR SEGOKGO: Okay! Well, let me quickly say health. I can even tell you that the pharmacist that I the education under this ministry here is affected often visit when I need medicines is one of the graduates by the results that are coming up from the bottom, at of this school. So maybe I am saying this because both the Ministry of Basic Education, and I request that these universities have space, and maybe I think that considering my constituency, schools do not have even though I did not...(Inaudible)… that is of the enough resources. The school infrastructure is not in a

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good state. These are some of the critical things to look we can start mining of limestone in Botswana, because into under this ministry. we have limestone in Nakalaphala, Serorome and other places. MR CHAIRPERSON: Your time is up! The other example Mr Chairperson is that we need MR SEGOKGO: I thank you Mr Chairperson. roads. In the Borolong area, we need proper roads, and MR CHAIRPERSON: Thank you so much Honourable now constructing a tarred road costs around P7 million Member. Honourable Molale, and will be followed by per kilometre. We saw it with our own eyes at a mine Honourable Dr Gobotswang. in Honourable Hikuama’s area, in Toteng when they constructed a 35 kilometre road, not using tarmac. This MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND road is used by trucks from the mine to the processing RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MR MOLALE): I thank plant. It is not easily damaged. So I wish a serious study, you Mr Chairperson. Let me also add my contribution, this could be done because we have universities and and start by supporting the Honourable Minister in his learned people; so they should ensure that the products budget request. Mr Chairperson, I would like to start we have here, which ones could be used to develop with the issues of research. It is a very important aspect roads without using tarmac, so that we would be able to because research is right at the core of wealth. If one develop. If tarmac is going to keep going up in prices, as embarks on a research to find out something, once it far as about P10 million per kilometre, it means we will becomes a success it means one could then venture into not develop; we will not construct roads. business, they can start selling their findings to people. It appears our research could...(Inaudible)…Most of the The other example Mr Chairperson is in agriculture. We time the one who does the research does not know much in the Borolong area are farmers of repute, but when about the business aspect. Now since most of the research you consider the amount of kunsmis (fertiliser) that is is done by Government departments, Honourable bought from South Africa, after buying it, we then see Letsholathebe’s ministry, it gets even worse because the trucks which had come to deliver it going back with the Government does not know how to make business salt and soda ash taking them to Sasol, to manufacture as well as if it were done by the private entities. There those fertilisers there. A quick research could have been has to be a preparation that once a research prototype done, so that we would be able to manufacture fertilisers is done, there has to be a place it should be sold so that locally. By Kunsmis, I am referring to fertiliser. You will business people would have interest in it. Therefore, you pardon me Honourable Members, fertiliser. If we could will find that this aspect is lacking and that is why we manufacture these things locally, they would not only have a lot of research prototypes at Botswana Institute save us our foreign exchange; we would ensure that for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI), people are employed, and we would be able to make National Food Technology Research Centre (NFTRC) developments and build a fortune here at home. and other places. You will find out that there are skills, like those given to those who were engaged at NFTRC, I now want to talk about indigenous knowledge learning how to bake muffins in a certain way, and that Honourable Minister, that we have to focus on the knowledge was not taken to those who would actually things Batswana used to survive with long ago before use it to do business, so that we would be able to new innovations came. It has proven that they worked manufacture or do things for ourselves locally. and they can save or improve peoples` lives. So on this point, I wanted to say we should be serious about I will give a few examples Mr Chairperson. When practices like thobega (a traditional practice of healing you come to the one on mines and energy, we have broken bones). If a person goes through a process of a lot of limestone, but for as long as we have power thobega, when initially they were not able to heal; once stations in Morupule, there will be a need for limestone. they go back to modern medicine, that cross which is Apparently, the limestone we have here is not good for put during the traditional exercise is visible on the x-ray the machines that generate electricity in Morupule. The image. These are things we have seen with our own question is, why can we not take quick action research eyes. This means that this are real skills which are there to find out which metal can allow us to use our limestone and they have to be used to improve the knowledge and in Morupule. As those machines get old and they are the economy of Batswana. These things are important replaced, we should bring in the suitable ones so that Mr Chairperson.

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Lastly, when we do this research and sell it to other an economy that relies on knowledge and technology or countries, the person who carried it out becomes rich. a knowledge based economy. So when the Ministry of This is knowledge economy because you are selling Tertiary Education, Research and Technology makes a your knowledge. Sometimes it becomes painful because presentation, we should assess and see if what they are patents of some local products are in other countries; presenting and what they want to do will move us closer like the Devils Claw (Sengaparile), Citrullus lanatus to where we want to go. We have to start by ensuring that (Kgengwe) seeds, and other products which we should they are going to use the budget that they are allocated go and fetch from those countries and process locally to go and carry out researches because research and and also tell them that if they are selling that patent, sciences are the main tools to achieving a knowledge we should have rights since that product comes from based economy. There is no other way or short cut. This Botswana. require a lot of funds. We have to ensure that they are allocated enough funds to do the right thing. Mr Chairperson, I would also like to comment on the issue of qualifications versus accreditation. A young Countries across the globe reached an agreement that person would go to school for five years saying that for a country to be able to carry out researches, 3 per he or she is studying architecture, and after he or she cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of that country should go to research. Currently, we spend less than 1 completes his or her studies, the private sector as the per cent of our GDP on science researches. So can you appointing body will point out that his or her modules see how far behind we are? are not complete hence he or she should go and do additional courses. The government having spent the Since universities should spearhead researches, when entire five years paying a lot of money and you would you go to the university and you look at the budget wonder what happened. Who sets the standards? When which is allocated to research, you will find that there is we do this, it contributes to structural unemployment. We absolutely nothing. As the Minister highlighted, a bigger have many educated young people who went to school percentage of the budget for university goes to students’ but they do not find jobs because their qualifications are allowances, lecturers’ salaries and the management of not complete. What I notice is that if we can close this those universities if they are government owned. This gap quickly Honourable Letsholathebe, we would have means that a small percentage might end up going done a good job because young people who are unable towards research. This shows us that at the end, many to get jobs will get them hastily. For example, it is very first class professors who are found in our universities interesting because Botswana Accountancy College end up being lecturers. A first class University Professor (BAC) graduates are employable. I do not know what is is not supposed to be a teacher only, he or she should be hindering other tertiary institutions to benchmark from someone who carries out significant researches, cutting BAC because when their students graduate, they are edge researches which can produce results which can be already employable. We tried to facilitate by drafting used on developments. Engineer Registration Act, Architecture Registration Just look at how countries are making a lot of money Act and other Acts so that that standard is collective, so during COVID-19. Universities ...(Inaudible)…we that we know the basic qualifications that are going to are waiting for it right now, it is being produced by be required by the appointing body, and what educators University of Oxford, and as it is doing this, the private are going to need and so forth. So sometimes these sector; investors invested into it. Our challenge in things disadvantage us. I plead that you should address Botswana is that the government is not investing into them Honourable because we want these young people research, the government is only injecting a small to start working and enjoy life. amount of money. There are also no investors who can Therefore Mr Chairperson, I thought that I should invest in research so that we can proceed and produce comment with those words and support my fellow prototypes which can be executed and produce goods Honourable Member. Thank you. which will generate a lot of money.

DR GOBOTSWANG (SEFHARE- Today we are talking about sekhokho. I believe that in RAMOKGONAMI): Thank you Mr Chairperson. I Tswapong, everyone knows that we are well known would start my debate my highlighting that the main for producing quality setopoti, (traditional beer made issue is that government stated that it is going to create from watermelons) and we use morula quite frequently.

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People assume that all these things are alcohol. Just back home like our people used to work in the mines like Honourable Molale, most times when setopoti is in South Africa, they sent a lot of money to Botswana mentioned, he thinks that watermelons and morula fruit and Botswana developed. Even today, a few Batswana; can only produce setopoti traditional beer, little does he nurses here and there, even though we have lost doctors, know that they can produce juice. We need companies it was not our intention to lose them, they do send money like Kgalagadi Breweries to develop interest and see from wherever they are. Some of us grew up at a time how these abundant watermelons and morula fruits when there were a lot of Ghanaian doctors in Botswana, from Tswapong …(interruption)… Ugandans and Zimbabweans, we know that they sent the money which they acquired at the local university MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Dr Gobotswang, and the health sector back to their countries and those Honourable Manake is asking for… countries developed. Injecting funds to sponsor leaners DR GOBOTSWANG: …and experts so that we can or Batswana to pursue Masters and PhD qualifications produce something better. is an investment that we have to assess Mr Chairperson.

MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Manake is asking The other point is that there is serious under-sponsoring to correct something. of undergraduate courses. We sponsor a small number of learners who completed their Form 5 and we end up DR GOBOTSWANG: Honourable Manake, one leaving a huge number whereas most tertiary institutes second. are operating below capacity. Space and everything is available, but we do not sponsor a large number to an ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL extent where students remain behind and fail to go to DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MS universities. So let us try to increase funding so that MANAKE): Correction. Thank you Mr Chairperson. students at universities can go up to PhD level where Honourable Gobotswang, it is sekhokho not sekho-kho. possible. We invest in them to create employment DR GOBOTSWANG: Sekhokho. Do you know it? I if they do not, we export them and the skills to other believe that you know it, you definitely know it. countries. Developing countries such as South Sudan, though people are afraid to go there but one can go there The private sector should also take part there. I was to work and bring money to Botswana. hoping that the Minister would shoot straight to the I want to emphasise what was said by Honourable Dr issue of the electric car. I heard Honourable Serame Tshabang, that Government has paid, students have been saying that it is there somewhere and I looked for it, I taken to health institutes such as DDT and others. They tried searching for it but I did not find it, I do not know completed their courses but not awarded certificates yet how I missed it. I believe that our expectation is not to Government paid. Honourable Minister, what is the main go and order parts and assemble the car in Botswana. problem which cannot even be solved? I think we talked If that is what we are doing, no, we cannot create jobs about this matter; this was the first matter we brought that we want to create Honourable Members. We need before you upon entry into Parliament. To date, there to manufacture some parts in Botswana. So we want a is no progress and it has not been resolved. What is the research that can do that. problem? I do not think we can fail to solve elementary stuff, to say what can be done in this situation. One other thing that we are still lagging behind on is the fact that we have to inject funds into educating I liked the efforts you are making in vocational training students beyond Degree level, we should sponsor them because the reports we received were saying vocational to do their Masters and PHD’s. We should have many training has collapsed in Botswana. I appreciate your graduates who have qualifications which surpass degree efforts; you held Pitso and came up with documents qualifications. When someone obtained Masters and which try to show that people who graduate from PHD, it becomes easy for him or her to do jobs, with vocational are Batswana who are capable of doing an open mind to an extent that he or she can create different jobs and have different skills. employment opportunities for other people. Even if they do not end up doing that, we can place them on The mistake that we make sometimes is, we do not know the market. We can market their skills so that they what the difference between the purpose of vocational can go and work in other countries and send money and university is. Sometimes Honourable Members talk

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about university as if it is vocational and vice versa. Mr Chairperson, we have courses that we continue These two institutes do not serve the same purpose, doing although they are the same. Looking at trends, we they are totally different. Even their aims are different. have set Vision 2036 for ourselves, what do we want to Universities are science and technology research and achieve with Vision 2036? Let me cite an example from vocational is teaching skills which can be applied. The ours concerning food, that we want proper nutrition. reason why we have many Zimbabweans doing handy Where we are, do we have enough nutritionists and jobs in Botswana though the Honourable Minister is dieticians? That is just a question Mr Chairperson, to trying to develop might be that our graduates are not say Honourable Minister, have you prepared for that? thoroughly skilled at the moment. This is an important matter than we need to address. I can see that the HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… Honourable Minister in this area is being satisfactorily MS MANAKE: We are saying we want to industrialise responsive. the food systems, we want to invest in manufacturing Students allowance; Honourable Chairperson, how and industrialisation. Honourable Minister, do we have much time am I left with? that capacity? Have we built capacity when it comes to food technologies in Botswana? Have we built capacity MR CHAIRPERSON: 10 seconds. when it comes to the industrialists and so on or are we going to import them to assist us? Right now we could DR GOBOTSWANG: Pardon? have started to train our people looking at where we want MR CHAIRPERSON: Five seconds. to go, to focus on exactly what it is that has to happen. I wanted to explain it in that manner Honourable Minister. DR GOBOTSWANG: Five seconds! Honourable Minister, I am worried because it appears Consider an increment for students and lecturers at we do not have specialised research. You will pardon University of Botswana (UB). If we can increase for or correct me if I am wrong. We have challenges that them… we are faced with in the society that we live in. It seems MR CHAIRPERSON: Your time is up. everyone can come up with their research which does not impact or influence certain changes in our lives. The DR GOBOTSWANG:…we can increase for lecturers question is, how many journals or researchers do we if Government universities could be allowed to generate have in Botswana? Where are published ones and which income, you should pay… ones relate with other sectors that can grow our economy or improve the way we do things Mr Chairperson? HONOURABLE MEMBER: Time is up. I am still going to talk about legong (plant) and a certain DR GOBOTSWANG: …they should charge fees. plant we talked about which I forgot the name. We have MR CHAIRPERSON: Time is up Honourable always had these plants before independence, even up to Member. Honourable Manake. today, no research has been conducted on them to find out how they affect cattle or livestock so that we can HONOURABLE MEMBER: Is it not my turn? take precautionary measures.

ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL HONOURABLE MEMBER: It is called mogau DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MS (poison leaf). MANAKE): Thank you Mr Chairperson. Good afternoon to all Honourable Members. MS MANAKE: That is why we are saying certain policies cannot function without a clear research that Mr Chairperson, I support the Honourable Minister’s if they affect a particular sector like ours… poisonous proposal. I must say, if we look carefully, we would plants; legong and mogau, if they affect this particular realise that this a very important ministry. It should be sector, what does research say and what can we do going prioritised and work with ministries such as the Ministry forward without coming up with things that can disturb of Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and so on as it is farmers to do their job? This is where research comes in. responsible for shaping the direction of our economy We have been living with these plants for 54 years and because of the researches they will be conducting. beyond yet no research has been conducted on them.

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Recently, I was with the President in Maun where we business opportunities. As I speak, we are food insecure, were with Honourable Kekgonegile. We found a farmer we have 90 products which are market ready at NFTRC with disability surrounded by plants which he used but we are doing nothing about them. We are talking as medicine for his livestock. Up to today, we do not about sekhokho and everything else but some of these have that indigenous research which can help us. We products are just sitting there. could even export it to other countries patented from Botswana. So, Honourable Minister, I am wondering Agricultural research; ever since 13 years, most of the where do we actually research or which research do we research is collecting dust through agricultural research. carry out because that which affects us in rural areas, we There is no plan to display or market it because that is do not see its research benefitting us so that we can also what their mandate says. So this is where Agric Business change the way we do things. This includes agriculture and Ministry of Trade come in and find the opportunities research because I believe you are better placed to that we have there. If we can solve this problem, we advise us as a research expert. are going to manage to produce an economy that we desire. The question therefore Honourable Minister is, Mr Chairperson, I also want to tell the Honourable how do we access it as the public? How do we access Minister that we have what is called…(Inaudible)… it apart from research journals that we have to pay for? knowledge, the people that Government has educated, Do you have a platform where you will showcase or an have now retired to cattle posts with a lot of knowledge. expo beyond COVID-19 which people may come to and They herd with this knowledge, they do not have a understand all the stakeholders? That is, the stakeholder platform where they can use this knowledge to assist mapping, the opportunities and everything, all the Government or assist in some researches which this things that you are talking about. I will give an example, institutional memory have actually done in the past. it seems like you are not giving us enough information So they can assist Government on how they used to do to appreciate innovation and research. If you take a certain things and what the findings were. company like Oxygas which long started maybe three Take Tsetse fly for instance, as a country we were able years ago, which is based in Selebi Phikwe right now, it to kill (control) it at a particular time. Right now we could be exporting gas to the rest of the world through have doctors who are herders and we are not using them innovation. However, people did not understand it to assist us. When we were hit by a swarm of locusts when it started, they did not even facilitate it. So we are we did not know what to do yet we have experts who talking about a company which wanted to capture gases, are now herders Honourable Minister. Start looking for separate them, package and do all other processes. It these people and find them a platform for informing you is not a new thing but if at all we wish to grow as a and also for research, and to see how you can use them country, we can accept and facilitate it in a better way. in economic growth or your ministry. They are there, During COVID-19, Botswana could have supplied all where I come from we have a number of them who were countries with oxygen manufactured from Phikwe. This formerly working for the Ministry of Agriculture and indicates that some of our procedures were left behind right now they are herders. regarding these issues.

Mr Chairperson, I think Honourable Dr Tshabang was I request us to be open-minded. Let us change our onto something; there is need to understand, why am I mindset and appreciate new way of doing things so that doing a research? He asked why National Agricultural we make progress Mr Speaker. I am saying this because Research and Development Institution (NARDI) is our next generations are not going to be interested to under the Ministry of Agriculture because this is a be trained as doctors, lecturers and so on. They are research facility. interested in being part of the industrialisation of this country, but they should be ready, Honourable Minister Honourable Molale also said that the mandate of NFTRC Letsholathebe having created those opportunities for says they are responsible for conducting research only, them, having developed those skills. It starts now, not it does not allow them to market that research or show when we need that skill. Thank you Mr Chairperson. it so that people may appreciate it. That is where the Ministry of Trade comes in to ensure that all these MR CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Honourable innovations are presented to people so that they may Minister. Honourable Brooks and he will be followed appreciate them and understand how to treat them as by Honourable Motsamai.

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MR BROOKS (KGALAGADI SOUTH): Thank assist. Moreover, Tsabong could be the headquarters of you Mr Chairperson for giving me the opportunity the entire region of Kgalagadi; both North and South. to comment on the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Many people could go there to study and jobs can be Research, Science and Technology by Dr Letsholathebe. created. There can be extensive learning. This ministry Mr Chairperson; when he presented his When you talk about Sengaparile Mr Chairperson, budget proposal before us, he wants us to support him Sengaparile used to produce good results during the 60s, and he pointed out the things that he intends to do or 70s and early 80s, but it actually died a natural death. wish to do if we approve it. This is one of the impressive Sengaparile was discovered in Kgalagadi, so people things. If you take Kgalagadi District, if it was possible were invited to research about it, its major plant started for us to change or turn Dr Letsholathebe’s head, I operating around or very close to Gaborone. This is one would ask him to consider Kgalagadi. This way, he was of the things that contributed to complete disappearance going to reap something pleasant which was going to of Sengaparile. That is why we urge that we pay earn him a real legacy in this financial year. I am saying attention to these issues and ensure that we take services this because Kgalagadi region is so unique in many to where our plants or products are found. Let us view things which have the potential to recover the economy these things with a new mindset Mr Chairperson. of that region; that is if we assess and do those things. It also has the potential to benefit the nation of Botswana Mr Chairperson, looking at the Kgalagadi region, or improve the economy of Botswana in a certain way considering what Honourable Molale said concerning or in any way possible. lime, we make our own limestone in Kgalagadi. We Mr Chairperson, his vision says, “A knowledge based have been doing that way back. It reminds me of society enabling prosperity for all.” This indicates that Financial Assistance Policy (FAP); this programme was this is the ministry that cuts across all the ministries or very useful and it assisted every household and many most of the ministries and it could be shielding all of people. If we can look back to FAP, they used to do their them. This ministry could be mapping a way forward own research based on the indigenous knowledge of so that we end up having a knowledge based society Batswana in Botswana at large, they literally researched with a vision, especially basing on the knowledge based about whatever they found in that area to earn a living. or having a knowledge based society like he indicated If you can go to Kisa right now, there is a woman who there Mr Chairperson. produces soda soap from sheep fat and other ingredients that do not require a lot of money. If we can take soda When we talk about these issues Mr Chairperson, one soap and carry out extensive research on this soap and may wonder, he indicated on page 7 that, “Technical put it in the market, we may manage to improve lives in and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) which different areas. is a key sub-sector in the economy has been Human Resource Development Council (HRDC)’s focus.” Mr Chairperson, this lime which Honourable Molale I want to remind him that this heading alone reminds talked about used to beautify the skin or to change the me of my time as a Councillor, that your ministry once colour of the skin or the hide. The plant was supposed to visited Tsabong to present a report with the intention be based at Kgalagadi North if I am not wrong, I think to open a vocational training centre at Tsabong. As you it is supposed to be at Lehututu, subject to correction. It make assessments and distribute funds to make this was there at Tsabong, farmers were able to manufacture dream a reality, let Tsabong be among the first five or so shoes and other leather products after undergoing areas where you intend to do this. training at under Financial Assistance Policy (FAP) programme. We initiate programmes well but during Mr Chairperson, before allocating these developments the process they collapse. Most of the Honourable like the Honourable Members suggested, we have to Members like Honourable Kapinga can agree with consider the growth of big villages instead of providing me that we were raised with money acquired by our necessary services only in towns. If not, we are not going parents as they exported raw cream to South Africa. to manage to control migration which heavily affects There was a tool used to churn cow milk into cream, our towns. So we have to provide villages with these cheese and yoghurt. We did not dip too much into this kinds of resources. If we can open a vocational training field because we exported these products to South centre at Tsabong Mr Chairperson, it is greatly going to Africa. South Africa was benefitting as it manufactured

Hansard No 201 36 Monday 15th March, 2021 ORGANISATION 2700 – MINISTRY OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Committee of Supply

all the products and exported back to us to consume. focused in fighting poverty and unemployment, we will We are just consumers whereas we could be producers end up with high unemployment rate. and creating employment. All we did was to draw milk, churn it and export it to South Africa to manufacture all Furthermore, education is a reflection of politics because dairy products, projects which could be working in our education is a political activity. The education in the favour. country reflects the leadership vision, that is why we see our education producing unemployed graduates because For example there is one farmer, if you can allow me we do not train people to create jobs. Our tertiary level to name him, I will divulge only positive things not to education system produces graduates who want to apply tarnish him, Honourable Johannes Visagie who deals for jobs. So Minister, your ministry has to address this in donkey milk. Yesterday he showed me Mokawa situation to see how it can transform so that the studies we offer at our universities and vocational colleges are (cucumber) and said he wants to manufacture pills, this relevant and fight the challenges we face as a country. is a Motswana making an effort. How far are you as the Ministry of Tertiary Education to encourage Batswana First of all, as Honourable Members have talked about who are making efforts in terms of manufacturing such research, you will find that the research is not specialised. products which we want to generate jobs? I loved the way Honourable Manake portrayed it that it seems like our education is isolated, it does not depict our As I conclude, I want to raise a concern regarding students current situation as a country and the kind of products from Kgalagadi; after they pass, they are admitted to we need, what problems do we need our education to tertiary institutions in Gaborone. In the past, students address. I can give an example, currently we have road who come from distant places were given priority engineers and experts in different fields but you will find when it comes to accommodation at the university and that we import raw materials, something which does not other tertiary institutions. Currently, even if a student address the current challenges we face. Minister, it is resides in Gaborone, he/she is given accommodation at now time for both universities and vocational colleges the university. It is not fair for a student coming from to focus on producing what we need. I do not believe that as a country, we still produce raw copper and export Kgalagadi to come and rent whereas they are unfamiliar it in that state. We can offer training which will focus on with the city. The student is unfamiliar with Gaborone producing copper products to be sold in the market and yet you expect him/her to go house to house looking for not import them, we should locally produce them. It is accommodation and a parent has to also travel here to quite clear that the education we offer our people in our help, this is not fair for students coming from Kgalagadi. country does not address our needs. We should localise Let us maintain that old system where students from our education system and formulate a policy which will Kgalagadi and other distant areas from the university help us fight the challenges we face in the country. were given first priority in terms of accommodation … (Interruptions)… Thank you. We have another example worth your consideration Minister. There other areas in Botswana well-known MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Motsamai, you for salty water. It is time for our education to produce have five minutes. experts to modify this salty water into potable water so MR MOTSAMAI: Mr Chairperson, we swapped with that it can be utilised by humans and animals. We should Honourable Hikuama, he will debate. utilise this water, all that is needed is technology and expertise to turn this water into potable water rather than MR HIKUAMA (NGAMI): Thank you Honourable people investing a lot of money in drilling boreholes. Chairperson. Let me also take this opportunity to Thereafter, there is no technology and expertise to comment on Tertiary Education Sector. Before I get transform this salty water. Honourable Minister, our to the points I want to raise, let me indicate, but for education has to address these challenges. easy expression, let me say it in English then go back to Setswana. Mr Chairperson, you will agree with me The other issue I want to emphasise Minister is that that the purpose of education is to fight poverty and brigades are misplaced at the ministry they are under. unemployment, and irrelevant education results in high As part of training, they should be brought and housed levels of poverty and unemployment. The point I am under your ministry so that we can deal with them trying to drive home is, if our education policy is not properly and be properly coordinated because they offer

Hansard No 201 37 Monday 15th March, 2021 ORGANISATION 2700 – MINISTRY OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Committee of Supply

education and where they are now cannot benefit us. Minister like I said, the problem with our education is that it is irrelevant, its political activity is irrelevant… The reflection…

MR SPEAKER (MR PULE): Order! Order! Honourable Member, time is up. It is now six o’clock Honourable Members, we will continue tomorrow. I shall now call upon the Leader of the House to move a Motion of adjournment.

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): Thank you Mr Speaker. I will request for a workshop for some Members of Parliament so that they understand the processes. With that being said Mr Speaker, I beg that this House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

The Assembly accordingly adjourned at 6:05 p.m. until Tuesday 16th March, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

Hansard No 201 38 HANSARD RECORDERS Mr. T. Gaodumelwe, Mr T. Monakwe, Ms T. 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 HANSARD TRANSLATORS Ms B. Ntisetsang, Ms M. Sekao, Ms B. Mosinyi, Ms V. Nkwane, Ms N. Kerobale, Ms K. Motswakhumo, Ms T. Motsau, Ms O. Phesodi, Mr K. Setswe

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

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