DAILY

YOUR VOICE IN PARLIAMENT

THETHE SECOND THIRD MEETING MEETING OF THE OF FIRST THE SESSIONFIFTH SESSION OF THE OF THE ELEVENTWELFTH PARLIAMENTTH PARLIAMENT TUESDAY 25 AUGUST 2020

ENGLISHMIXED VERSION VERSION HANSARDHANSARD NO. NO: 193 198

DISCLAIMER Uno cial Hansard This transcript of Parliamentary proceedings is an uno cial version of the Hansard and may contain inaccuracies. It is hereby published for general purposes only. The nal edited version of the Hansard will be published when available and can be obtained from the Assistant Clerk (Editorial). THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER The Hon. Phandu T. C. Skelemani PH, MP. DEPUTY SPEAKER The Hon. Mabuse M. Pule, MP. (Mochudi East)

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

His Honour S. Tsogwane, MP. (Boteti West) --Vice President -Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Hon. K. N. S. Morwaeng, MP. (Molepolole South) - Administration

Hon. K. T. Mmusi, MP. (Gabane-Mmankgodi) --Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Hon. Dr U. Dow, MP. (Specially Elected) --Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Hon. E. M. Molale, MP. (Goodhope-Mabule ) --Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon. Dr E. G. Dikoloti MP. (Mmathethe-Molapowabojang) --Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security -Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation Hon. P. K. Kereng, MP. (Specially Elected) - and Tourism Hon. Dr L. Kwape, MP. (Kanye South) --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. K. S. Gare, MP. (Moshupa-Manyana) --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. M. R. Reatile, MP. Jwaneng-Mabutsane Hon. P. Majaga, MP. Nata-Gweta Hon. J. S. Brooks, MP. Kgalagadi South Hon. C. Greeff, MP. Gaborone Bonnington South Hon. T. Letsholo, MP. Kanye North Hon. T. F. Leuwe, MP. Takatokwane Hon. T. Mangwegape-Healy, MP. Gaborone Central Hon. S. N. Moabi, MP. Tati West Hon. M. S. Molebatsi, MP. Mmadinare 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 OPPOSITION (Umbrella for Democratic Change) Hon. D. Saleshando, MP. (Leader of the Opposition) Maun West Hon. P. P. P. Moatlhodi, MP. (Opposition Whip) Tonota Hon. D. L. Keorapetse, MP. Selebi Phikwe West Hon. Y. Boko, MP Mahalapye East Hon. Dr K. Gobotswang, MP. Sefhare-Ramokgonami Hon. C. K. Hikuama, MP. Ngami Hon. K. K. Kapinga, MP Okavango Hon. G. Kekgonegile, MP. Maun East Hon. A. Lesaso, MP. Shoshong Hon. T. B. Lucas, MP. Bobonong Hon. M. G. J. Motsamai, MP. Ghanzi South Hon. K. Nkawana, MP. Selebi Phikwe East Hon. O. Ramogapi, MP. Palapye Hon. Dr N. Tshabang, MP. Nkange Hon. D. Tshere, MP. Mahalapye West (Botswana Patriotic Front) Hon. T. S. Khama, MP. Serowe West Hon. L. Lesedi, MP. Serowe South Hon. B. Mathoothe, MP. Serowe North (Alliance for Progressives) Hon. W. B. Mmolotsi, MP. Francistown South (Independent Member of Parliament)

Hon. M. I. Moswaane, MP. Francistown West TABLE OF CONTENTS THE THIRD MEETING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT TUESDAY 25 AUGUST, 2020

CONTENTS PAGE (S)

SPEAKER’S REMARKS...... 1

Approval of The Mid-Term Review of National Development Plan 11: 2017/2018 - 2022/2023 Motion (Resumed Debate)...... 1-19, 28-52

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER...... 20-27

Tuesday 25th August, 2020 APPROVAL OF THE MID-TERM REVIEW OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 11: 2017/2018 - 2022/2023 Motion (Resumed Debate)

Tuesday 25th August, 2020 Mr Speaker, when we went for elections, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) was very clear that it is THE ASSEMBLY met at 11:00 a.m. going to create 100 000 jobs in a year and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) was not to be left behind, they (THE SPEAKER in the Chair) stated that they are going to invent an electric car which P R A Y E R S will create maybe more than 100 000.

* * * * HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)... SPEAKER’S REMARKS HONOURABLE MEMBER: We have not seen that car. MR SPEAKER (MR SKELEMANI): Order! Order! Honourable Members, good morning. Let us start our MR RAMOGAPI: Mr Speaker, we wonder how far business this morning with Motions. we are with it. APPROVAL OF THE MID- HONOURABLE MEMBER: Where is it? TERM REVIEW OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 11: 2017/2018 - MR RAMOGAPI: We could be clear on our progress 2022/2023 in so far as the electric car project is concerned for creation of employment and a stable economy that can Motion offer our youth jobs. This is painful because children are (Resumed Debate) crying all over Botswana.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable Members, MR BOKO: Clarification. Honourable Member, I hear the debate on this Motion is resuming. When we that you are on point. Actually you have touched my adjourned yesterday, Honourable Segokgo had just heart. Is it okay for us as a country to think that we can finished his contribution and therefore, the floor is open. move people forward when we fail to set a target, do you think we can go somewhere? Can the people take MR RAMOGAPI (PALAPYE): Thank you Mr us seriously when we fail to set a target? Speaker. Let me quickly focus on economy and employment. Mr Speaker, our biggest challenge is that MR RAMOGAPI: Thank you Honourable Member. our economoy is unable to employ a sufficient number You remind me of the time when I was still a young of people. An expert H. Flasher says the unemployment man, when we proposed to a girl, we used to tell her that rate is at 18.19 per cent, and the question is, what we would buy her a train. should we do since we have unemployed youth who are HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… just sitting at home yet they have a Degree, Diploma and Certificate? Where is our policy and what does it MR RAMOGAPI: One would be saying that they will say? Mr Speaker, it is very painful for the youth all buy a train without even a railroad. This is what we also over the country to be decrying about unemployment see from the BDP Government. when we do not have a policy that clearly states how they are going to be employed. We should be serious HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… as a country because according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by 2030 there should be ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL no hunger and unemployment. The main question is, DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MS what are we going to do to get there? It is embarrassing MANAKE): Point of order Mr Speaker. Thank you that the Government of the day does not have a policy Mr Speaker. Honourable Ramogapi wants to mislead of what they are going to do. the nation saying we promised the electric car only. We have a very rich manifesto, which you are running after Mr Speaker, it is very painfull not to have targets every day wanting us to implement, be innovative. Do because we could be knowing the number of people not just talk about that, talk about the many things that we employed in 2020 and the number that we are going we are doing and those that we are going to continue employ in 2021 until we employ a sufficient number. doing. Thank you Mr Speaker.

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MR SPEAKER: Honourable Ramogapi, continue, MR MOATLHODI: Elucidation. Thank you Mr there is no point of order. Speaker. I thank the Honourable Member of Palapye. I will be very brief sir. Does the point you are raising MR RAMOGAPI: Thank you Mr Speaker. We are include Kasane where all the land belongs to the whites talking about serious things. as well as game park vehicles,whereas a black person of LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION (MR this country does not have anything? SALESHANDO): On a point of procedure Mr Speaker. MR RAMOGAPI: Thank you Honourable Member. HONOURABLE MEMBER: He must continue as if That is the challenge we have in Botswana. Look, take nothing has happened. UDC idea. UDC said that it is going to create many jobs through hemp. MR SALESHANDO: Mr Speaker, I think Honourable Members like Beauty Manake must be advised… HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: And admonished. MR RAMOGAPI: Who is asking? I yield Honourable Member. MR SALESHANDO: …that the Standing Orders do HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR not permit what she did. There is nothing out of order, TSOGWANE): Clarification Mr Speaker. Thank you. but you decided to stand on a point of order so that you I understand your concern about the issue of land get him to yield and then you raise a matter that is totally Honourable. This is what we also talked about in our not related to anything to do with order, that is fraudulent manifesto that, our aim is to correct things which are not and it is not permitted by the Standing Orders. proper. When we talk about inclusivity in our manifesto, and the opening of the delta so that Motswana can live HONOURABLE MEMBER: Tell her. there, this is what His Excellency always talks about. I MR RAMOGAPI: Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, am not disputing what you are saying, it is what we are in our principles we have what we call equal rights of planning to do. resources, that is, everyone is entitled to equal rights of MR RAMOGAPI: I would like to thank his Honour resources. Mr Speaker, right now Batswana have raised the Vice President (VP). As the Umbrella for Democratic an issue on Facebook and Twitter that though we are all Change (UDC), the other thing which we believe can Omang carrying Batswana, we are not equal. Naturalised greatly assist in the creation of jobs besides hemp is the Batswana have the monopoly of layers and broilers.Is issue of benefication; coal and diamonds can create a lot there equal rights of resources in this instance? of jobs if we are really serious.

Mr Speaker, when we talk of land, Tlokweng and Honourable Members, our economy has been affected Gaborone is occupied by naturalised Batswana. Does by corruption: It is polluting our country. There are this show equal rights? This is painful, there is no equal reports and you have also mentioned that an amount of rights. P100 billion has disappeared.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. MR BROOKS: Point of order. Thank you, Mr Speaker, the Honourable Member of Palapye is just misleading MR RAMOGAPI: The residents of Palapye, Gaborone the people out there. He is talking about UDC but we and the entire country are decrying shortage of land know that the other side of the aisle we have Members Mr Speaker, they want to be allocated land, will they of UDC and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). If at all he not have land as well as jobs? Mr Speaker, where will has resigned from BPF to join UDC, he should say so so that we understand his position. people invest if they do not have land? How will we alleviate poverty and unemployment because at least a MR SPEAKER: Honourable Brooks, there is nothing person needs to have land for the sake of dignity, not to out of order. allocate a person a piece of land in the form of a grave. MR RAMOGAPI: My friend, people will vote you These things are very painful Mr Speaker. out, you should be serious because we are serious HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)... here. Honourable Members, corruption has polluted

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our country so, we should be serious because when content by more than 50 per cent. So, I was wondering His Excellency President Masisi assumed power, he where the Honourable Leader of the Opposition got that promised to eliminate it. So, we wish for this corruption idea. I failed to find an answer because I was wondering to disappear in Botswana because it is not good for our why the extreme when there are so many available. I country. was passing through that one Mr Speaker.

Morupule B; sir, it is so painful that even up to now we I have been listening to the debate from both sides are still injecting a lot of funds to address the electricity of the aisle and it seems like most of us support the issue yet we are told that there is a leakage somewhere, proposal by the Minister. Some have responded but did and prices are going to be increased. A certain company not show whether they support it or not. Mr Speaker has been engaged and has been paid a lot of funds for you have instructed us to focus on microeconomic many years. So Mr Speaker, we are not going to be able chapters particularly on general principles. We should to run the economy if we are still mismanaging funds ensure that we do not go to the specifics or discuss our through corruption. Moreover Mr Speaker, we will not Constituencies because you have promised to give us be able to eliminate corruption if issues of oversight that opportunity later. still fall under the Office of the President. Parliament, Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime So, Mr Speaker and the Honourable Members, let me (DCEC), Cyber Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other touch on them, the Minister mentioned at the beginning Departments like Ombudsman should be independent; of the presentation that, we have been solely relying this is the only way we can curb corruption. on diamonds, but it is clear that, that is no longer safe because we are experiencing challenges in the Mining Sir, I cannot ignore the issue of education. The quality sector. One of the challenges which he mentioned and of education is poor all over the country because of I understood is that, mining of diamonds is becoming lack of accommodation. All our 57 Constituencies more expensive. As we speak, it is evident that there are need accommodation for teachers. So Honourable those who are rushing into the black market diamond Molao, take action and ensure that teachers have businesses. Additionally, it is evident that the numbers accommodation so that they will be able to teach of people who are interested in this kind of business are properly. Honourable Members, let us make sure that the increasing worldwide. This means that it is giving the natural diamond stiff competition. Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) policy is established and it is implemented. I want to conclude with the issue You also mentioned that since we have been cutting of fair distribution of resources; most of us still want and polishing them in India, the banks are no longer hospitals in our constituencies but it seems like they supporting people who are doing this business. So, it is a are built in one side; Moshupa, Kanye, Molepolole and good thing that he is enlightening us about this situation Ramotswa have hospitals while we do not have them Honourable Members. This kind of situation compels us this side. These things are very painful. to diversify our economy. We have to find other ways of sustaining our economy so that we can reach Vision MR SPEAKER: Thank you very much Honourable 2036. Member. Honourable Kgafela, followed by Honourable You talked about a lot of things which are being Leuwe! implemented and it seems like they will help us to MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND reach our goals. One of these things is the Tourism Sector. Honourable Tshekedi is not here but he talked HOUSING DEVELOPMENT (MR KGAFELA): Let much about this Sector. He encouraged us to refrain me thank you Mr Speaker. Let me take this opportunity from solely depending on the Okavango delta as far as to support the Minister of Finance and Economic tourism Sector is concerned, but we should consider Development on the proposal he made before us of the other areas. We have to make use of forests which can Mid-term Review. serve as a habitat for other wild animals. Those who own cattle posts and cattle must also consider doing that. I received the Minister’s documents and perused them as well as the one that came afterwards as an addendum Minister, you emphasised that we are currently greatly due to COVID-19. The Leader of Opposition had challenged as Batswana because we spend a lot of pointed out that after reading through the addendum, money in other countries through goods and services he discovered that it has changed the key points and that we import. Nonetheless Honourable Members, our

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intention is to minimise as well as make sure that we I believe that if you do well, I should play a role. I did do not allow money to leave the country but instead it not stand to criticise you such that, in future people out should come into this country . This therefore compels there will ask me how I failed because, they brought us to award a company by measuring if its interest me here to work with you and take developments to the is in Botswana. When we talk about export of goods constituencies. I stand to give you suggestions on how I Honourable Members, it should not only be goods, wish you to operate when you make decisions. people should also be exported. When I say people, I do not mean human trafficking; I mean where people I love that National Development Plan is executed can travel outside Botswana to work in other countries through a programme referred to as bottom-up so that they can export their services and expertise. As planning. I agree with you and you should have used the Minister explained, it is important to look into the that programme. The truth is, people back at the Trade Act and see whether it allows a business person constituencies, who are hands-on are the ones who know to operate their business without being curtailed by priorities of the developments. So we will be wrong if what we call ‘red tape’. we make decisions here. Ideally, Village Development Committee (VDC), Chairperson of Parent Teacher Let me focus on the issue he mentioned that, health Association (PTA) and other associations meet there should be our priority. Minister we acknowledge that with Councillors… some of the projects which were a priority in the National Development Plan (NDP) 11 like hospital infrastructure MR MOSWAANE: Point of correction, Mr Speaker. and refurbishments have been deferred. As we read Mr Speaker can I please correct my colleague when he this report, it is clearly indicated that Government talks about bottom-up arrangement, he should know that expenditure increased due to the salaries increase of in this particular one of Mid-Term Review, there was public servants which then caused some developments no consultation whatsoever in the whole of Botswana to be deferred. Developments such as Mochudi hospital from VDC level, council level up until it reaches here. which was in the NDP 11 estimated at P420 million and Can he please correct it so that we do not pretend as if we accepted that. Minister this indicates that Public people at the constituencies were involved? As I speak, Private Partnerships (PPP) regulations should be relaxed they are watching me back at home and I do not think so that when we venture into this partnership we do not there is any Member of Parliament who can verify that. find any Government department delaying the process Thank you. by saying they are assessing if it is safe, which will then instil fear to avoid such venture. Let us try by all means MR LEUWE: Thank you Honourable Moswaane. to cast away this fear, those interested in venturing into Your problem is that you are quick to interrupt me, this partnership should be allowed to do so, so that, they you could have allowed me to speak so that you hear can help us with building of these infrastructures. how I conclude just like I always allow you to make your point when given the chance. My point is, ideally Although we realise that some projects were deferred, bottom-up planning should be executed. So while I was it is important to refurbish the existing infrastructures a Chairperson of the sub-council we did it as it was and facilities which provide services. We should not distributed to the constituencies but this time around I be in situations where there is shortage of hospitals, do not see it happening. That is why I am saying, you mortuaries and family of the deceased are immediately are too quick to react before one makes their case called to collect their loved one because there is no space Honourable Member. I did this programme and I wish it in the mortuary. It pains to witness such when you get to could continue because it is the one which I have seen the hospital and find that hospitals beds are not enough that it works for Batswana. That is why I said at the and oxygen which is supposed to be offered... There maiden of my debate that, they are the ones who can is shortage of most equipment and when you enquire prioritise developments because it affects them. There is about the shortage there is no proper answer given. a Setswana saying, setlhako se babalela yo a se rweleng (the one who has a challenge knows the seriousness of Medicine; as we explained, let us try by all means Mr that challenge) This programme works for us and if it Speaker. I know that time is up. Thank you. continues it will still benefit us.

MR LEUWE (TAKATOKWANE): Thank you Mr Minister, when you implement development ensure that Speaker. A very good morning to you all Honourable you prioritise the health sector. Health sector should be Members. I stand to support you Minister and your a priority in the development plan because you cannot Motion sir. I will also raise a few points to your attention. develop a person who is not healthy. If you go around

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this whole country, you will find disheartening situations already being ploughed as we were were growing up. in clinics and hospitals. I believe that we have to revisit If you go all over the country, there are farmers who the centralisation programme where we took clinics are established enough to produce food for this country, from Local Government and placed them under Central as you do your programs, focus a lot on the growing of Government. In my view, when I go around visiting crops and rearing of livestock like the Ministry suggest. clinics, I think we centralised too much by taking clinics. We have come to a point where we want to stop buying Decisions are now made far, there are no longer made imported seeds from other countries and start promoting at the clinics and health posts. So as you review things our own locally produced seeds like the likes of tshwara- consider such maybe it might improve the health sector. masiela, tau-manthe, and others. I believe that nothing You cannot work and implement those developments if hinders us from upgrading them and end up opening your health is poor. borders to sell them to other countries.

I believe we can transform Botswana if Batswana are Honourable Minister I fully support you, and my request healthy. We can transform Botswana if Batswana have is that, as you continue to look at these issues, focus a lot a sense of direction regarding education. We have many on the informal sector. If you can go to other countries graduates and I believe we can now close the borders like Uganda, you will find that the informal sector is and employ our youth because majority of them are responsible for economic growth. If you take the case qualified. If you look at these big projects done in the of Botswana, the informal sector has spread all over country, the youths are sub-contracted and sometimes by the country, there is no where where you will not find a person who is less educated than they are. These are the informal sector; if you go to remote areas, you will the things, I would like you to look into and award such find someone selling airtime and sweets, the other one projects to citizens so that they can transform their own will be having a small barber shop cutting people’s hair, country properly and when they get this money, they and others patching tyres. My belief is that, since the cannot transfer it outside unlike foreigners who will informal sector has spread all over the country, if we now take this money and cross the borders, sometimes boost it and empower it, it can grow the economy of not even having evaded tax. According to me, I believe Botswana and take it somewhere. There are many of that the COVID 19 virus has opened our eyes … those people, they are all over the country, and what I see lacking is us supporting them Honourable Minister, HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure. Mr Speaker, focus a lot on the issue of constituency funding, it I can see that Honourable Molale and others have benefited us a lot. We managed to achieve many things turned their backs towards you, and this is not acording because of it, in that if it happens that maybe we do not to the procedure in this House. Rebuke the Honourable have money that can fund it, we will all be in trouble in Members Mr Speaker. all the 57 Constituencies because there is no how you MR SPEAKER: I am sure they will rebuke themselves. can get into any Constituency and not find the results of constituency funding. My request is that consider it. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… Mr Speaker, I do not want time to run out for me, and MR LEUWE: Thank you Mr Speaker. I was still saying before I sit down, I would like you to critically look that I wish to see us focus on the agricultural sector into church institutions and the alcohol industry, because because I believe that COVID has opened our eyes. it looks like the ship is sinking. Thank you Director of It has made us to realise that, if border owners close ceremony … Mr Speaker not Director of ceremony. borders and they do not provide us with food then we HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure. You will are going to have a problem in our country. If you go correct me if I am wrong somewhere, I believe it is all over Botswana and assess whether we can sustain according to procedure to respect our President, His ourselves with food production, you will realize that, Excellency President Masisi. As I have been growing up, we have powerful people who can produce food that it is the first time for me to see Parliament proceedings is enough to sustain us in Botswana, and also export going on without the portrait of the President, I wonder some to other countries. My suspicion is that, we are not what is happening. I am wondering whether Honourable supporting them enough, you should put more focus on Kabo Morwaeng sees this as fine … the agricultural sector: we have very big fields, maybe at present, we still believe that we found those fields HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)…

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HONOURABLE MEMBER: …as the Honourable I am saying this because, every Motswana has long Minister who is responsible for this. Mr Speaker, if we been into pastoral farming, even if you can go to do not respect our own President, then there is no one every constituency or even areas which are prone to who will come from Zambia, Malawi of South Africa the foot and mouth disease you will find that their to give him respect. interest is pastoral farming so that they can be able to do domestic assignments. The cattle industry is faced with HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… challenges, the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) HONOURABLE MEMBER: This is a disgrace Mr issue is taking long to be resolved, the issue of cattle Speaker and it should be addressed quickly. If it was prices has also not been addressed. I am emphasizing possible, I could request for Parliament to adjourn, so Honourable Hikuama’s words that, farmers have that Honourable Morwaeng could correct this error … problems as they have no control of thier cattle prices. we see people coming with briefcases, telling us the HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… prices of our cattle, whil st they are in kraals.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: No, you cannot clap When we go to the shops, we find sugar, coffee and hands when you are not doing the right thing. Do not tea having prices attached to them. We cattle farmers undermine our President, there is only one President in cannot put prices on our own cattle. This issue has to Botswana, now what you are doing is not procedural, be addressed especially considering issues in Kweneng, just follow the right procedure Honourable Minister, Kgalagadi, Ngwaketse and Ngamiland. We are suffering you know how things are done. I am rebuking you, all the way up to Boteti that side, although I cannot talk rectify this issue. much about those areas because they were fortunate MR LEUWE: Procedure. We are out of procedure Mr enough to have a Vice President coming from their area; Speaker. You cannot stand up and say procedure, and maybe that is how they managed to have developments then talk about the President’s portraits, what are you going to their area. talking about which not on procedure. When you stand As I continue with my debate Mr Speaker, I will talk up here Mr Speaker you should… about creative arts. What we have at our disposal, HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… let us try to fortify it. Honourable Minister of Youth, consider performing arts closely; dialogue with your MR LEUWE: …you are talking about procedure, your superiors at the Ministry of Finance so that they can first word that you should speak is to show where we give you a budget; the youth, elders and Batswana who were out of Procedure. For the President’s portrait not are involved in the arts should be supported so that to be hanged here like it was an issue yesterday, does they would be able to make an income, and boost the not mean we are out of procedure Mr Speaker. What is economy. Do not disregard people and love their songs unprocedural is what the Honourable Member is doing, on the other hand. Every single day, every Sunday you standing up and derailing us. We were on procedure. Thank you. are entertained at home, playing your radios, artists singing; and you would not know that the song playing MR MOTSAMAI (GHANZI SOUTH): Thank you belongs to the deceased Ratsie Setlhako, who died as Mr Speaker. Let me also greet this House here and also apoor person; this song is by Andries Bok, who died greet His Excellency the President… poor. This is not good, let us ensure that we support HONOURABLE MEMBER: His Excellency the artists so that they would be able to survive. I am even President, said that. including the singing groups or choirs.

MR MOTSAMAI: ...and recognise him. Let me get HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... back to the issue being debated. I will start by saying, as Batswana, it seems like we are focusing more on MR MOTSAMAI: Even those who play digaba and the things that have been achived by other countries ditinkane. During former President Khama’s tenure which are way above us, and we ignore those things that there was a bit of light. Where is darkness coming from we were successful in from the beginning, which we now? Let there be light, so that we can see what the could promote. If they are funded , they can flourish. challenge could be.

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Mr Speaker, now coming to the issue of health; the is why we were saying ...(interruptions)...that is why complications come because we keep running with we long said a time has come for students to have news that come in. I have been hearing my colleagues tablets. What can you say about the fact that they are on the BDP (Domkrag) side boasting daily about their just realising now that tablets are important, especially manifesto and so forth, as if we do not know that during this era of COVID-19? they are the same old BDP (Domkrag), and it is their same manifesto. There are some issues that seem to MR MOATLHODI: Point of procedure. I thank you be lagging behind; we have left issues which we were Mr Speaker. I have observed a wrong trend across both trying to ensure that education about health reaches sides of the aisle. When a Member calls whatever point people. We used to have people at clinics who used to he calls, be it elucidation or whatever, I am not supposed spread messages about health and wellness in schools, to say, ‘quick quick!’ It has got to be authorised by your health auxiliaries. We used to have Village Health good self, sir. We should not do bilateral agreements this Committees (VHCs), which spread health messages, side sir, and I pray it stays that way sir. we even had choirs. The reason why we struggle wihn MR SPEAKER: You are quite right. health is because, we struggle with medication and sharing information with the people. I do not want to MR MOTSAMAI: I thank you Honourable Boko, talk like you that, ‘COVID has opened our eyes.’ As I thank you Honourable Moatlhodi; although they the opposition our eyes were long open when we talked are saying ‘tell them’ you are telling the whole about these things… House, you are not just advising one person. On that point Honourable Member, it is very true, tablets are HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... necessary just as you can see the Honourable Members MR MOTSAMAI: Starting from Pamphlet Number running helter skelter that side. They are not the only One, from many publications that we have written, ones; even sanitary pads are needed in schools. Us as the Chieftainship in Crisis, Education in Black Africa, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), have that in Social Democratic Programme and even our manifesto our manifesto, and we have always talked about them. was talking about these issues. Your eyes are just We did not just end there, we went further to distribute opening now during COVID, ours have long opened Mr them in various schools; and we are going to continue Speaker. buying them, assisting anyone who is at a disadvantage.

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... Mr Speaker, I was still talking about developments that they should be spread across. I am saying where MR MOTSAMAI: Mr Speaker, talking about health, the Government does well, I will commend them, but developments, as some were saying should not only where they are failing, I cannot give accolades. The be channeled to certain areas, where we see hospitals, schools and so forth being built in the same area,. arrangement of having created Councils, having them run themselves is a good thing. Your problem is that HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. you are treating Councils like messengers; Council MR MOTSAMAI: I will yield Honourable Member. It Secretaries do not take full responsibility when it comes is not proper for hospitals to be congested in one area. to taking decisions concerning their areas. That has to come to an end, if we want the economy in the rural Since we also pay tax, we cannot just sit back and areas to flourish. watch; we are expected to come from far to go and seek medical attention at Moshupa, in Greater Gaborone, our As I gravitate toward concluding, you came here and referrals are in Greater Gaborone. Our tax is spent in talked about the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), Greater Gaborone, and that is not a good thing. Let us and you have now thrown it off the window. It is not utilise tax equally as it should be. Yes, please comment the only one. You talked about many programmes such briefly. as Accelerated Rainfed Arable Programme (ARAP), Arable Lands Development Project (ALDEP) and MR BOKO: Point of clarification. I thank you so forth. You talk about programmes, and when Honourable Member of Parliament. It makes me very Batswana are just about to hear what you are saying, glad when you talk about the issue of ‘eyes opening,’ you discontinue them; you then talk about another one, making it clear that ours have long been open. That when it fails you dispose it off.

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Where is the ESP because you said it was going we should get into a knowledge based economy which to improve the lives of Batswana? Why did you we can handle together so that we change the strategy to discontinue it because you clearly pointed out that it is develop Motswana. capable of moving Batswana forward? Let me tell you why you disposed it off; you lost it because it was just a Minister that is why I am mainly focusing on the fact campaign tool. You failed to talk to Water Utilities and that, when you talk about inclusivity, you are saying, tell them that people who did backyard gardening and so every Motswana across the country should feel like forth should not have their water disconnected; and that a strong Motswana, they should benefit from their their water bills should be custom made, that is why you country. This is driven by the fact that, the programmes threw it off the window. that we are coming up with, programmes similar to the ones which you mentioned in your presentation, are In conclusion, we need developments in the whole the only ones that can take us somewhere; like creating country as I said. A constituency like Ghanzi South has permanent jobs and developments. The main issue that an area called Charles Hill; it should have a primary I have been hearing the Honourable Members talking hospital. In Gantsi there should be a district hospital, about is that, it seems like we are staring to take pride maybe in Maun or Kang, there should be a referral in our manifesto. Minister, you will notice that we are hospital. on the right track as the ruling party because everything HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… that has been mentioned in this Parliament; Motions and questions from both sides of the aisle, more especially MR SPEAKER: Honourable Balopi followed by from Members who are representing opposition, they Honourable Dr Dikoloti. ask questions because they appreciate what is in our MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR agenda or manifesto, they want to know how and when PRODUCTIVITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT we are going to implement these ideas. They have never (MR BALOPI): Thank you Mr Speaker, good morning. presented a single Motion which they used to during Let me recognise the presence of His Excellency the campaigns, they are making it clear that… President, allow me to greet him as well Honourable HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of clarification Mr Members. Speaker. Mr Speaker, I hereby support the Motion by Honourable MR BALOPI: So, I believe that this shows that our Dr Matsheka, most importantly let me support the addendum that was made to the Mid-Term review of development plan is solid. the National Development Plan 11 of Botswana, which The other important issue that I want to focus on is is focusing on stimulating the economy and to change that, when we talk about inclusive economy, when the strategy for the Development Plan for 2020, 2021, developments are carried out in our country, we should 2022, 2023. It has a topic which focuses on coming up with a solid permanent plan on exponentially growing pay attention to… the economy of Botswana. The focus of this topic is MR MMOLOTSI: On a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr summarised by what we promised Batswana through Speaker, I thought that you will stop the debate because our manifesto as the ruling party, when we said that we the Honourable Member is out of order by saying that want to have an inclusive economy. Mr Speaker, this there are people who are representing the opposition. No inclusivity is the one that we have been noticing from one is representing opposition here in Parliament. We way back when we started talking about development are representing the nation, people who voted for us. plans to move the country forward. There is evidence of what we have done as a country, the way we have been MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Continue preserving our treasures and developments to change the Honourable Balopi. image of Batswana for the better. That is why there is solid evidence before you today Mr Speaker, evidence of MR BALOPI: I always hear you saying that you are educated people who are not in the ruling party, doctors Members of the Opposition and that you have the Leader and experts in different fields. That is the inclusivity Of Opposition. Maybe I was using it in that context, but that we are talking about. The aim is that going forward, I do know that all of us here are representing Batswana.

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Minister, I want us to talk about developments whereby we know that there are certain skills which are found at as leaders, we are going to start debating issues which every respective family and area that every Motswana have been presented before us, so that our developments comes from, those skills should be gathered, nurtured , are not carried out on the basis of individual interests. strengthened and be preserved so that they can be sold We should start magnifying our ideas so that when we to other countries. That is why we are talking about implement developments, they will be investments for Intellectual Property (IP) which matches these skills. the whole country, so that at the end, we can be able MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL to go to our respective constituencies and carry out RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND TOURISM developments which will be valuable to voters who sent (MS KERENG): On point of elucidation Mr Speaker. us here. Like someone said, it should be developments Honourable, wrap it up, but let me help you to wrap it which… we should construct roads. It is said that there up. Last week when we started the project to expand the are many ways of generating income, but the only National Museum, stress the point that, we are going way to generate income nowadays is by developing to collect these skills, culture and our heritage which infrastructure, roads, buildings and so forth especially Batswana and tourists from other countries can be able after being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic which to see, still using technology so that people can be able we do not see as a problem this side. We see it as a to access this immense knowledge through online chance which should not be misused, it should be an technology and so forth. That is our progress, it is not opportunity which shows us that we have to be quick to like our eyes have been opened and we are not doing do things differently, like we have started doing. anything. Thank you.

No one knew that in every village which has schools, the MR BALOPI: Thank you Honourable. You are on the experts who can be able to take services to those schools right track. I cannot ruin your words because you are in a short period of time. No one knew that at this point on the right track. As Batswana, we have been doing in time, there will be no one here as well as Batswana traditional orthopaedics as our culture, and if there at large who will not have flu because it means that this are people who see it as something which is not proper, opportunity or crisis should not be wasted. It showed you have to know that it is one of the things that we us how to conduct ourselves on different circumstances encourage as we highlighted in our manifesto that and that, we can carry out developments promptly. Not people should start sharpening these skills, moulding that there has never been any programme which shows them so that they can be well known and also so that us how we can do developments. people can know how they can help. We should also start expanding this pratice of traditional orthopaedic in I am grateful that you have realised that taking the other countries. I am just giving it as an example. economy to all constituencies was a good thing, I will give an example, when I was growing up, there was Others have expanded, things like what we are doing at Botswana Enterprise Development Unit (BEDU), and Kgalagadi, giving it as an example, it is said that sheep it is where men and women manufactured uniforms for and goat meat from Kgalagadi tastes good which might children and other different items . I believe that like be caused by the grass there. Research has been carried you are saying, last time Minister Molale told us about and I agree with those who are saying that we should the developments that we have to carry out in order to develop our research, Research Fund should be there develop the economy of rural areas. and those who research about these issues should be free to do these things. At the end of the day, with an Last time Honourable Rakgare talked about artist or Arts inclusive economy, Phakalane and areas like Extension and Culture. That is a broad issue because we are not 10 and Ledumang can end up being of the same standard only talking about songs and dance; we are also talking because every Motswana will be a firm stakeholder. We about other things which are being done by Batswana. should all focus on these issues. They can safeguard them as we bought records or compact discs (CDs) of artists like Michael Jackson. We We should start with issues of land as Honourable should also see our people starting to buy that kind of Mzwinila has been talking about them saying that an music, starting to see our arts and culture spreading to inclusive economy means that he should start doing other countries. Safeguarding their skills and knowledge evaluations so that, according to land management as we are talking about knowledge-based economy. As or the land act, they should not be side-lined or be

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disadvantaged because they do not see development that, since Minister Matsheka has prepared himself, we like those at Gaborone North and so forth. Since it should prepare Public Procurement and Asset Disposal is like that, they should also be counted in when the Board (PPADB) Act because the youth have an immense consultations are ongoing. That is inclusive economy. talent. The only thing which proves to be a challenge at the moment is the way innovation is traded. One of the Lastly Mr Speaker, our main aim is to uplift the things we realised during the scourge of COVID-19 is dignity of Motswana which means we should set aside seeing Batswana farmers rising up and take advantage whatever divides us and embrace that which build us of where there was this available infrastructure. They so that Motswana can get wealth which we see from held an online auction which was done by Letsomo others. With that said, I thank you, I thought you would Ranch, from which they accrued satisfactory profit. I increase Mr Speaker. trust that it was a start of the many which will follow. MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL One of the things that we wish to see taking place going DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (DR forward is to see our locally developed breeds such as DIKOLOTI): Thank you Mr Speaker and let me Musi dominating in these kind of auctions. Moving appreciate the presence of His Excellency, the President. on Mr Speaker under infrastructural development, we Mr Speaker, I support Honourable Minister Matsheka’s have the issue of electricity especially electricity to Motion. I want to support it with the theme, “The the production areas. It is an important issue because importance of economic recovery and transformation many a times you just see a power line passing over your head in the production areas, whereas you need it is no longer an issue of debate but an urgent policy for food production. Productivity is very important for drive and implementation issue.” In other words, what agricultural transformation, without that we will never Minister Matsheka is trying to bring in this presentation achieve proper transformation from agriculture. is to scratch where it itches. Two months back we had State of Emergency (SOE) debate Mr Speaker. This side Another important one under infrastructural development of the aisle was focusing on preserving lives, of which we is roads which Minister Matsheka talked about a lot. If can unanimously agree in this House that the method we we are going to construct a road connecting Mmathethe used preserved lives. We want to expand on preserving to Kgalagadi, that road should branch to Kangwe which lives by now bringing dignity in an individual’s life to is a production area that can link with Kgalagadi to reduce the impact of an affected economy. Looking complete the whole value chain of agriculture. carefully at the way Minister Matsheka has unpacked this plan, you would realise that, this is what we needed Lastly on infrastructural development, let me talk to all along because one of the things which has been a the issue of water Mr Speaker. I want to thank Minister challenge is the implementation part. He said to make Matsheka for managing to facilitate the expansion of sure that implementation is carried out, there is going to Masama pipes because we have experienced shortage be an implementation unit. of water in South for a long time. We believe that this vein of Masama as it has been expanded there should Mr Speaker, one of the things that I want to debate be Lobatse Water Master Plan and Goodhope Water on is the issue of infrastructural development. One of the things which we have promised voters when we Master Plan to deal with water shortage which has been campaigned is that, we are going to spread technology a challenge for a long time. We will then be able to have to different areas, be it urban-rural areas or lands. The potable water to drink and produce food and live like main thing is, the current generation is very skilled on other people. technology usage. I believe that relevant stakeholders Still on infrastructural development, we ask that the such as Botswana Communications Regulatory Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Authority (BOCRA) will hasten to spread technology Services be allocated funds to service most of the land where needed. A lesson that we took from Corona is because we are suffering in some areas. You will find that, it is important to adopt a lot of technologies and that an area such as Digawana is surrounded by farms. innovations which can enable us to trade without our We have no grazing land. Constantly we fight with usual contact. Above that, I believe that in spreading Boers day and night because our cattle would have that technology, we will have to prepare how we will trespassed into their farms. That is an important point manage to procure innovation which will talk to the fact to note because it is the same in areas such as Masunga.

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You will find a crop production area without grazing budgetary constraints. We should come up with different land so if we are able to secure funds, we should try ways, be it mafisa as a developmental concept that will to service other lands so that people can be engaged in try to develop and promote it, so that at the end we may food production. sell it to other countries. Mr Speaker, another issue is the tourism sector. One of In conclusion Mr Speaker, there is another important the things that we have not been doing is not considering areas which can promote religious tourism. We have matter which as a party we have pledged that we are Lentswelemoriti and Metlobo, which is rich in history going to create Botswood. Honourable Minister Rakgare and if we can fund and develop it to try and attract is trying by all means to ensure that the Arts Council is people, it can generate a lot of income for a sustainable established where there is so much potential in it. life. Mr Speaker, it is one of the things which can profit us a lot… If you consider the geography of Botswana, you will realise that this is a permanent diamond which can HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR TSOGWANE): Elucidation. Thank you, I will not ensure that its whole value is exploited so that the youth use much of your time Honourable Member. You are can find jobs. We will be able to create jobs which will raising an important point and you should emphasise sustain us as well as lend Botswana in a position that we that it relates to the Government idea which talks about want it to be. cluster development. As you single out areas and the special resources they have, that is the idea of cluster In conclusion Mr Speaker, I want to talk about development that the Government is emphasising which commodity trading platforms. We are at a time where is also there in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) we have to come up with ways through which we can Manifesto. access markets that will pay our farmers appropriately. DR DIKOLOTI: Thank you very much Leader of the HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… House. That is a relevant matter you are addressing. When I conclude with agriculture trade platforms, I MR LUCAS (BOBONONG): Thank you Mr Speaker. will connect it with cluster development. Mr Speaker, Many issues have been debated but there are those another issue is agricultural transformation. There is which we have been living with for the past 55 years no how we can recognise agricultural transformation while some came as a result of COVID 19. The issues without increasing productivity. If we do not pull up our that we have been dealing with for a long time compel socks to ensure that our production grows, we will not us to deal with them at a higher pace than we did before. even realise industrialisation, because industrialisation comes as a result of surplus. It is important that we do One of these issues is poverty which it is clear that it more than ever before now. Researches indicate that, has immensely affected other areas more than others. we have about 60 000 farming households, 97 per cent As we are dealing with Mid-Term Review, we have of which are traditional. Since 1978, the production to first and foremost adhere to areas which have been from such has been less than 500 kilograms per hectare, severely affected by poverty. These areas have to be our which is far below the set Malabo Declaration target. top priority. These things are important so that when we want to industrialise and carry out agriculture in such a way The national average of poverty according to Statistics that it will alleviate poverty, create jobs and contribute Botswana is 16.3 per cent. When you consider how meaningfully towards the sector Gross Domestic poverty has affected some Constituencies, it is so Product (GDP), we must be laser focused to make sure terrifying and worrisome. I will list about five of these that at the end we become more productive. If we follow Constituencies. The first one is Kweneng West; 50 per this, we will be able to succeed. cent of the people of Kweneng West are impoverished. When you consider Mid-Term Review in relation to Mr Speaker, I believe that one important aspect is to increase budget towards our research and development. Kweneng West Constituency, it is not easy to depict what Right now it has been a long time since we produced can be done to address this absolute poverty because Musi cow, but you can see that it is difficult due to of these numbers. So, we urge Members of Parliament

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of this Constituency to be serious when we deal with of people who are rich who have GDP of 22. 6 per cent. these issue because poverty has severely affected your This 10 per cent of rich people who have invested in constituents. 58 per cent of GDP of Botswana Honourable Matsheka, we have to increase their tax. I know you very well, The second Constituency is West… since we are having income challenges, you will be collecting tax from poor people who harvest phane, HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. grass, firewood … MR LUCAS: I know you are provoked when I talk HONOURABLE MEMBER: Including melons. about this one. The second Constituency is Ngwaketse West; their average of poverty ranges around 40.3 per MR LUCAS: …they collect tax from those things cent, according to Statistics Botswana. It is worrisome while they are on the other hand increasing Omang and and these are some of the Constituencies which we passport fees… should ignore Honourable Members. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of procedure. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… MR LUCAS: … I know you are intending to do that. MR LUCAS: Kgalagadi South has also been severely affected by poverty which ranges around 39.5 percent. HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Applause!)… Ghanzi, Honourable Motsamai; it ranges around 36.3 MR LUCAS: That is what you are intending to do. Sir, per cent while Ngamiland West ranges around 33.4 do not take it there … per cent. These poverty statistics indicate that there are some areas which we have to prioritise when dealing MR SPEAKER: Procedure. with Mid-Term Review in terms of poverty eradication. When considering the Mid-Term Review, no efforts MR LUCAS: …there are people who are … have been made to find out why these areas have been MR SPEAKER: Honourable Lucas, point of procedure. severely affected by poverty. However, there are areas which have been severely affected by poverty such as MR LUCAS: Ok! Bobirwa and we all have to be worried because of that. HONOURABLE MEMBER: I have long asked for One of the things which we live with, which exist in clarification. our county is the gap between the rich and the poor. You have to be concerned about these gap if you are a MR LUCAS: I know you are fraudulent. believer. 1 per cent of people who are rich have a Gross MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND Domestic Product (GDP) of 22. 6 per cent in Botswana. RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MR MOLALE): On 10 per cent of people who are rich have invested 58 per a point of procedure. I think this House will be out of cent of GDP of Botswana. This is a worrisome situation procedure if we allow Honourable Lucas to impute Honourable Members. Therefore, we have to pay improper motives on the Government of the day. He is attention as well as take action towards it Honourable saying that he believes the Government is intending to Matsheka and His Excellency are here today. You have increase taxes there and there. That is improper and out to be concerned about this situation and we have to find of procedure. Do not insinuate and then impute those a way in which we can minimise the gap between the motives which the Government did not mention. You rich and the poor. Moreover, Honourable Matsheka as are misleading the nation and this House. you will be requesting for supplementary budget as we have been affected by COVID-19, since the diamond MR LUCAS: I know you are provoked but I am aware market has gone down, perhaps this calls us to assess of your areas of interest as far as tax is concerned. I out tax as well as increase it for those who have been know that you are intending to increase electricity and benefitting from our diamonds for many years can. I am water bills but they are going to affect the poor and going to say this without fear; I know that some of you less privileged. You are saying I am imputing improper are friends with rich people and you will tell them what motives but that is how you operate; you are afraid of I said. Unfortunately, we will have to increase the tax taxing the rich. Most of the time, you entertain collecting for these rich people. We have to target this one per cent tax from the less privileged and we have to voice those

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concern out. Another issue of great importance which I both the opposition and the ruling party. I do not see want to raise while His Excellency is still here so that anything wrong with any vote or whatsoever, whether he can take it to the Cabinet is about land. We were at it is a vote of no by the opposition or by the ruling the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last time. Their party. You cannot use that to impute improper motives statistics are so terrifying; there are 620 000 people in by saying we vote no this side. You also vote no when Botswana who are waiting for land allocation. circumstances allow, so I do not see anything wrong with that. It will be out of procedure Mr Speaker, if the HONOURABLE MEMBER: For 27 years. public were to be informed that any vote by this House MR LUCAS: A total of 620 000 people in Botswana are is not in order. I thank you Mr Speaker. waiting for land allocation. They have no land. If you try MR SPEAKER: The votes are quite procedural, but I to find out whether there is a plan to give 620 000 people thought that Honourable Lucas was talking politics. land, there is absolutely nothing. It is clear that it is very possible for a person to wait for land in Gaborone for HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… 30 years. It is also possible for another person to wait for land allocation for 27 years in Mogoditshane. On MR LUCAS: Okay, sorry Mr Speaker! the other hand, there are those who own many farms MR SPEAKER: I thought Honourable Lucas was in Botswana. If at all we want these people to have a talking politics. great future, we have to give them land. Land dignifies a person; even if you are not working but have a plot, if HONOURABLE MEMBER: Sorry Mr Speaker! you do not have money, visiting your plot from time to MR SPEAKER: It is has nothing to do with order. time on its own dignifies you. HONOURABLE MEMBER: He knows. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION (MR MR LUCAS: So, let us allocate land to Batswana. We SALESHANDO): Procedure. I fully agree with your are aware that the shortage of land has forced peope built ruling, but ever since this morning, we have been in houses and rent them out at high prices in urban areas. It inundated with irrelevant points of order from the ruling is difficult, our people are suffering. We should openly party. It could mean one or two things or both; either the discuss these issues Honourable Members, learn to talk rulers do not know Standing Orders… about these issues because you were given powers and stop saying no, no everytime we vote. Can we work HONOURABLE MEMBER: They do not know them with people who everytime say no, they never take any even now. advice? This behaviour has to stop, you were voted by the people with the hope and belief that you will help MR SALESHANDO: …or they made a deliberate them. decision to ignore the procedure. I plead that they be called to order, it cannot be that, ever since this morning HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… when we started there has never been an irrelevant point HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… of order raised this side but there is a hail of them that other side of the aisle. What is the problem? Mr Speaker, MR LUCAS: The other issue is Agriculture. please reprimand all those who seem to be out of order HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order Mr including the oldest member of the House, he is failing Speaker. to distinguish what a point of order is.

MR LUCAS: There is another issue of Agriculture… MR TSOGWANE: Procedure. Mr Speaker, the Leader of the House knows the rules of this House. He cannot MR SPEAKER: Honourable Lucas point of order! stand and try to guide or direct you. You have made a MR LUCAS: No, this man likes to interrupt people! ruling and once you have made it; it stands. On that note, he must learn the rules of this House. LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): Point of order. Sit down. Mr Speaker, there are MR SPEAKER: You are quite right the Leader of the procedures in this House which have to be followed by House.

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MR LUCAS: I now see why the Vice President is Zones (SEZs) projects and increased the budget as the apprehensive, it is clear; he is the one encouraging a lot livelihood of the country is in SEZs; it is the one which of no’s that side. can boost our economy.

Let me get to the issue of Agriculture although time is The issue of unemployment which was raised, we almost up. Honourable Members, there is no farming know and also understand that close to 251 171 youth which can be a success if we do not offer people of this country are unemployed. We indicated in our programmes which provides them with water so that manifesto that we are going to create jobs which after they can practice irrigation farming. We cannot rely on the implementation of this plan will be over 100 000 rainfed agriculture, we can see that rainfall is unreliable jobs. For example; we have a Leather Park project at therefore we should come up with proper programmes Lobatse. We are going to be doing leather works to to help people to practice irrigated agriculture, manufacture shoes, belts and bags. anyone venturing into farming should be offered this HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. programme… MR MOABI: Mr Speaker, in so doing we would have MR SPEAKER: Honourable Moabi, followed by created jobs, reduced the import bill and transformed the Honourable Thiite. Time is up Honourable Lucas! country’s economy through this project at Lobatse. MR LUCAS: Thank you very much. Mr Speaker, there are certain projects we can implement HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… to transform the economy of the country and create jobs as I indicated that, we would have created 100 000 MR MOABI (TATI WEST): Thank you Mr Speaker. already. We acknowledge and applaud the Government Let me recognise the presence of His Excellency as there is already implementation of the SEZs project at the President amongst us. I stand to support the plan Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. Moving on to presented before us by Minister Matsheka which we Palapye, I heard my friend across the aisle complaining should review as a country. We should bear in mind about unemployment. Mr Speaker there is plenty of that, in rural areas; villages like Gulubane, Mambo, fossil at Palapye. We are going to generate electricity Kalakamati and Sekakangwe need roads. I disagree using coal and also produce diesel which we have been with one Member who indicated that developments are importing. We are also going to manufacture jet oil in the same areas simply because just recently at my we have been importing. Oils, asphalt; the tar that we constituency we were supplied with water including at import for other countries will be manufactured through Masama, Maun and other areas. the SEZs programme. So through this implementation, HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… we would have created a lot of jobs, reduced import bill and transformed the economy of this country. I wanted HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)…. to quickly mention that, as my friend indicated that there are no jobs at Palapye, jobs are going to be created. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… MR MOABI: Mr Speaker, we were attacked by a pandemic which has negatively affected our country. MR MOABI: As we promised Batswana that we are As we promised Batswana recently that there will be going to create jobs, we are also going to do so through certain developments, some will be deferred, it is not a the SEZs project at Tuli Block. There is going to be deliberate action it is due to the impact of the pandemic. farming, we are no longer going to import potatoes and However, it has necessitated us to realise that there are vegetables as we usually do. some things we can manufacture locally and that our import bill is high. Since we are a party which knows HONOURABLE MEMBER: On a point of procedure what it is doing and promised Batswana that we will Mr Speaker. generate jobs, we are going to do exactly that. MR MOABI: We will be doing that…

Mr Speaker, I want to thank Minister Matsheka because MR MOATLHODI: Point of procedure. I take this upon realising that this pandemic has a negatively time Mr Speaker to thank you for the opportunity you impacted our economy, he prioritised Special Economic have given me. Mr Speaker, this particular meeting, we

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are talking the generalities of the Bill as presented by the talked about, this dam will be servicing 52 villages with Honourable Minister, and it leaves me perplexed if not water, from Moroka all the way to Mbalambi. That is a flabbergasted, to hear the Honourable Member confining huge development to people’s lives. Thank you. himself to a particular section of the economy. I pray he be put to the right track. MR MOABI: That is a huge development my friend, you know very well and as I was saying , we have MR SPEAKER: I did not think he was confining distributed developments in the country, we are not himself to any particular section. focusing on one side as it was said. Mr Speaker, since my time is about to be up, I want to congratulate this MR MOABI: Mr Speaker, Honourable Member does Government, as we can see efforts are being made to not understand somewhere, we are talking about how create jobs. Our import Bill now if we look at it, is we can revive our economy. We are talking about focused on food. We are going to produce our own food unemployment that we see the youth being concerned at Pandamatenga. Right now we have started growing about now. Mr Speaker... potatoes which we have been getting from outside, there are projects that are in progress there. I want to HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR show how we are going to create jobs. There will be TSOGWANE): Elucidation. Let me thank you a lot and trucks that will be transporting goods in and out, that also be thankful for the ruling by Mr Speaker. When is job creation. Food processing will be available, that you talk about the economy, you are talking about is job creation. Mr Speaker, having said that, I want to things that can boost the economy, you are not talking congratulate you, I support Honourable Matsheka that about projects of your Constituency. So, when you talk he should inject funds into Special Economic Zones about Morupule, coal and all those that are happening, Authority (SEZA) Honourable Member, our life is... including energy, you are talking the generalities that grow the economy of this country. Now you are on the MR MOLEBATSI: Elucidation. Let me add to what you were saying that food will be processed, just like right path Honourable Member, just speak, do not be at the National Agro Processing (NAPRO), we are intimidated. I thank you. reviving it Honourable Member, so that we can get food MR MOABI: Thank you Your Honour. We are here from farmers who will be in the area of SPEDU, and that concerned about unemployment, I am talking about jobs will create jobs. I agree with you Honourable Member. that we promised Batswana that we will create, I am MR MOABI: Thank you Honourable Member, jobs talking about that Honourable Member of Parliament. are going to be created. If you can look at those that I Francistown is a mining and a logistic hub, we are going indicated Mr Speaker, we are going to go beyond 100 to create a lot of jobs there. We are going to decrease our 000 jobs that were talked about, with the projects that I import bill in that way. As there are trucks that we always showed in this House. Thank you Mr Speaker. see from Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe and other countries, at Francistown HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… those trucks will arrive there, the goods will then be MR THIITE (GHANZI NORTH): Thank you Mr transported to other countries. Doing that we will have Speaker. Let me recognise the presence of the President created jobs for the yout thus reducing the import bill, of our country His Excellency President Masisi. and now the country’s economy will be in a good status. The Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Mr Speaker, when I get to the Constituency I am from, Development, I take this time Honourable Member we have Ntimbale Dam, dam tourism can be done there. to thank you for sitting down and looking at the Mid- We have many hills, the likes of Mauge, Gandanyemba, Term Review extensively. You brought an addendum to Mantenge, I am talking about things that attract tourists the Mid-Term Review, and you are trying to diversify in the Constituency...(interruption)... Mr Speaker... the economy for Batswana and assist in regards to MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY: Elucidation. Thank the effects of COVID-19. Honourable Minister, you you Honourable Member. While you are still talking said in the factors that you mentioned, how you want about dams like Ntimbale, I wanted to just clarify that, to diversify the economy, and you did not forget our since we are talking about the development of people’s Manifesto of Domkrag (Botswana Democratic Party). lives, upon completion of the infrastructure that has been You tried to talk a lot about what we talked about when

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we were campaigning that, we will advance Batswana to I have to point out that, as a country, we know that we are the inclusive economy, you addressed all those points. depending more on diamonds and tourism sectors, and Let me thank you that as the Honourable Minister of currently they have been severely affected. Diamonds Finance and Economic Development of the ruling party, are longer bought at a rate they were bought before, you remembered that we went to Batswana to campaign or as we expected. We also know that Batswana do in the last elections. Let me also point out that you did business in South Africa, China and the world at large. not forget that as Batswana and a country, there is a At the moment, international air travel is at a standstill. vision that we are focusing on; Vision 2036, which we Challenges will keep showing. Although we would be should ensure that it accomplishes all the things that doing our best as the Government, trying to see how are expected by the vision. You addressed some of the we can work on the economy so that Batswana and points that are our priorities as a nation; you addressed Botswana as a country could move forward; we shall the promotion of export-led growth, building human continue encountering challenges as long as the cure has capital, provision of appropriate infrastructure and that not been found. you want to ensure prudent Government spending and financing. All these things Honourable Minister, Iam I would like to maybe take them one by one. thankful that you had the intellect in improving the Honourable Minister, when you look at the air travel economy and also to look at the review of the National sector in Botswana, it is leaning toward one side of the Development Plan (NDP) 11. country. So when the other side of the country does not have access to air travel, we cannot say all is well. We should point out, and also remind Batswana that, Honourable Minister, arise and see what you can do to because there is this virus, there has been challenges ensure that all four corners of the country have access that were brought by this virus, and they have affected to air travel. We know that air travel plays a big role in the whole world with our country included. It is evident assisting business; it enables Batswana to have access in to other markets. Air travel is also very important. that, this economic recession will be more severe Please consider that point Honourable Minister. than the one of 2008/2009, looking at the fact that, it will be similar to the one of the years of 1920/1930. I would also like to address the issue of health. Batswana should remember this, we should not relax Honourable Minister, we can see that Government because there will be a lot of challenges. Batswana we spends a lot in building hospitals, health posts, clinics are going to lose our jobs, we can see that some of the and so forth; but the problem is that, although they are businesses have closed. It is even evident at courts that there, these facilities need appropriate manpower. You Batswana are now going there, because of cases about can observe that primary hospitals are spread all over the economy not running smoothly, Batswana cannot the country, but when you visit them , you will find out stand on their feet, and they are in debt. that, there are no specialists. We really have to consider this point seriously, and see what we can do to ensure We should also consider that currently, the country that health facilities have all the needed specialists, so will face instability due to the economic effects of that the health of Batswana can be preserved. the pandemic . We should make Batswana to realise these things, and not keep them a secret. Even as The other issue could be in regard to medicine; medicines are not enough to reach every corner of the country, as the Honourable Minister is talking about economic they should. You will find that around the country there diversification, we should know that those challenges are health facilities as I was saying, the challenge would will remain with us because the virus is still there. be patients could go there but they would not be able We also realise that there will be a growth regarding to get assistance regarding medication as fast as they issues of Gender Based Violence (GBV). We know that should. The other issue is that Batswana travel long Batswana will lose their commodities in these difficult distances seeking medical assistance. times, and Batswana who own businesses, will lose what in business is called credit worthiness. We have Honourable Minister, I would like to touch on the issue to know that Batswana in business will face challenges of transport, focusing more on connecting our country such that they would have to seek assistance from banks with other countries. We are a landlocked country, as so that they would be able to play a role in the growth you can see, it is very important for us to see what we of the economy. can do because Namibia long assisted us with a dry port

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to connect us with her sea. We need to work closely with know, yet they are not telling the truth. I will give you them. It is very important for the Trans-Kalahari rail to ten examples of things which are in the plan, the Mid- be built, so that we would connect with this country. Term Review, addendum, they are listed, everywhere We are happy because we are about to complete the where the President stands to speak, even his Ministers, Kazungula Bridge; this shows our effort of trying to they keep saying “COVID taught us that…” and this is connect our country with the neighbouring countries so not true. that we would be able to expand our economy. Number one; they say COVID taught them that if we Honourable Minister, in my brief contribution, let me do not grow food to feed ourselves, we could have thank the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry; problems. Mr Speaker you know that issues of food they continue to be on their feet to ensure that Batswana security were started by the likes of Motsamai Mpho and are able to venture into businesses, as we saw them Dr Kenneth Koma. One day the Botswana Democratic reviewing the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Party (BDP) even decided they want food security; as Agency (CEDA) guidelines, to enable Batswana to long as they have money to buy, whether they produce borrow money. that for themselves or not, that is not important. You were not taught by COVID, you were long told but you The last point Honourable Minister is that let us consider ignored. livestock; Batswana are lamenting about prices, they are low. When you look at our neighbouring countries, HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)… whom we beat in terms of the quality of the meat, their prices are very high compared to what we have on the MR SALESHANDO: Let me take a recent one, table. This alone ends up making Batswana to drag their technology in classes; we went for elections where the feet when it comes to the beef industry. Honourable Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) was saying we Minister, arise so that we can assist Batswana. Let us see should buy tablets so that we would use technology in whether we cannot increase the prices at the Botswana classes, you refused and told Batswana that the UDC Meat Commission (BMC), at the abattoirs and feedlots. is dreaming. Right now, you are coming here to say If we see that it can affect the Government because she ‘COVID has taught us that we could use technology in will have to inject funds into it, we can open the borders classes,’ false! in the meantime because last time when we opened HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ... (Applause!)… them, the price of a beast went up from P12 to P19… MR SALESHANDO: Number three; they are saying MR SPEAKER: Time up! ‘COVID has taught us that a class can be run better MR THIITE: I am saying we should seriously look when students are not congested,’ the manifesto of the into this issue because the beef industry…Thank you. opposition parties starting with the Botswana National Front (BNF), to the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), MR SALESHANDO (MAUN WEST): I thank you Botswana Peoples Party (BPP); that is where the class Mr Speaker. We are at a time of reviewing the National size comes from. You are not telling the truth, acting as if Development Plan, how far we have gone; what it is you are on the road to Damascus saying COVID showed we might have learned which we did not know when you something on the way; you entered knowingly. You the plan was established. Before I point out that we are just ignored and refused, acting like people who are going to fail to implement this plan, because we do not deaf. want to accept the truth, I will point out in this way; a HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)… certain road in Jerusalem, that goes from Jerusalem to Damascus was made famous to the whole world by a MR SALESHANDO: Number four; you are saying we man called Saul. Saul persecuted people, he made them should produce our own food at home, that we should suffer. One day Saul encountered what is now famously stop and do what is called import substitution. Lobatse dubbed “the road to Damascus moment,” he came to his Clay Works has been liquidated, and closed. It was senses and started to know certain things that he did not producing bricks. You refused to buy bricks from them; know before. Right now, the BDP (Domkrag) is talking instead, you bought bricks from South Africa. Schools as if they are on the road to Damascus. They are talking in the Borolong area, where Honourable Molale comes of how COVID taught them the things they did not from, were built with bricks that were bought outside

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Botswana. Most buildings at the University of Botswana procedures. (UB), were built with bricks that came from outside Botswana. You were told not to do that, today that is Number seven; Minister Matsheka, you wrote about when you are saying ‘COVID has taught us import the importance of research and development for us to substitution,’ you are not telling the truth. have quality projects. You are saying that COVID-19 has taught you these things. Before you even thought HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)… of running for elections, this issue was debated here in Parliament due to the challenge that we are not MR SALESHANDO: Number five; Honourable issuing enough funds from the budget as a percentage Dr Matsheka you have captured it here that COVID of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to push research has made it clear that we need Citizen Economic and development. Members of Parliament who were Empowerment (CEE), and the other one was saying BDP members were against this idea saying that the ‘people came here wearing sandals…’ but when he was funds are enough, so do not come here and tell us that given shares in their companies he turned against his COVID-19 has taught you that we need research and own words. quality products.

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)…

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)… MR SALESHANDO: I think it will be clear that the MR SALESHANDO: Do not come and tell us that challenge which was there is failure of leadership. Let COVID has taught you that CEE is important. In the me go to number eight, Last time Honourable Molao 10th Parliament I was here, a CEE policy came and we talked about education for production, that he does not refused saying we should make an Act not a policy; you want an education system whereby children are only were adamant. You were not taught by COVID, you trained to pass and that he wants them to be taught so were long told and you refused. that they can do something on the ground. He said that COVID-19 taught him that. Number six... HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY: Procedure. Thank HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, Honourable Leader of the Opposition, unless he can prove to the contrary; he is MR SALESHANDO: The issue of education with imputing improper motives. He is saying that someone production…since you are sitting next to Honourable said something, and after being bribed, he turned a blind Morwaeng, ask him to inform you. When he was at eye to these issues… Botswana National Front (BNF), he talked about this issue way before COVID-19… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY: Unless he can tell us what he means and what that proves, that is improper MR SALESHANDO: …he preached this issue across motives. Thank you. the country.

MR SPEAKER: Honourable Healy, there is no MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION (MR MOLAO): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, procedure in that. He is talking of politics. I did not want to interrupt the Honourable Member’s HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… flow of debate but he is not correct to say Isaidin this House that we are going with the outcome-based MR SALESHANDO: Number six; the health state, education because we have been taught by COVID-19. I you always say that COVID-19 showed us that we never uttered those words, unless we can go and pull out need developed and better hospitals and a resilient health system. It is not COVID-19. You have long the Hansard to state and show what he is saying is not been informed about these challenges and you ignored true. He was listening, but he did not understand what I them; our health system is on its knees not because of was saying. He should say something else other than to COVID-19, but because of your ignorance on these attribute that I talked about outcome-based education,

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saying that it is as a result of COVID-19. The Education HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP) programme has long started way before COVID-19. I was talking about MR SALESHANDO: Let me briefly talk about the ETSSP and not COVID-19. shortcoming that I am noticing on this plan before I get to my concluding points. One of the biggest problems, MR SPEAKER: Do you follow Honourable Leader of the challenges which BDP is still denying, is in relation the Opposition? to targets. To set a target that… even when I heard Honourable Moabi of Tati West saying no, they are MR SALESHANDO: Well, let me put it like this; going to create more than 100 000 jobs, he is telling Botswana Democratic Party recently rushed the us about Lobatse Leather Park. The Leather Park is a education with production, after Van Rensburg has long project of National Development Plan (NDP) 9. It is been buried, they were shouting when education with written in the NDP 9; it is written there. It is also there in production was mentioned, saying that it is not something NDP 10, Mr Modubule and Mr Sadique Kebonang came which can be accomplished. Welcome if you have been and went, while there was no implementation there. So baptised, but you have not been baptised by COVID-19, it is not worthwhile to come and tell us that no, we have we are welcoming you today, that you can eat the Holy reconsidered the leather park in the Mid-Term Review Communion that is education with production. of NDP 11. They never want to set targets for themselves HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… and the reason is because you know that like in the past, you are going to fail. What you cannot measure, you MR SALESHANDO: We are informed in this plan that cannot manage. you want to invest on roads and railway lines. Honourable Matsheka, go and read the Umbrella for Democratic You know that you are hiding behind saying no, we had Change (UDC) Manifesto; it speaks extensively and it intentions to try and do this and that, talking about things is not even talking about the one railway line that you which even if I was to approve, for example; there is a are thinking, in relation to transporting our coal to other point where you are talking about doing something to countries. Even here in Greater Gaborone, there should have the fastest and cheapest internet on the continent. be a railway line that one can use when he/she wants to What time was that? If you told us that within the next go to Borolong or Kanye. I can see that COVID-19 has five years or three years, Botswana will have the fastest taught you about a small railway line; when you come and cheapest internet, we would have known what to to your senses, UDC will still be talking about a railway measure your progress with. So, you are not telling us line bigger than the one you have thought about during your targets. In this plan, I do not see any aggressive this COVID-19. industrialisation plan to see how we are going to retain jobs of goods which we have been selling unprocessed HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… to other countries. Honourable Members from the MR SALESHANDO: Number 10; I will stop there. Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), you have to know You were angry when as the opposition, we wrote in our that you mistreated Batswana by sending their jobs manifestos, saying that different languages in Botswana outside while they are not working. You have abused should be used on televisions and radios, you said that them the same way Saul mistreated people. This it will promote tribalism in the country and that it will pretence that you found a way without committing destroy peace. Today Botswana Television (Btv) is able yourselves on how your statistics are going to be like, it is not acceptable. to play adverts using different languages; be it Seherero or Sekgalagadi, but there has never been any trouble. Minister Matsheka, corruption is a challenge that we You were waiting for COVID-19 to come and teach are living with in this country but I do not see anything you these things. Batswana have to know that Botswana here which shows how you are going to change the Democratic Party (BDP) learns through pandemics. It corruption situation in Botswana and I will tell you one means that the day we are going to see developments in of the problems. One of the challenges that comes with our country, it will maybe be because of COVID-30, that corruption in Botswana, in political science, there is is when they will open their eyes and learn something. something called principal/agent problem. I will tell you Batswana will have to ask themselves if this party is where principal/agent problem comes from. I know that taking them anywhere. it is there in economics Minister Matsheka. It is whereby

Hansard No198 19 Tuesday 25th August, 2020 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

you have your best interest at heart even though you are (ii) capacity building and skills development being sent to go and make decisions for some people, programmes that exist for capacitating the local being given all the powers. I will give you an example. If communities about tourism strategies in and you are a President, governing or you are our agent; we around Letsibogo and Dikgatlhong Dam areas; and are the principals. This is how principal/agent dilemma is like; You go that side as the President and you take a (iii) whether her ministry has mechanisms in place to decision to allocate Banyana farms to Batswana, acting reach the rural areas for the purpose of involving or assuming on the best interest of the nation, after doing them in the tourism space around Dikgatlhong and that, you run to the waiting list and tell them that you Letsibogo Dams; if not, why and; if so, to provide are also queuing for the allocation because you are also details. a Motswana. I am not saying anything wrong here, I am talking about the morality of business conduct. The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL period that we take paying everything for the President, RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND TOURISM we buy food, clothes and even when his term ends we (MS KERENG): Thank you Mr Speaker, good take a decision to continue doing that, the little that he afternoon to this Honourable House. The ministry has in can do is to put aside his interests, so that he can be able partnership with the relevant stakeholders developed an to have the nation’s best interests at heart. interim guideline for the use of dams, while awaiting the implementation of the management plan for Letsibogo HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… Dam, and the completion of the management plan MR SALESHANDO: Now, we are a few steps to for Dikgatlhong Dam. The guidelines are intended to becoming a Gupta’s Government. These are the signs. promote the use of dams and promote dam tourism, as Recently it seemed like one of Choppies CEOs was not well as travel to the respective dams for various leisure addressing the former President properly, saying that and recreational activities. he was one President who did not know anything about business, the question now is how did he go and see the The Letsibogo Dam Tourism Master Plan is being other one who we do not know as an investor of any big implemented with an Expression of Interest (EOI) for business, having managed it, how did he partner with investors to take up the opportunities presented in the him? Here is the problem… master plan to be published by 20th August 2020. The MR SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable Members, event dubbed Letsibogo Triathlon was scheduled in we have done the two hours and in terms of the 2020, in an effort to promote local tourism, but due to COVID-19 rules, we have to take a break and we will be COVID-19 restrictions, the event has been deferred to coming back at 2 p.m. next year. In addition to that Mr Speaker, the communities around the dams are organising other activities that will HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… be compatible with the restrictions of COVID including PROCEEDINGS SUSPENDED AT 1:05 P.M FOR bus cruises, tube ties, skiing around the dams, river APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR PROCEEDINGS rafting, hiking trails, camping picnics and recreational RESUMED AT 2: 04 P.M. activities of various sorts and aerial cables, for leisure. QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER The tourism development strategies around the Letsibogo Dam which will also be adopted for Dikgatlhong Dam STRUCTURES TO BOOST LOCAL TOURISM Mr Speaker, are outlined in the Tourism Master Plan. AROUND LETSIBOGO AND DIKGATLHONG The strategies include identification and reservation of DAMS sites to communities as well as the determination of MR M. S. MOLEBATSI (MMADINARE): asked facilities and the activities that can be conducted within the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources dam environs and a lot other leisure activities by the Conservation and Tourism to update this Honourable youth, community trusts or other business operators in House on: the tourism value chains.

(i) the structures that have been put in place to attract The ministry through the Community Based Natural local tourists in order to boost local tourism in Resources Management Programme (CBNRM) and the and around Letsibogo and Dikgatlhong Dams district authorities are in the process of mobilising the respectively; community living adjacent to Dikgatlhong Dam to form

20 Hansard No 198 Tuesday 25th August, 2020 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

a community trust and capacitate them on the tourism It is important that you ask this kind of questions activities and uptake of the various opportunities because we do not want to have people starting these while the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) programmes which will be collapsed by us by maybe will facilitate the commercial aspects of the trade. not being able to provide services closer to them. Please The commercial aspect will include facilitation of the be our eyes since you are on the ground. After asking a community to operationalise their sites and generate question, go back and see how it is going and come back income. The commercialisation could be through joint and tell us what we need to respond to. Thank you and venture partnerships with the private sector or the keep going back and updating us. community operating the sites on their own with the technical assistance of the CBNRM programme. The HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… BTO will provide strategic direction and support for MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY: Supplementary. the operations, so as to safeguard the interests of the Thank you Mr Speaker, thank you Honourable Minister. community in the businesses as well as to ensure skills It is pleasing to hear your interventions, but one can transfer, so that they can be sustainable. In so doing Mr ask if these things are meant for rural communities Speaker, the communities will be capacitated at different only. In Gaborone Central we have a game park, are levels to manage and operate the sites either on their own we going to see you conducting this capacity building or through strategic partnerships including assistance skills development so that the constituents of Gaborone and partnerships with investors. Central can also benefit from these resources? Thank you. The ministry has developed community support through its offices with qualified personnel to reach the respective MS KERENG: Thank you Mr Speaker. We communities. The offices include BTO, the Department have indicated that our Economic Recovery and of Environmental Affairs, the Department of Tourism Transformation Plan of economically empowering our and the CBRNM office which are members of the district people is not subjected to rural areas or special areas technical advisory committee. Mr Speaker, allow me to only to the exclusion of others. emphasise that, we intend to ensure that this programme Let me say, we talk a lot about making Gaborone a assist communities through trusts and those who want to tourism hotspot. I have said several times that the have trusts so that they can use opportunities availed by ‘ghost Gaborone’ which is inactive during the holidays, our dams. Thank you Mr Speaker. is something we intend to change. Last week we were MR MOLEBATSI: Supplementary. Thank you Mr launching the expansion of our museum to now change Speaker. Thank you Honourable Minister, you have the way our things are viewed, collect arts and craft, gather our heritage so that people can come and see our made history at Mmadinare when you indicated that by Botswana in a revamped museum. Friday, Expression of Interest to utilise our dams will be out. That is good. My question is, since it is going At the game reserve, we talk of giving Batswana to be a huge business which involves something new an opportunity to develop the game reserve into an that we are not used to, does that not mean that maybe entertainment area which is a nature reserve that can your ministry or CBRNM office should be closer to attract tourists. These are Batswana that we want to Mmadinare to offer assistance? Thank you. involve in those developments.

MS KERENG: Thank you Mr Speaker. There will be We have a nursery on the other side of Riverwalk. As I speak, big machineries have started work in there to growth and growth requires availability of resources construct roads so that Gaborone can become a tourist nearby. We will consider that since the offices are in destination of note with services, entertainment, cultural Phikwe are they really that far from Mmadinare. As we activities, hotels and restaurants to have different have already started like you have also pointed out that tourism value chains. That is also in your area. We want different activities are already taking place, we will be our towns to become destinations of note with top of the keeping an eye on things. I must thank you since you range tourism. Thank you. are on the ground, you will alert us if there is shortage of services or they are enough so that we can see how MR KEKGONEGILE: Supplementary. Thank you we can assist maybe through satellite offices or mobile Mr Speaker. The Honourable Minister mentioned services that can be taken over. BTO strategic support, and in the North West, we have

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a problem of low volume tourism and we are relying MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES, GREEN more on citizens to stimulate us. When you talk of BTO TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY SECURITY (MR strategic support, we do not hear you clearly articulating MOAGI): Thank you Mr Speaker and good afternoon. the marketing strategies which are used by BTO or Mr Speaker, a total of six prospecting companies have your Ministry. Do you not think it is important, better been issued with prospecting licences for base and or appropriate to be mainly focusing on marketing the precious metals, coal and coalbed methane, precious available local initiatives of tourism? How much are you stones; and three exploration companies with petroleum doing? Do you have weekly or monthly publications exploration licences for as attached. and a Facebook page which is trying to reach out to the locals concerning the available tourism sites, what to (i) Summary of the exploration activities are as expect there including prices? follows:

MS KERENG: I appreciate your question Honourable • Kavango Minerals (Pty) Ltd and Strata (Pty) Ltd Member. Let me highlight that the principal mandate were issued prospecting licences for base metals of BTO or their major responsibility is to market (copper, nickel and iron ore), precious metals (gold), Botswana and everything that has to do with tourism. PGM’s (platinum, gold and manganese) and Rare In doing so, perhaps we will note that we have been Earth Elements (REE) minerals. Strata relinquished having a weakness… perhaps we were unable to have their prospecting licences without any incremental some things. When we talk about content building, we are talking about developing the mandate, task or value addition to the prospecting area since they responsibility of BTO. Firstly, it will help us to identify had not carried exploration activities. Kavango our heritage or our tourism sites which we have not Minerals prospecting licences are still active and as yet identified. After that, BTO will proceed with such prospecting licences are not available due to branding. It should brand them well and place them in confidentiality. a better position which qualifies them to be marketed in Botswana and other countries. • Kinetiko Energy (Pty) Ltd was issued prospecting licences for coal and coalbed methane. The company Right now when we talk about transformation in relinquished their prospecting area as the desktop relation to BTO and other Organisations or state-owned studies and initial exploration results (geophysical enterprises, we want to empower them. It is something evaluations) warranted no further exploration. In that we are considering so that BTO can improve their other words, there was no coal and coalbed methane marketing strategies... we have Facebook pages and deposits. websites but we have realised that there is room for improvement. • Amves Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, Direct Fendor (Pty) I request you Honourable Member to come up with and Nkosinathi Investments (Pty) Ltd were issued strategies so that as you visit the Constituency, we can prospecting licences for precious stones (diamonds). find our shortcomings in relation to our branding and Amves Enterprises cancelled their prospecting marketing. Thank you. licences as they were not given permission to conduct exploration activities within the park by PROSPECTING LICENCES IN THE the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK Nkosinathi Investments returned the prospecting MR S. J. BROOKS (KGALAGADI SOUTH): asked licences due to commitment to other prospecting the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology areas without any incremental value addition. That and Energy Security if he is aware of prospecting is, there was no kimberlite pipe discovered. licences that were issued to different companies in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park; and if so, he should list • Direct Fendor prospecting licences are still active the names of companies and dates they were issued and as such prospecting results or findings remain licences and to further state: confidential.

(i) the results of prospecting or findings; • Petroleum exploration licences were issued to three companies, namely, Equatorial Oil and Gas PLC, (ii) whether the Republic of South Africa is aware of Meekat Energy Botswana (Pty) Ltd and Tamboran the development since the park is a joint venture Botswana (Pty) Ltd. Equatorial Oil and Gas between the two countries.

22 Hansard No 198 Tuesday 25th August, 2020 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

PLC’s exploration licence has expired without any there. This is a commercial enterprise, it is a commercial incremental value addition. That is, no petroleum undertaking where there is a private investor there, was discovered. Tamboran Botswana has acquired putting his money so that they can detect and develop the exploration licence from Meekat Energy whatever they discover there as well as open a mine Botswana, and is still active and as such the results for themselves. The confidentiality is such that since are not available. they have the license, they are also in possession of the results of that area. That is confidentiality. It cannot (ii) For any prospecting work to be done in a National be publicised because that place belongs to someone. Park, permission is sought from the Department They own that place until their license expires. So they of Wildlife and National Parks, who is the own the results because they have discovered this place custodian of the National Parks in Botswana. and researched about it. When their licence expires, The Republic of South Africa is not informed of prospecting activities as these are at an early that is when you can go to the Department of Mines stage and therefore temporary in nature and not and tell them that, “I want to assess such and such a considered as major developments. It is only when place, give me a plot there,” they will tell you that, projects are at advanced stages that it will warrant “you can apply for it, it is free” then you follow that consultations with the Republic of South Africa. process. This will then give you the right to possess That is when you move into bankable feasibility. I everything that has to do with that land. So, when we thank you Mr Speaker. talk about confidentiality, we do not mean that it will hinder Batswana from knowing about these things. It MR BROOKS: Supplementary. Thank you Mr Speaker means that things are done in this manner because there and Honourable Minister for your excellent response. is actually someone who currently has a license for that Honourable Minister, I think this is the second time place so these results belong to them. since you started addressing the issue of mines or what happened in Kgalagadi Constituency. Our argument Going to the second one, we have a Department in My is that you are fond of using the word confidentiality, Ministry called Botswana Geoscience Institute. It was everything is being done very confidential. How long called Geological Surveys in the past. It has experts who are we going to be under this umbrella of confidentiality specialise in issues of soil and mining. These people so that Batswana can know what happens in their travel across the country and they have also started a constituency? programme where they assess things like industrial Lastly Mr Speaker, does he not think it is important to minerals, soils, rare earths and everything that they can have a unit which carries out research on minerals under discover. They further compile all that information into his Ministry. This will enable him to understand what a database which can be accessed by every Motswana really happens in the Ministry of Mineral Resources, who goes to Lobatse. As we speak, they are developing Green Technology and Energy Security. He will be a database which can be accessed across the country. able to appreciate what can be discovered underground This database will enable a Motswana to access this such that if they discover something small, Batswana information. They are still developing an online will be able to tender for and not be tendered for by big platform which does not require one to travel to Lobatse, companies? If they discover few a diamonds, a bit of oil or gas somewhere, we have to engage small companies you can easily access through the web to view what is so that they can create jobs for themselves. If that is the available at Omaweneno, Maubelo or Mogobane and case, they will be able to provide for Batswana out of make a sound decision on where to invest to generate the little that they produce… I am saying this because profit through either mines or sand mining or any other it is God who provides us with such and we cannot get minerals. That information is readily available. it anywhere else. For how long are you going to work I would love to indicate that lockdown and suspension under this umbrella of confidentiality? of meetings prohibited my ministry which had a plan MR MOAGI: Thank you Mr Speaker and Honourable in motion to travel across the entire country to inform Member Brooks. Let me explain that when we talk Batswana where these things are so that they can invest about confidentiality, we are not talking about private and improve their lives. That was the plan sir. Thank issues which hinder Batswana to see what is happening you.

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MR SPEAKER: Last supplementary Honourable Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) Motsamai. which now includes mining, energy and all those business opportunities. They are now included in CEDA MR MOTSAMAI: Supplementary. Thank you Mr funding so that Batswana can venture into them. Speaker. Honourable Minister, the question asked by Honourable Brooks, in your view do you not think The assurance I can give you sir which is different is that your ministry contributes to delay you are also talking we have established a unit within our ministry to assist in about, thus impoverishing the areas where there was the collection of documents or if one needs clarity about prospecting of minerals? For example, there is oil and the application form; they can come to the ministry; paraffin at Ncojane and Metsimantsho. Do you not think they will be assisted. That is what can fast-track your that your ministry is the one which impoverishes by application and help you to seize such opportunities. failing to take action to ensure that these resources are Thank you Mr Speaker. mined and people are employed? BOGOSI DISPUTE IN SEMOTSWANE KGOTLA Second question; are you not aware that this delay causes losses? What are you bringing to the table which is MR P. P. P. MOATLHODI (TONOTA): asked the different from the responses of Former Ministers, what Minister of Local Government and Rural Development expertise are you implementing to fast-track mining so if he is aware of a Bogosi dispute that has dragged on that people at Kgalagadi and Ghanzi can be employed? for a very long time at Semotswane Kgotla in the Tonota Thank you. Constituency causing delays and inconveniences with regards to provision of services and if so, when can MR MOAGI: Thank you Mr Speaker. Thank you morafe at Semotswane expect this dispute to be resolved. Honourable Motsamai. Sir, the delay is not from my ministry but rather from Honourable Motsamai. How; ASSISTANT MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT the ministry has all the capacity to assist but when an (MR AUTLWETSE): Thank you Mr Speaker. I am applicant is assisted and told to bring certain documents, aware of the dispute surrounding Bogosi at Semotswane they never come back. The other reason is that one which started after the death of the then Kgosana in will submit an application or bring all the necessary September 2015. The impasse developed between two documentation at the right time, until they are awarded opposing factions of the community of Semotswane that area, they then do not own it so another applicant which called for my Ministry to appoint a Task Team to might come and be awarded that area immediately resolve the matter. A number of consultative meetings because he/she delivered all the documents on time. were held to resolve the matter with no success. That is what causes losses for our Batswana. Currently Mr Speaker, the report with findings and I would like to enlighten you that the delay might be recommendations of that Task Team was submitted to caused by the fact that the process involves different me in April 2020, after thorough consultation with the Government ministries, you will find that the applicant elders at both Tonota and Semotswane. I have considered does not have those land rights, maybe some people in the recommendations and plan to give feedback to the that area own water rights, then there is Environmental community of Semotswane in September, 2020. Thank Impact Assessment (EIA). These are the things which you Mr Speaker. might cause a delay. However, as a ministry, we intend to assist Batswana with Environmental Impact MR TSHERE: Supplementary. Thank you very much Honourable Speaker. This issue of Bogosi dispute at Assessment (EIA) working together with Honourable Gammangwato is not new in this House, we spoke about Kereng’s ministry so that the assessment can be fast- it… tracked to avoid disadvantaging Batswana therefore issuing prospecting licenses on time, so that they can HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… apply and get rights. MR TSHERE: It is for Gammangwato; do you not Issues of funding; we know that Batswana might know the Gammangwato region? So Minister we encounter challenges in sourcing funds to develop recently deliberated on Sefhare and Mmutlane Bogosi. and venture into such. To address it, we requested I am now going to talk about Bogosi at Mahalapye. The Honourable Serame to assist with revised guidelines at same question asked about Bogosi at Tonota is the same

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one at Mahalapye. Our Dikgosi are passing on but the solution, we will present our answer. We do not know Minister refuses to replace them. Currently Dikgosi whether upon presenting it, there will be an appeal or are overseeing two to three Dikgotla due to shortage of not. What we will be presenting is what we believe is a staff. I know that I am just a commoner when it comes solution to this issue. If this issue continues, we will still to Bogosi but Minister, explain why you have an attitude be involved in it as mediators. Thank you Mr Speaker. towards Bogosi at Gammangwato? Thank you. ALLOCATION OF BOTSWANA POWER MR AUTLWETSE: The question asked by the CORPORATION PROJECTS Honourable Member across the aisle and the way he personalised it shows that he did not assess it properly. DR N. TSHABANG (NKANGE): asked the Minister Today I only brought the response on the Bogosi at Tonota; of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Semotswane. Mahalapye Bogosi has its own disputes. Security to comprehensively update this Honourable Serowe Bogosi has its own disputes, each Bogosi has House on why Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) its own unique disputes. Honourable Speaker, our office continuously allocates multimillion Pula projects did not incite this dispute at Semotswane. We are only without tendering to select foreign companies; and to involved as mediators up until the recommendations state: from the elders who belong to that Bogosi are deemed to (i) how Doosan was selected for the refurbishment of be fair. So the issue he raised that we are refusing to… Morupule A Power Station;

HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order Mr (ii) how many companies had tendered for the project, Speaker. what was their quoted prices and why they were MR AUTLWETSE: When he says we are refusing to not selected; affirm Bogosi in Gammangwato area, it is not true. (iii) what has been the cost incurred so far by BPC in HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order Mr Morupule A Power Station refurbishment; and Speaker. (iv) how STEAG was selected for the operations and MR SPEAKER: No. maintenance for Morupule B Power Station.

MR AUTLWETSE: We are not the ones who affirm MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES, GREEN Bogosi. Bogosi is a role played by Dikgosi, they are TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY SECURITY (MR the ones who know their bloodline and how they are MOAGI): Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you appointed. If they are confused like now, we are talking Honourable Member. Mr Speaker, Botswana Power about the Bogosi of Tonota, some say that bloodline Corporation (BPC) tenders are awarded through deserves it while others are denying it, we are supposed a competitive tendering process, as per the BPC to be involved to find who is telling the truth, and Procurement Policy which is in line with the Public appoint the right person for that Bogosi. Even in regards Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) Act. to Bogosi in Mahalapye, it is the same situation. Even the one we were talking about a while back, it is the (i) In 2014, Botswana Power Corporation invited same. We are not the cause of the delay; it was caused pre-qualified tenderers for the refurbishment of by conflicts that did not begin here but began amongst Morupule A Power Station (MAPS) on a lump sum them. Thank you Mr Speaker. price, which we call a turnkey basis. All four bids were received in June 2014 and were evaluated MR MOATLHODI: Supplementary. I thank you Mr and found not suitable in terms of the technical, Speaker. Honourable Minister, you said in the month of September, you did not mention the date. What day completeness and responsiveness to the tender of September can we expect your team to bring an requirements, as well as in commercial viability. answer? I am saying this because we have long waited This led to a re-tender, and only three bidders Honourable Minister. responded.

MR AUTLWETSE: Mr Speaker, we have not yet set Of the three, only two bids met the technical requirements a date but I am saying September this year, since we of the tender. However, the tendered prices were have a solution regarding this issue; we think it is a considerably higher than the estimated budget amount,

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therefore, the bids were commercially not viable. (iii) Morupule A refurbishment has been completed Subsequently, the following alternative procurement and the plant is in commercial operation within the approaches were considered: fixed scope and price of USD 204,003,999.

(a) Construction of a New Power Plant Unit adjacent to (iv) The Morupule B operation and maintenance Morupule A and possible step-wise refurbishment services were procured through a competitive of Unit 1-4. bidding process involving an Expression of Interest (EoI) dated the 21st December 2012, (b) Detailed technical plant assessment by a contractor involving a total of 16 international companies. to define exact scope for further tendering. Eight companies responded to the EoI and three (c) Refurbishment based on a cost reimbursable companies were shortlisted to submit detailed contract. technical and commercial proposals. Only STEAG Energy Services submitted and was subsequently (d) Refurbishment with fixed basis scope and optional awarded the contract for operation and maintenance scope. services, commencing on 1st January 2014, lapsing last year January 2019. The refurbishment with fixed scope and an optional scope was selected based on favourable turnaround I thank you Mr Speaker. times and clarifications were sought from the two companies who were technically compliant. After the MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY: Supplementary. financial evaluation, the revised prices were still high Thank you Mr Speaker, thank you Honourable Minister. and not commercially viable, and therefore, the process Honourable Minister, are you aware that more than was nullified and a direct procurement process was 80 per cent of BPC’s procurement budget is spent on followed to allow submission and evaluation of Doosan South African companies? Is this consistent with our Heavy Industries and Construction (Doosan) offer for a Transformative Agenda and our Citizen Economic fixed price scope. Doosan’s offer was found compliant Empowerment Drive, which is soon to come before this to the requirements of the tender and subsequently they House as a law? were appointed as the Engineering, Procurement and Minister, are you aware of the constant corruption Construction (EPC) contractor for the refurbishment of allegations that are levelled against the management Morupule A power plant. of BPC, and that they systematically sabotage local (ii) Four companies responded to the initial tender companies in favour of South African companies, in 2014, and three on the re-tender in 2015. The particularly Atom and Abadeer? Thank you. tender was dual envelope submission, whereby MR MOAGI: Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you you have got the technical and financial site, and Honourable Member. Honourable Member talks about only financial bids of companies that satisfied the over 80 per cent spent on foreign companies. We technical evaluation criteria were opened. The are aware of that and we have been very concerned evaluated prices of the two technically compliant as a ministry on the spent that all our companies and bids were as follows: parastatals, or any other company falling within the (a) Consortium of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems ministry spending within Botswana. Therefore, we (Germany and Foster Wheeler South Africa commissioned through the board, an exercise just to look offered USD 500,994,229 and; at the extent of this spent so that we can put corrective measures into it. BPC is currently looking for a Chief (b) Consortium of SK Engineering and Construction Executive Officer (CEO), and we are also looking Co. Ltd. and Korea South-East Power Co. offered at the board so that we can then start this exercise of USD 444,469,038 finding out how they spent their procurement monies, NB: This Tender was nullified because the offers were such that we can then redirect this money to be spent on commercially not viable on the fixed scope. They were Batswana. Even though that is the case, we have already not viable because our engineer’s estimate was putting began because there were other queries that were there, the cost at around USD 200 million, thus the prices were regarding those who tendered. Then we found out that more than double. these people who tendered saying they are Batswana,

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were not Batswana, it is a South African company. They have a programme of public consultations. It does not did not get that tender; a Motswana was awarded that mean tomorrow they will just increase the price of tender. We know that there is still a lot of problems at electricity; they would be making a request so that in the BPC which we are addressing to ensure that Batswana next financial year, they would have already made that benefit from all these things. There are companies arrangement. I just wanted to clarify that point because owned by Batswana which manufacture right here in I can see that it is really bothering Batswana, they are Botswana, at Mogoditshane. All the equipment that talking a lot about it that BPC is increasing electricity is used by BPC to install and connect cables, poles or tariffs. As a way of them gravitating towards leaving whatever is manufactured there. We are shifting from Government, the funds which Honourable Dr Matsheka wooden poles to concrete ones because those are a could be giving BPC would assist other Batswana to bit more durable. We would like to see those being make developments that are necessary. I thank you. manufactured locally. We have called upon Batswana, they have set up companies in places like Selebi Phikwe DR TSHABANG: Supplementary. Thank you Mr so that they would be able to manufacture transformers Speaker. Honourable Minister, are you aware that these there and BPC would buy from them. We have already companies, mainly South Africans, are kept in the BPC written to BPC, we sat down with them and charted the Database. Once a company wins a tender for the first way forward so that Batswana would be involved. time, they are kept in that database and whenever there is a tender coming, allegedly BPC creates very high We believe that we should treat every allegation with specs so that they can eliminate any other competition all the seriousness it deserves, we follow it up; that is and later on go to these companies as a fallback which why we will conduct our own investigations once the is; firstly, a sign of corruption, do you not see that as appropriate officers take up their positions in the office; a sign of corruption? Secondly, these companies have we would ensure that we address the issues at BPC and built relationships with the BPC management and in dispose them off, if they were available. You will recall that regard, even if they do a bad job, they are always that a few months ago, we were shocked by an advert around so that they can be called back to refix this thing. Have you ever investigated this relationship and see if it that could have been done by our local artists here, could be corruption? Thirdly, what is your plan; I know but it was done by someone from outside. That time I that you have said something, but what is your concrete really admonished them, and said to them that, ‘no we plan in terms of nurturing Batswana companies in order cannot do that when we have our local artists here at to compete or in order to do this $200 million plus home and they have so much talent which we need to tenders because it seems like you are comfortable with grow.’ I am working on these things with my team, so multinational companies that come from outside and that everything that does not go well at BPC would be raid millions and Batswana’s only thing here is to pay corrected. high tariffs for which you are trying to explain that BPC The other challenge that we have is that BPC being a is consulting. What are you doing to nurture Batswana company that provides electricity, it should be a private companies to compete so that we may think it can be entity and not be dependent on Government. All the fair they can compete with multinationals? Thank you services that they provide should be from them, and very much. they should be financed by them. MR MOAGI: Thank you Mr Speaker. Thank you Also, let me point out that I am seeing something that Honourable Dr Tshabang. Honourable Member, every might be disheartening Batswana, maybe due to the company saves its service providers in a database so fact that they do not understand it clearly. Since the that they would know where they are in case they want Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) is the to engage them. What I know is happening right now, one that regulates the prices for electricity, petrol and is that every two years BPC keeps companies owned so forth, they have their own independent programme by Batswana in their database and they mostly do the because it is an independent entity, and it is in their maintenance of lines, stations and many other things I regulations that if they increase the electricity tariffs, cannot mention them here because I cannot talk about they should go and consult people. It is not imperative them, but I can just pick the ones which you know; so to be transparent, they should go out to the people and they go around fixing transmission lines at the power hear what they have to say, that is why right now they station, the substations and so forth, so that the company

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would not be stagnant. They are allocated by their MR KEORAPETSE: Procedure. Can we not wait areas, as there would be those who would be working in for the President because what Honourable Saleshando South East, others at Central and others at North West et talked about involved him? Maybe you can call him and cetera. They are varied, so that every company owned inform him that he is about to be addressed. by a Motswana would be able to get an opportunity to be given a job by BPC. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… MR SPEAKER: What are you talking about? As I said at the beginning Honourable Member, I am worried. When every issue is reported to me, I review LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION (MR it to make sure that we are not being exploited. I am SALESHANDO): When the House adjourned, I was concerned about a lot of money that goes outside the still… country. That is why I am saying one has to start with the MR SPEAKER: …(Inaudible)… structure of the employees, putting in the right structures so that they would be able to investigate these issues, MR SALESHANDO: Oh! as a process of putting things in order. Well, it is not MR SPEAKER: You are cheating …(Inaudible)… something that can happen quickly, it takes time but we are in the process Honourable Member. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)…

I am happy because in a few days, we are going to MR SPEAKER: Yah, continue. appoint the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BPC, and then we will look at the governance structures that we MR SALESHANDO: When the House adjourned, I want to fix. There is something that is going to take place was concluding my debate… and I cannot mention it right now and it will address this MR SPEAKER: Do not put seven. issue; if I can mention it right now, I will be alerting those ones to cover their tracks. It is something that is HONOURABLE MEMBER: Oh! going to occur, as a way of revamping BPC. MR SPEAKER: You are cheating! Yes, leave it at eight. Mr Speaker, literally, Batswanas’ lives are in the hands Yes. Continue! of BPC because if there is no electricity, there is nothing that can move, therefore it has to be run in an appropriate MR SALESHANDO: When we parted, I was wrapping manner. It is one of the plans that you said we should up the issue of principal agent problem, where you keep fix, so that Batswana would take part and benefit from assets safe, make decisions and govern on behalf of other the projects at BPC. I believe I have answered your people. It is whereby the President is given powers to questions. I thank you. take decisions and then he acts in his own best interests, saying that he has done things for Batswana. When you HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Supplementary. respond on this issue, I do not want anyone to say that the law allows for that to happen. I am not talking about the MR SPEAKER: The next two questions will be rolled law. There is something called business ethics, corporate onto tomorrow. We have run out of time. morality, those are the things I am talking about. South APPROVAL OF THE MID- Africans will tell you that their Former President who TERM REVIEW OF NATIONAL was associating with Gupta, was not breaking the law DEVELOPMENT PLAN 11: 2017/2018 – but that has created a lot of problems. We are close to 2022/2023 having a captured Government nowadays. If you can pay attention, some investors are lined up to give the Motion President shares at their companies, he is also happy to sign share certificates that indeed he has shares in (Resumed Debate) those companies. This thing should bother you Minister MR SPEAKER: The debate of course is resuming. Matsheka. We are under a Government whereby when When we adjourned this morning, Honourable Leader the President does something...in Africa, the President is of the Opposition was on the floor and according to my never wrong. That is why even today people who were watch, he was left with seven minutes 50 seconds. quiet ten years back before the President Dr Masisi took

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over have changed. They all make it seem like they did MR SPEAKER: Procedure? not support him, but they sang songs of praises, saying that he is leading properly. HONOURABLE MEMBER: yes sir.

The other thing which is bothering me about Minister MR SPEAKER: Okay! Matsheka’s plan is… ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL MR BOKO: Clarification. Thank you Leader of the DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MS Opposition. Maybe you should address one issue which MANAKE): Procedure. Mr Speaker, is it procedural that is bothering me, the issue of whether different interests; Honourable Leader of the Opposition (LOO) is listing and their symmetrical information, where you will find things that he is saying are being done for the President that the agent in this case is the President, has more while we know that the state does not do enough for the information than the principal. To which extent is this a President? I want you to advise us from that side. He concern in relation to issues of Banyana Farms? has a wife and children who he is supposed to provide for. Does the state provide those things? Like we are MR SALESHANDO: It is a concern because he is the seeing him providing for his children by venturing into one who knows the decisions that he is going to take, as many businesses. So I am passing it over to you, is it well as when he is going to take them. Maybe tomorrow procedural Mr Speaker for Leader of the Opposition to it will be Pandamatenga, you will never know and he talk about the President like that while we know that it is might decide that by 2023 he will be allocating plots at not true that everything is being done for him? He also Pandamatenga, he will then prepare well in time because has his own responsibilities as a family man. Thank you he will be having three years ahead and you will only see Mr Speaker. the announcement that there will be plot allocation and when you rush there, you will not be able to compete MR SPEAKER: Honourable Member, I am not sure if I with the President. The period that we take paying the get you correctly. I thought Honourable Saleshando was President’s expenses like I was saying, buying food for saying, whenever any substantive thing is going to be him… done in this country, the President would know ahead of many of you, and the President can then prepare to HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… take part if he is allowed to, in whatever is going to come later, and you will know only when the papers MR SALESHANDO: …clothes, accommodation, and are published, or you are being called upon to compete, even when he leaves office we still pay these expenses, trying to ensure that his hunger for power and or in the time available to you, most of you would not be material things decreases. So I am concerned by the fact able to compete. I thought that is what the Leader of the that today the President can even say that he is thirsty in Opposition is saying. Is that correct? That is the secret. media platforms, and that he will continue as we saw in He is not accusing this President of having done it, he the last Business Weekly newspaper. is saying, watch out! Do not claim that you are equal to every Motswana because you have been advantaged. Do I want to get into the issue of... not do what some of our neighbors have done and now HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of procedure Mr they are in trouble. That is the disagreement as I hear it. Speaker. MR SALESHANDO: You are spot on Mr Speaker. MR SALESHANDO: Better be procedure. Minister Matsheka, on the issue of Economic Recovery MR SPEAKER: What point are you standing on? What and Transformation Plan (ERTP) Funding Strategy, are you standing on? I have a problem with what you want to do over the three-year period. I am looking at tourism because I am HONOURABLE MEMBER: Mr Speaker, assist from a constituency that relies on tourism. Tourisms has here… collapsed, total collapse today as we speak. The funds MR SPEAKER: What point are you standing on that you want to use on tourism are only half of what you Minister? are going to use for agriculture. I hope that when you respond, you will explain what you mean. At Ngamiland HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure. agriculture does not generate much income, elephants

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destroy our fields and lions attack our livestock. So implementation. Yes, you have failed to consider that when you say that you are going to allocate a chunk of vice Presidents can be the ones whose main duty is funds to agriculture, and that tourism will get half of project implementation. Maybe it is time to relinquish what goes to agriculture...I am starting to be concerned from that responsibility... when I look at how you have presented this plan. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… When we started, our path was similar to the one I talked about which goes to Damascus from Jerusalem, let us MR SALESHANDO: Sir, clarify that, when taking a go back to Jerusalem to conclude. There is also a story decision that Vice Presidents will no longer be Ministers, about three men who followed a star to Jerusalem, which managing any ministry, did that mean that he will only showed them the way. If one can ask for three things focus on project implementation? And now that this that Minister Matsheka is looking at, with the hope that responsibilities are taken away from him, Honourable they will kick start the economy, what are they? Do we Members, tell us what the responsibility of the Vice have the three Bethlehem stars? The main one that he President is going to be. We cannot have someone at that is talking about is that he wants us to be a high income top position being labelled “a busy body,” who does not economy. I have a problem with that as the overarching have any responsibilities. Going around checking what objective. My problem is here, we started off as a low people are doing, disrupting you from your work. When income, middle income, until we got to upper middle the responsibility that was given to the Vice President is income. Every time we go up these structures but the taken away, he should be given a ministry and go and be lives of many Batswana are not changing. a minister like the former Vice Presidents, so that he can have something that he is being paid for every month. HONOURABLE MEMBER: There are still no jobs. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… MR SALESHANDO: That thing does not mean that unemployment rate and the gap between the rich and MR SALESHANDO: I believe that Batswana are the poor is decreasing. Like I said back when we were aware of this, we are used to some of these promises. discussing the budget, Batswana have to know that if Mid-Term Review does not have any new promise tomorrow the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green which was not there in Vision 2016. We told Batswana Technology and Energy Security can say that two mines that they will attain goals of prosperity and so on have been discovered which will generate profits equal by 2016. That cheque of Vision 2016 bounced. We to those at Jwaneng, that very same day we will be told talked about Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP); I that Botswana is a high income country. Correct? We remember the current Vice President was then Minister will be said to be a high income country. That does not for Presidential Affairs talking happily about the number mean that Batswana are going to have jobs. I believe that of Batswana companies they are registering for ESP, as the three stars that Batswana are looking for are; the one we speak, there is nothing. Let us just go through these; that can solve the challenge of unemployment, poverty ESP; bounced cheque, Vision 2016; bounced cheque, and bridging the gap between the rich and the poor. National Development Plan (NDP) 11; bounced cheque. When people have money, if the household welfare has Thank you. improved, it is better than saying that you want a high income country. Let us look at the household welfare. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)… Many Batswana today receive low salaries. We are a MINISTER OF NATIONALITY, IMMIGRATION low wage economy. Having a low wage economy and AND GENDER AFFAIRS (MS MOKGETHI): being called a high income country, does not help. You Thank you Mr Speaker. Let me take this opportunity are still refusing to increase wages so as to match the also to affirm that I support this NDP 11 Review and the state of our economy. I know that maybe by 2023, while Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan. Before I facing COVID-23 you are going to say no, COVID-23 proceed into it, I would first like to commend Honourable has opened our eyes, we have realised that wages have Minister of Finance and Economic Development for to be increased. I am not with you on that one. stabilising this economy. When we were faced with a One thing that I want to conclude with is that your sudden and unexpected situation, when COVID-19 plan states that there is going to be an independent unexpectedly came upon us, he immediately put in place organisation which will focus on issues of project an economic stabilisation plan. This was following the

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advent of the lockdown which literally brought this Mr Speaker, I just also want to continue, one thing that economy to a standstill. Businesses came to a standstill; I also want to commend the Minister of Finance and our major sources of income virtually came to a halt. Mr Economic Development for, is one of the priorities Speaker, this was the diamond sector from which you which were mentioned in NDP 11 or its review, it is were receiving revenue, the Southern African Customs efficient Government spending and financing. You will Union (SACU) revenues and our tourism revenues. That recall Mr Speaker, that we have had a bad history of is why I want to commend you, Minister of Finance inefficient ...(interruptions)... Government spending. and Economic Development for quickly jumping into this situation and rescuing this country from doom. For MR MOSWAANE: Point of order. Mr Speaker, I think example; by coming up with the food hampers for every the Minister is out of order because she is misleading constituency and in particular also the wage subsidy. this House and the nation to say that it is the first time women are assisted with programmes. Ever since she I just want to say to you Honourable Minister, that one came to that ministry, for the past three years, women’s of the things that we must bear in mind is the theme of programmes have halted. I do not think it is right to give NDP and that is, “an inclusive growth for the realisation the nation false information. Thank you. of sustainable employment creation and poverty MR SPEAKER: Honourable Minister, there is no point eradication.” I want to emphasise the word ‘inclusive of order. growth’ and commend NDP for introducing for the first time in the history of this country, gender mainstreaming. MS MOKGETHI: Mr Speaker, I have not been in the Now going forward Honourable Minister, what we ministry... want to see in terms of gender mainstreaming is, we do not want to see women being left behind. Vision 2036 HONOURABLE MEMBER: Correction, Honourable talks about leaving no one behind and when we talk Mokgethi. about inclusivity, women must also be included. I just MS MOKGETHI: I have not been in the ministry for want to say that this gender mainstreaming which was the past three years and I may also indicate that the promised in this NDP, envisage a situation whereby this Women Economic Programme has been reviewed and economy would be transformed from a middle income will be taken to another ministry. If I may proceed then, status country to a high status income country. I want I was talking ... to emphasise that you cannot achieve that goal unless women are taken on board. MR KEORAPETSE: Correction. I advise you to yield because you will try to correct me next time. Do not HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… listen to the Vice President. You indicated that gender mainstreaming is starting for the first time with NDP MS MOKGETHI: We cannot talk about gender 11 and the correction I am making is that, it was also mainstreaming without developing the human capital. included in NDP 10. I thought I should correct that. You NDP Review talks about human capital. Women should will recall that during NDP 10, that was the time when also form part of that human capital development… there were gender focal persons in the ministries. So, that is the correction that I wanted to make. Thank you. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Applause!)… MS MOKGETHI: Irrespective of the year or the plan MS MOKGETHI: …so that they are not left behind. under which it was started, it is a welcome development. We want to eventually talk about institutionalisation I am now talking about the prioritisation of efficient of gender mainstreaming. We just do not want to talk spending and financing on projects. We have been going forward about gender mainstreaming. We want spending on projects which do not have a significant to talk about its institutionalisation so that it becomes impact and now under this Economic Recovery and compulsory. At this point in time, when we talk about Transformation Plan, Minister of Finance, you have gender mainstreaming, it is optional. When we talk undertaken that route, that this wasteful spending will about gender mainstreaming, we should also walk be avoided. the talk by actually budgeting for it. We want to see it actually being budgeted for. Every single ministry, Minister, you also spoke about the costing of project we want evidence, that gender has been mainstreamed initiatives. You also said projects must now be assessed in every ministry and we want to see how it has been on the basis of an agreed criteria. Honourable Minister, budgeted for. this is very important because you have come up with

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the rules-based framework for projects, and this is a MR SPEAKER: You did not hear him, he chose it. very welcome development. This initiative must be MR BOKO: Thank you for protecting me Mr Speaker. commended as it introduces a tool that is called multi- Right now Mr Speaker, you will agree with me that criteria decision analysis and this is very welcome. This it is inappropriate for the sitting President to be seen will be used to assess projects and score them. Let me queuing with ordinary people because they are bidding just say that in this multi-criteria decision analysis, for a farm like it has happened. We cannot afford... there will be transparency which will ensure that this corruption which is much spoken about will be reduced. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order. Those are one of the advantages and the benefits of MR SPEAKER: Yes, point of order, let us hear it. bringing in this tool that you have introduced. Let me just say Mr Speaker, that I support the review of the MR BOKO: Okay, but let it be nothing else but a point National Development Plan (NDP). Thank you Mr of order. Speaker. MR SPEAKER: That is up to me. MR BOKO (MAHALAPYE EAST): Mr Speaker, let HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… me remind this House once again that this Mid-Term Review comes at a time when our country just like a ASSISTANT MINISTER OF HEALTH AND number of countries Mr Speaker, is battling with the WELLNESS (MR LELATISITSWE): Yes, it is outbreak of COVID-19. The pandemic we would agree indeed a point of order. Mr Speaker, perhaps this House has caused a lot of uncertainties and it has made our will be out of order because President Masisi is not the first President of this country; we have had The Former country very vulnerable. President Mr Seretse as the first one when we gained Our economy is characterised by the following, one; a independence, we also had The Former President Mr narrow economic base anchored by diamond exports. Masire, The Former President Mr Mogae and The The second being a worrying increasing budget deficit Former President Mr Khama. All these Presidents came amid souring unemployment among the citizens. from the ruling party and we loved them and we still Thirdly Mr Speaker, being a broke Government. do. All these Presidents were engaged in businesses during their reign. If we let this issue continue like Before I go further, I wish to deal with what the this Mr Speaker, I heard someone saying they want the Leader of the Opposition has dealt with because this National Development Plan to be done like it is the case is an issue that is close to my heart and has troubled a in Moshupa. If we do not pay attention to these things, number of citizens of this country; the principal-agent they will bring about tribalism Mr Speaker. I am saying relationship. The Leader of the Opposition has made this because the Former President Dr Seretse Khama Ian a good point here and I wish to take from where he Khama is the one who moved the hospital that is being has left. Mr Speaker, you would agree with me that it built at Moshupa. This means he is the one who can be looks extremely immoral for a sitting President to be held accountable for that not the sitting President. So, competing and bidding for... we have to pay attention to these things so that they do not end up dividing this country because where we HONOURABLE MEMBER: Debate in Setswana! come from, we also want to have these things …

MR BOKO: Yes, you are right, let me debate MR SPEAKER: Honourable Minister, so far I cannot in Setswana. Mr Speaker, it is really painful and hear you, there is absolutely no point of order that you inappropriate that while we are striving to improve the are making. lives of the poor, the sitting President in on the other hand queuing because he is bidding... MR LELATISITSWE: ...I believe that... Yes, it is a point of order because this House will be out of order MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY: On a point of if we allow issues like these which can cause conflicts procedure. Thank you Mr Speaker. Honourable Member, between tribes. We have to control what we say in you started your debate using English. But Mr Speaker, this House because many people listen to what the you normally advise us to stick to one language during Honourable Member has said. We do not want Batswana our debates so I am wondering where we are going with to note that... That is in the order of this House, I believe this. Thank you. Batswana are listening.

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MR SPEAKER: Honourable Minister, there is under duress and intimidation because they are going to absolutely no point of order in what you are saying, interview the President of a country at the Office of the none. President? That is what we are saying Mr Speaker, that we have to deal with this situation if at all we are serious MR BOKO: Mr Speaker, I belong to a new and vibrant about fighting against corruption. Firstly, we have to generation, a generation that wants to bring change. I do that so that less privileged Batswana will be able do not want to remain with the olden days generation to compete or be able to improve their lives and move where they do things according to how they were done forward. I am done with is point Mr Speaker because at that time. We have to move forward. I am a different the Leader of the Opposition has already talked about it generation altogether, that is why I was able to bring at length. I also believe the Honourable Members have a Motion of great importance last time which said heard and understood it. We are not saying this because enough is enough. Yes, we are aware that men have been we hate the President, we in fact honour and pray for mistreating women for a long time so we have to change him. Nonetheless, we have to help him to avoid the that. I am still saying the same thing today Mr Speaker, challenges that can rise as a result of doing things like we have to bring about transformation. Just because these. We are also trying to save him from himself. the Former Presidents ...(Interruptions)… a time has HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. come for us to bring transformation which can benefit Batswana. MR BOKO: The second one Mr Speaker. I want to talk about the issue of implementation. Just a second HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure. Honourable. Earlier on Mr Speaker, you warned me MR SPEAKER: Procedure! against giving Honourable Members chances anyhow. So, I yield if you want to give them, you may do so. MR BOKO: Let it be nothing else but procedure Honourable, I am tired because while I am still MR MOSWAANE: You are on point Honourable debating... Boko. On the issue of sharing of Botswana resources concerning profitable businesses, from your point of HONOURABLE MEMBER: Sit down Honourable! view, will it be appropriate for a leader like the President, Ministers and Permanent Secretaries (PSs) to win these MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY: Procedure Mr tenders? You are the ones who own these businesses; I Speaker. Thank you Mr Speaker. I have noticed that the am not sure if you are talking about that issue where in clock is not moving Mr Speaker, so I thought to inform the country leaders get rich while the rest of the nation you. Thank you. is suffering? HONOURABLE MEMBER: ...(Inaudible)... MR BOKO: That is my exact point that we are going MR SPEAKER: What! to enrich the rich as the country and the underprivileged are going to continue being poor. That is why quiet HONOURABLE MEMBER: This clock is recently we criticised an incident at Francistown that it ...(Inaudible)... is untidy for a Chairperson of a Council who awards tenders to award tenders to himself. Those who are poor, HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… newbies in the business world like us will not be able MR SPEAKER: Yes, this clock is okay. to rise from the bottom to the top. So let us relinquish corruption, greediness and selfishness and start thinking HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… about others so that they can also be rich. The second issue Mr Speaker… MR SPEAKER: No, the clock is okay. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. MR BOKO: Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, before I was interrupted, I was still saying if we have a HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure. situation like this as the newspapers have said, that from the three who were interviewed, two were interviewed MR BOKO: The second issue Mr Speaker is the issue of at Banyana Farms and another at the Office of the implementation; our country is affected by this disease. President. One may wonder; how can a person not be One of the disease attacking the Government is…

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ASSISTANT MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION I think I have said my bit Mr Speaker and would like to (MS MAKWINJA): On a point of procedure Mr stop here. Honourable Members, we can transform our Speaker. Thank you Mr Speaker. As the Honourable economy if we execute the suggestions I raised. If we Member alludes that we enrich our PSs, perhaps he can execute them to the latter, we can relinquish poverty and be specific as to who won those tenders he is talking enrich ourselves. With those few remarks, I conclude. about? That is imputting improper motives against us and our PSs. Thank you Mr Speaker. MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY (GABORONE CENTRAL): Thank you Mr Speaker. I thank you very MR SPEAKER: I am afraid there is no point of much for this opportunity, to make my contribution to procedure there. this Mid-Term Review. Honourable Matsheka, I stand to concur with your ideas. MR BOKO: Thank you Mr Speaker for continuing to protect me. She wants to derail me now. There is All of us in this country or globally, we are quite aware an issue of implementation Mr Speaker. There are of the impact the global epidemic has had on the entire programmes which we have shelved yet we used money world economy, but particularly ours. Our main revenue to develop. The reason we do not progress as a country areas such as diamond trading, tourism, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) revenues and personal or we fail to transform the economy is because we do and sales tax, have all been affected by this pandemic. not implement plans. Honourable Matsheka, if you can drive implementation we can progress as a country. Honourable Matsheka, I will not quarrel much with your revised thoughts here, but what I would like to propose The third one is the crisis on the investment in children. to you is that we should have seen greater participation We need to invest on our children. We need to invest on in revitalising our economy by domestic borrowing, their physical, social and emotional intelligence aspects. we should have seen a much more increased dip into That thing is important and can help boost our economy. our domestic funds here. I say this because Honourable If we fail to invest in them, the economy will not grow Minister, as you are aware because of COVID-19, the in any way because we should start when they are still world is turning more and more nationalistic. We are young and invest in them so that we can reap from these more inward looking. Globalisation is going to take a investments when they now reach adulthood. I already hit; it is going to take a little bit of a slowdown. Everyone talked about implementation and that we are slow in will be focusing on their own country. executing our plans in relation to the productivity and In the same breadth, I also say with such wonderful credit reforming the business environment. ratings that we have, our appetite for external borrowing still leaves quite a lot. Your International Monetary Mr Speaker, today I did not have a lot to say, most of Fund (IMF), the World Bank, African Development the issues I wanted to talk about were already covered Bank (ADB), they rate us so highly, but we do not take during Honourable Leader of the Opposition’s debate. much advantage of those ratings. So really, what is the Mr Speaker, I am directing this to Honourable Dikoloti point of being rated so highly in credit ratings if we are and his Assistant Minister; we can produce food and not going to take advantage of those ratings? create jobs as a country through the agriculture sector. In my maiden speech Honourable Minister, I challenged There is a lot that has to be done in that area, rather than the private sector particularly those who are charged importing food from other countries, we can produce with managing our private savings that, they should be our own and employ our youth. Minister, yesterday I was quiet happy when you issued a statement that you ready to be the engines of growth in our new economy. banned baked goods. I want to thank you Minister and There is so much money that is just sitting in the country, it is clear that Batswana have grabbed that opportunity, which could do so much in advancing our economic even today they have been sending me messages that agenda. In the same breath, equally as Government they have started baking bread, same as the one sold we need to provide the means for participation. We at Woolworths which is imported from South Africa. need to see a greater flurry of infrastructure bonds for It means there will be revenue, our youth will be self- the pension fund more particularly, to participate by employed and sell baked goods we have been buying funding this growth that we are talking about. Of course, from Woolworths which are tasty. that can only happen if institutions such as Non-Bank

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Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA), if we were to collect funds … at the Petroleum Fund if you could talk to them to quicken their…, I know that there are funds that are called storage and handling. they are in the process of changing their regulations to Since the introduction of this fund, Government has not accommodate such borrowing, but Minister, time is not collected it even now from the people who sell fuel, but on our side. If you could quicken the process, that will it can assist the country. I agree with you Honourable be most appreciated. Member. Thank you.

Simply Honourable Minister, I want to talk to the MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY: Over and above that, changes that we need to see in order to advance that not just that, we need to do a comprehensive audit of which we are speaking to. Our productivity sir as a these funds starting with the NPF because these funds nation, leaves a lot to be desired. So no matter how are collected, but you cannot see how they are used much money we bring in, if our culture of productivity and where it ends . That is another way we can reduce does not change, then we will continuously be throwing leakage of Government funds. money down the drain. As I said, the world will become more nationalistic as Honourable Minister, there is a lot of excessive opposed to global. Honourable Minister of Finance, spending in Government departments. I will take we should be preparing ourselves to have a national Central Transport Organisation (CTO) as an example. management company that will look at industries CTO spends an incredible amount of money, on very such as the petroleum industry, agriculture, healthcare, expensive vehicles, and most of which, if you look at education and retail. As a matter of fact, when it comes to Central Police as an example in Gaborone, what do they healthcare, this COVID-19 was a very good opportunity need Land Cruisers for? CTO needs to be focused on when you talk about Personal Protective Equipment the type of procurement they do. Also, the lifespan of (PPE). Instead of wholesale outsourcing of procurement, Government vehicles, just a small problem the vehicle we should have had a conditional procurement. We will be boarded. I think we need to do more in arresting should have talked to these multinationals to set-up here the… in partnership with our Government because even post COVID, we will always need PPE. Things like that are MR KEORAPETSE: Elucidation. Be careful when quick wins or low-hanging fruits so to speak. talking about CTO or Government vehicles more especially these luxurious ones, it might threaten your I thank you Honourable Matsheka. I believe under very position at your party because those are donations. You difficult circumstances, you have done quite a balancing must buy there; from the party’s treasurer. act and I must applaud you Honourable Member and say well done to you and your team. We will support you. MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY: What a waste of my Where we see that it is not enough, we will continuously time! Honourable Minister, we need to do much more in advise. I thank you. collecting Government debts. There are many different Government funds, a lot of which are way behind. ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR PRESIDENTIAL We can start with the Tertiary Education Finance or AFFAIRS, GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC Bursaries as it was called back then. You will find that ADMINISTRATION (MR MTHIMKHULU): more than half of certain Members of Parliament here Mr Speaker, I rise to support Honourable Matsheka have not finished paying their education loans. So, we regarding the documents he has put before us. This need to do more in collecting these funds; like the Road Mid-Term Review came at the right time when you look Levy. The infamous National Petroleum Fund (NPF) is at the COVID-19 virus, accompanied by the Economic owed millions by businesses. So, we need to do much Recovery and Transformation Plan that shows that the more to collect those levies. Government is serious about wanting to develop the economy of Botswana, so that it can grow and begin As I said Honourable Minister, the world is going to to be diversified and export-led. When you look at become… the document that was put before us by Honourable MR MOLEBATSI: Elucidation. I agree with you Matsheka of Economic Recovery and Transformation Honourable Member of Parliament that there are Plan, he shows that we will take some of the money instances where Government is unable to collect funds that was reserved to facilitate other projects that are in efficiently. I believe that you will agree with me that the National Development Plan (NDP) 11 to assist us in

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changing and diversifying this economy of Botswana. MR BOKO: Elucidation. Thank you Honourable Honourable Matsheka has presented to this Parliament Minister. I take it that you are still on the right path. that we want to construct railways so that we are able to You say that you want to hire Batswana and ensure that transport our coal and sell it outside Botswana because you create jobs for them. Honourable Minister, is it not we have not been able to sell it in large quantities in order important that we need to set ourselves a target that as for it to generate high income for Botswana, so that we the Government we want to create a certain number of can have an income; better foreign exchange earnings jobs? You know Honourable Minister that you … how so that we can be able to develop the lives of Batswana will that thing of setting targets help? You know at the efficiently. This railway that will be constructed to beginning of the year, when your child goes to school, transport coal to South Africa, I strongly believe that it there is a target that you set that upon completion of will assist in the economic development of Botswana Standard 7, you want them to have performed in a and create jobs for Batswana. certain way at school. You just don’t tell them that go and learn. You set them a target you want them to reach In regards to Economic Recovery and Transformation in terms of their pass rate at school. Is it not necessary Plan, it also shows that the agricultural sector in that as a country and also being on a higher plane to set Botswana, in regards to cattle, goats and the value chain ourselves targets so that we can be able to see if we are of agro-business will be developed so that it can create on the right track or not Honourable Member? Thank a lot of jobs and also grow the economy of Botswana. you. Let me also be thankful that we agree and we also MR MTHIMKHULU: You heard the Honourable realise that as Botswana, the coal in Botswana and Member when he spoke this morning saying there other natural resources like coalbed, methane gas and will be over 100 000 jobs that will be created, with the sunshine can assist us to generate energy so that we can programmes which will be implemented, Honourable be able to sell it in other countries outside Botswana in Mavange Moabi said that this morning. It is not just order to generate income. These things we can achieve about putting the figures before us saying we are going now with the Economic Recovery and Transformation to employ this number of people. We have to put up Plan that was put before us by Honourable Matsheka. programmes. If you can look at the Gross Domestic This shows that our Government is serious, it wants to Product (GDP) of Botswana from the time we got develop the lives of Batswana in general and it is also independence, it has been growing every year, and the in line with the goals that we put before Batswana in number of Batswana who were employed grew every our Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) manifesto that states that we are going to develop this economy and year. If you can look at the GDP of Botswana in 2008, also involve a lot of Batswana so that they can find jobs I heard that it went up to 10.1 billion Dollars, that is and have the opportunity to work for themselves and about P100 billion. Currently, it ranges at about 18 generate income. You will realise that we also promised billion Dollars, that is P180 billion. When the GDP of Batswana in our programme, that we are going to create a country grows, it shows that many people got jobs, what is called Citizen Economic Empowerment laws… because it cannot grow when people are not working, or when it does not create jobs. As it grows, jobs are HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. created. What has been presented to you by Honourable MR MTHIMKHULU: Which will accompany this Dr Matsheka is that we want the economy to grow; the Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan in the GDP is going to grow. When the GDP grows, people coming years as we go forward. We also promised you will be employed in large numbers. When we talk about that even the way the Government of Botswana buys selling coal outside, after the railway line has been built, goods, we are going to verify and reaffirm that these coal being mined in large quantities; that coal is going goods that are bought, are those that have been produced to be mined by people and be transported by people, that in Botswana by Batswana and that money stays in is job creation; we would create jobs in large numbers. Botswana to develop the economy of Botswana. Thus, When we produce oil, we source it from coal, as Mr we are going to assist the locally-owned businesses so Moabi said this morning; that creates jobs, we would that they can also have the capacity to produce goods create jobs in large numbers. When our…(Inaudible)… that we can export outside Botswana. starts working, when they start operating, that is job

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creation in large numbers. For us to say we are going us who can deny him whatever he wants. The President to employ 100 000 people or to say we are going to is everybody’s employer. What bothers us is that when pay them P3 000, no we did not make that promise people went through interviews, he was not with them, to Batswana. We told them that we cannot give them his was done somewhere else, and I wondered whether untrue figures, but what we can promise Batswana as those who were interviewing him are not people he has the Government is that, we are going to come up with employed, as their leader. Is it possible for someone not programmes that are going to improve the economy of to give you something when you are his or her employer? Batswana, programmes that would ensure that many Is it possible for someone to deny you an opportunity Batswana venture into business, and the Government when you apply for a farm like Banyana? Batswana would be able to buy from them. Most Batswana would have to know that that procedure is flawed. We have to be able to sustain themselves, and benefit from the remind the President that he wronged Batswana through resources of their country. That is the promise we gave that procedure, so he has to withdraw if it has not been Batswana, not the joke of saying we are going to pay awarded already. If it has already been awarded, we beg them P3 000 or saying we are going to create 100 000 him, we actually encourage him to return it and allow jobs… Batswana to compete for it, so that proper procedure could be followed. MR MANGWEGAPE-HEALY: Point of elucidation. Thank you Honourable Member. From what I am Mr Speaker, let me now focus on Honourable Matsheka, gathering from your debate, what you are saying is that although he is chatting; Honourable Minister, I will the BDP Government is realistic in its promises to the not agree with you if in the ideas you have presented electorates. They do not make empty promises for the before us, you are not willing to intensify job creation sake of electioneering, we say things that we can deliver so that Batswana, the youth would be able to get jobs. I on, we do not make unrealistic promises, is that what will not agree with you if you are still taking funds out you are saying? of the Government coffers to pay people who are not available in jobs based on various reasons Honourable MR MTHUMKHULU: I totally agree with you, that Dr Matsheka. I will not agree with you if the Agriculture is why we told them that we could not employ 100 000 sector will just be like it was yesterday. I will just agree people but we will ensure that they would rather go with you because you are saying ‘it is not business as out there and create jobs for themselves. Batswana are usual,’ and please let it be so. Let us see the effort and going to create jobs, and they are going to employ others results that are better than yesterday’s; that is when and they will be able to sell goods to their Government, I will agree with you. However, if things are just the they would be able to export goods outside Botswana. I same, when you are relaxed, if you just came in to wear believe the people in my constituency of Gaborone South the shoes of you predecessors, I will not agree with you; will be able to benefit from the upcoming programmes, I will not support your Motion. Honourable Matsheka, and they should be able to create a better livelihood for I will not agree with you if security departments, themselves. I thank you Mr Speaker. judges; all law enforcement organs do not get improved HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… assistance. We have to fight the crime that collapses our economy. People are corrupting our economy, and most MR NKAWANA (SELEBI PHIKWE EAST): I of them do so because we do not have the resources of thank you Mr Speaker. I rise to comment on the views tracing where our coffers are leaking. I will not support as presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic you in that regard Honourable Matsheka. There are Development, Honourable Dr Matsheka. Before many ways in which the economy…our coffers are doing that, I would like to touch a bit on what my leaking right before our eyes. I can only support you colleagues have already talked about. The Leader of Honourable Minister if you can patch the holes through the Opposition said that it is untidy, it does not depict which our monies are eluding us. I will not agree with us well, it is not proper for Batswana that as leaders, you Honourable Matsheka if we are just going to pop administrators, especially when you are the President, out money without employing people on a permanent to compete with other Batswana who are lower in terms and pensionable basis. I will also not support you if of stature or position. We know that everywhere, one people engaged in Ipelegeng will be paid P500. I will cannot bite a hand that feeds them. Amongst us, when support you if you can tell me that they will start earning the President says he wants something, there is none of P1, 500. I will not agree with you Honourable Matsheka

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if you are not going to do anything about the slavery manufacturing industry; it can be in food production wages that are paid to public service employees; not as we know that at Ngamiland and Chobe we have fish doing anything to try and deliver them from the poverty that can be canned and be exported to other countries, they are in. If you are going to increase their salaries, I same applies to phane and sengaparile (Devil’s claw am with you; I will definitely support you. plant). I believe that we are still lagging behind in the manufacturing industry. MR MOSWAANE: Point of clarification. I just wanted to get you clearly, do you agree with Honourable I agree with you when you say you are going to assist Matsheka for popping out P200 million to buy Batswana the Agriculture sector, so that just like South Africa COVID-19 food relief hampers, and then today after and other countries, Batswana should nearly subsidise four months those goods are rotting in warehouses. Can everything that is done by farmers. What is so difficult you agree with him on that one? Thank you. in Botswana to support the Agriculture sector up until Batswana are independent enough to export our goods HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… to other countries like we are exporting our beef? Thank HONOURABLE MEMBER: We are not going to you. support that. MINISTER OF LAND MANAGEMENT, WATER MR NKAWANA: Thank you Honourable Moswaane. AND SANITATION SERVICES (MR MZWINILA): Thank you Mr Speaker. I would like to also show I am not going to agree with you at this point in time my support to the Motion tabled by the Honourable when warehouses in districts are still fully packed with Minister of Finance and Development Planning. I food hampers which have been bought as COVID-19 would like to underscore my understanding of National relief, Batswana are starving while these food hampers Development Plan (NDP) 11 as being predominantly, are rotting. Are you not aware that food packages have but not necessarily only being about projects. What I best before date, most of them have already passed that mean in terms of projects is that, the Transformational date, and they are going to be thrown away because no Agenda is driven by having a strong infrastructure base one can use them. which is necessary in terms of facilitating job creation, Honourable Matsheka I will support you if you are diversification of the economy, food security anda committed to collecting tax, I am not talking about higher quality of life for our citizenry. increasing tax, I am saying that if you are going to When NDP 11 started, my ministry was probably given block all the loopholes; whereby foreign companies do the biggest share of the budget, as it was allocated more not pay tax, and they illegally transfer funds out of the than P17 billion which was purely for infrastructure country denying us what is rightfully ours, collapsing development. Our biggest challenge as a country in our economy. terms of infrastructure development, is that we are a HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… water scarce country, which means that our predominant or main infrastructure that is required is water. Having MR NKAWANA: Honourable Matsheka, we have said this, the decision was made that in order to secure different Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) infrastructure development in various parts of the which should advise the government, the nation and country to facilitate other sectors of the economy, we tribes. These organisations are suffering, they are embarked on an ambitious programme of ensuring that given small funds. I will only support you if NGOs and there is long-term water security in the country and it is Community Trusts will get something from your budget almost constituency-based. In every single constituency, so that they can carry on with their mandate, which we we are doing something with the NDP 11 Budget under need in Botswana. infrastructure development in order to ensure that there is water security throughout the country. I will not support you if we are still failing to come up with a proper public transportation system which We have had our challenges, but I think that going will transport Batswana everywhere they want to go. forward, we will learn from them. If you start in the Honourable Matsheka, I want us to agree that you North of the country, in order to facilitate tourism in will only get my support if we are going to improve areas like the Chobe and Ngami, you have to have the the assistance that we give Batswana who are in the infrastructure that is commensurate with the lodges and

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the 5 Star hotels having the capacity to attract and retain Phikwe to Serule which is one of the key cornerstone the market share of tourists. We launched an ambitious projects in that area, which will also affect the Serowe programme for water security last year in Maun which constituencies. Thus, we are taking a position of was around P1.2 and it is going to be a two-year project. ensuring that every single constituency is affected by Therefore, we should be in the starting phases of our projects. construction within the next couple of months. The Francistown Constituencies are affected by issues In Kasane in the Chobe area, we also did a couple of of the sanitation or upgrading the sanitation network. projects which are aimed at ensuring that the tourism We are upgrading the Mambo Treatment Plant as part of sector maintains one of the steadfast main space of our our World Bank Projects and it will be concluded during economy. We have started to build a new water treatment the remainder of NDP 11. plant and the process of accelerating land servicing in that area. When you go to other places, in terms of how If you look at Tonota, we have some ambitious projects. we facilitate the economic diversification, if you look Actually, one of them was concluded recently, but we at the Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit have more projects which are in line with what we want (SPEDU) region which was hard-hit by the closure of to do. BCL in conjunction with the Ministry of Investment, If you go to Mahalapye East and West, we have projects Trade and Industry, we have an ambitious project of in both constituencies… land servicing. The whole idea behind land servicing for residential, industrial and agro-business plots is to MR SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable Minister, diversify the economy of Selebi Phikwe. That project COVID-19 break! has also started. PROCEEDINGS SUSPENDED AT 4:04 P.M. FOR If you look at the North East Region, it has been hard- APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES hit over the past years as a result of having severe and debilitating water setbacks. In around five constituencies, PROCEEDINGS RESUMED AT 4:46 P.M. we have also started a project that will ameliorate water “EXCHANGE OF SPEAKERSHIP” shortages in those constituencies. MR SPEAKER (MR PULE): Order! Order! HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. Honourable Members, when we adjourned, Honourable MR MZWINILA: If you look at Ghanzi South and Mzwinila was on the floor and was left with three Kgalagadi North, we have also had serious problems minutes, 57 seconds. which affect the quality of the investment that we can get... MR MZWINILA: Thank you Mr Speaker. In order to implement the Transformation Agenda and the Recovery HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. Plan, we have to get our project management right. I MR MZWINILA: Honourable, I do not have time. think there are six or seven issues which we are working Allow me to cover all these constituencies. In Ghanzi on, in terms of ensuring that we are mainstreaming and South and Kgalagadi North, we have also embarked on increasing the efficacy of our project management. ensuring that we have adequate infrastructure for water One is that we have to get our project identification development, but unfortunately the project is going right and this has to be in line, not only with National through the courts, but I am pleased to inform you that Development Plan (NDP) 11 which we are reviewing one of them has been resolved this month and we are going for retendering of that project. now, but also with the National Strategic Plan. I think that as a learning curve or going forward, we have to If you go to the areas of Bobonong, we also had juxtapose National Strategic Plan with the NDP 11. ambitious projects as a Government, to ensure that we We also have to prioritise our projects properly and I facilitate more for villages to get more water as quickly think we have been doing a good job in that and where as possible. necessary, we have to reprioritise like we did with the Mmadinare Constituency; we are also connecting Masama Project, which we had to reprioritise over other water tanks in Tobane and Sefhophe and ensuring that projects as it was important for us to get water to the we have the World Bank funded project from Selebi Southern part of Botswana. We have to clearly ensure,

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going forward that our Invitation to Tender (ITTs) are this review with such excellence demonstrating where we clearly defined and that our procurement processes are come from, our current economic status and the changes well polished and corrupt free or have the ability to be he is bringing to programmes, policies which will ensure robust to possible elements of corruption. We have to that Batswana benefit from their economy. I commend work on our implementation and our monitoring and him for outlining these principles. Mr Speaker, before once the project is done, we have to ensure that we get I address NDP 11 Mid-Term Review, I want to express our maintenance schedules right. I think with all these my displeasure concerning issues that we normally raise key features, it is part of what we are doing in terms which are untrue and provocative without regard to our of transforming our project delivery cycle. We are now position as Honourable Members. I am talking about in the process of ensuring that we are fast tracking all issues raised often. I would have loved for Leader of the our projects in line with the Transformation Agenda, Opposition to be present, anyway, Acting Leader of the of which part of it is to ensure that our projects get Opposition, Honourable Moatlhodi is here. These are delivered on time. For example, we have had some issues of disrespect and falsehood concerning the rights projects delays in terms of getting water to the Southern of the President. Firstly… part of Botswana, Goodhope, Lobatse, Mmathethe, Molapowabojang, Thamaga, Moshupa, Gaborone, MR SPEAKER: Point of order Honourable Member. Mochudi and Tlokweng. We are in the process on unbundling all of those and by the end of the year, we HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order. Mr should have commenced with those significant projects. Speaker, it seems the Leader of the House wants to Even in Kgalagadi South, we have had issues of water introduce an issue which we all have to understand. He challenges where we cannot get pipelines to transfer talks about disrespecting the President as something water, we need to drill boreholes. We have gone to a which is out of order yet he does not explain what new transformative way of thinking that instead of disrespecting the President is. We are going to have a outsourcing drilling boreholes, we need to get our own problem of talking about disrespecting the President in drilling rigs and ensure that we can drill effectively and this Parliament without explaining it and without him also clean our boreholes on regular basis. We are in the highlighting which Standing Order we are contravening. process of transforming the way we think in terms of I think we need to be mindful of that and Mr Speaker, water security as we are now fast tracking these long- you need to correct that and guide the Leader of the term plans of getting water outside the country into House. Thank you. the country to ensure that we have a sufficient base MR SPEAKER: Honourable Member, frankly to facilitate the rest of the economy. In terms of other speaking, I did not find anything out of order from what sectors of the economy, we need to ensure that we are he said. I do not know which Standing Order you are well aligned, like in Tswapong South for example, we using to find out that he is out of order. Honourable had a bottleneck in terms of delivering water there, Leader of the House, you can continue with your debate. but now we have unbundled the projects, we are more efficient and all of these is due to the transformative HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure Mr Speaker! nature of our operations. MR SPEAKER: Procedure.

Glen Valley in Gaborone has been a challenge as it HONOURABLE MEMBER: Procedure. Thank you was creating a foul smell and we are in the process of Mr Speaker. Indeed, the matter before us this afternoon corrective action so that the whole of Gaborone can is the matter presented by the Honourable Minister of benefit from improved sanitation. All these are part of our Finance and Economic Development. Standing Order efforts to transform the way we do things, think, deliver 57.1 is succinctly clear, His Honour the Vice President projects and also ensure that going forward, we are is berserk, he is completely away from the subject that efficacious, efficient and that every single constituency we are discussing or he is to discuss. Mr Speaker, I is affected by the Transformation Agenda and it benefits pray that you put the Honourable Vice President on the equally based on the NDP 11 and the National Strategic relevant matter that we are discussing. He is introducing Plan in …(Inaudible)… manner throughout the country. a completely new subject which is against Standing I thank you Mr Speaker. Order 57.1.

HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR MR SPEAKER: Order! Honourable Members, TSOGWANE): Thank you Mr Speaker. Let me start off Standing Order 57.1 says, “A Member shall restrict his by appreciating the Honourable Minister who presented or her observation to the subject under discussion and

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shall not introduce matter irrelevant to that subject.” the President does not have the right. Honourable The Honourable Leader of the House has just started Saleshando said that it is unethical for a leader to an introduction of a discussion and in the introduction, compete for tenders with his subordinates. Therefore, we should have actually waited to hear what he has to that does not mean the President does not have the say, because I believe that he probably has picked some right, it means that it is shameful for a Member of issues during the debate which came from the other Parliament to compete for a tender to build LAC with Members who were debating. He was just making a my constituents at the Constituency. It will be shameful layout before he goes on, if he could have gone maybe up because people who evaluate tenders will think of how to five minutes, I would stop him from being irrelevant. the MP will treat them if they can deny him the tender So, for me he is not irrelevant, he is just putting a layout and they will end up awarding the MP a tender over of his debate. someone who deserved that tender. On the other hand, MR TSOGWANE: Mr Speaker, that is what we see this person might even be deserving it more than me. happening Honourable Members. We see situations So this House has to be put to order in that manner Mr whereby a person will be sitting next to Honourable Speaker. we are not supposed to mislead the nation. Saleshando while saying that the sitting President is not MR SPEAKER: I am sorry Honourable Member, supposed to be engaged in business, why did you not I missed what you were saying. There is echo here, tell that person that it is not the matter which we are dealing with? sometimes we cannot hear you properly. The words that you said he should withdraw. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… MR MMOLOTSI: He was saying that Honourable MR TSOGWANE: …so this selective justice… Members are barking Mr Speaker and I am saying (Interruption)… only dogs do bark, not a person. Did you hear me HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Correction!)… Mr Speaker? Only dogs bark, human beings do not. Therefore, the Honourable Leader of the House must MR TSOGWANE: …he pointed out that he competed withdraw that one. for Banyana farm tender; he is not even owning that farm, he was going to lease like everybody else who has MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members, the the right to do so, he is not an exception as a President. Speakership has repeatedly advised this House to always He went on to say things that are not true that we buy use statements which are used by Batswana addressing clothes for the President and we will provide for him other Batswana or Batswana parents who are talking to even after his Presidency period lapses. I said I wanted other parents in Botswana. My only challenge is that I to address these matters in his presence. Those who have missed the part where he talked of barking… were listening and praising him like Honourable Pono HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… Moatlhodi and Honourable Dr Gobotswang are left behind so that they can bark. MR SPEAKER: …nonetheless, if the Honourable Leader of the House has said that, perhaps I should ask HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… him to never repeat those words. MR TSOGWANE: Mr Speaker, I want to highlight that HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Inaudible)… things like this, there is nowhere in the Constitution… MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members, can you allow MR MMOLOTSI: On a point of procedure. Mr Speaker, me to run the House, because if you dictate to me what I would like you to put this House in order because I should do, you will have a problem with me. I was the language used obviously is un-parliamentary. You saying if at all he has said that, I should ask him to never cannot say that Honourable Members are barking, only repeat those words in this House. dogs do bark. Therefore, I would like the Honourable Leader of the House to withdraw. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Inaudible)…

Secondly Mr Speaker, the Honourable Member is MR SPEAKER: Calm down, I am not done. I said if misdirecting himself because when Honourable he has used those words, I will ask him to never repeat Saleshando was on the floor, he never said that them…

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HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Inaudible)… it, grow it and do businesses; it is an opportunity. So, when people see these figures, where it says 2.5 per cent MR SPEAKER: I will sit down and allow you to GDP contribution of agriculture, they think agriculture continue to talk because you guys are interrupting me. is not important or is not producing significant results. Honourable Members, I explained that I missed what he However, it requires us to join forces, to join agricultural said because of this echo. Sometimes it is difficult to hear programmes and embrace new ones like the Government what a Member is saying when they are there. You are has come up with cluster development which has aware of that, our voices are audible on the television, already been implemented in Molopo; phase one will but when you are here, sometimes it is not easy to hear be implemented from Molopo up to Sand Veldt. I wish I what another Member is saying. So, I have missed the could talk about it in the presence of some of the famous word ‘barking’. Now what I am saying is, if indeed that farmers of Sand Veldt. So, we really have to stand up is true, I will ask him to never use such words and with and try by all means to improve our economy because all due respect, I request him to withdraw it. it will not be easy going forward. We expected that the MR TSOGWANE: Mr Speaker, you have missed economy will improve in the near future but instead, it is it because they are making noise. They do not want declining. So we have to take action and identify sectors me to say the truth. They do not want us to challenge through which we can improve the economy. what Honourable Saleshando said, that is why they are We appreciate the Minister for presenting the economic making noise. I was not saying they are barking in literal recovery plan which he has coupled with our need to sense, I was simply comparing making noise… revive the economy. These things require us to have HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… an economic chorus as different sectors; Government, non-state actors and the private sector. We must have an MR TSOGWANE: I withdraw them because it is economic chorus through which we have to go out there wrong to compare with something else. I withdraw and show people that we have to take action. them Mr Speaker. Nevertheless, let me proceed because they do not want anyone to talk about what Honourable One of the things which was despised by the opposition Saleshando said. was the impact of Coronavirus. We believe that we and other countries have learnt a lot. So, you cannot claim Lastly Mr Speaker, people think the President does that you have not learnt this and that from Coronavirus. not have rights like ordinary people. They believe a It has affected many countries and taught them that they President can generate his wealth out of his salary have to build resilience in their communities, to be self- but unlike the President, Members of Parliament get reliant, especially us. That is why we have to work hard gratuity after five years. That is why they end up getting to run our economy through the export-led economy and pensions when they retire. So we have to highlight this import substitution strategy; they should be our target to ensure that we become self-reliant. to the nation. As such, we cannot deny a person to earn a living as long as they are not corrupt or as long as they Prior to elections, we said we want to open the deltas are not breaking the law. Let us shun away from trying and tourism for Batswana, foreigners should not be to win people’s hearts with this kind of issues. the only ones benefitting in that sector. Right now, the tourism sector is the hardest hit, so we need to be self- Mr Speaker, I would like to indicate that this plan reliant and promote our domestic tourism rather than is of great importance and it corresponds with our relying on international tourism. We should coordinate mandate of the Botswana Democratic Party which the Tourism Cluster Development properly to be able to also corresponds with Vision 2036. This plan clearly generate revenue. If we link it with the beef cluster… indicates that Agriculture did not do well in the first quarter of the National Development Plan (NDP) 11. MR MOSWAANE: Procedure. Let me clearly So, it is going to be difficult to proceed with the last understand Mr Speaker; there is an issue we can discuss quarter as we intended. In the first quarter, it showed which might turn to be a lesson to the nation. As leaders, that agriculture had 2.5 per cent contribution to the can we allocate ourselves lucrative deals in the business Gross Domestic Product (GDP). I see that situation and there is nothing wrong with it? Members of as an opportunity. I am saying this because when we Parliament (MPs) are saying, when we rule, we should talk about this sector, it requires people to venture into not allocate ourselves lucrative deals but rather allocate

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it to the public because if they become rich we become problem; the cause and the prevention. Mr Speaker, we rich? Is that not disturbing? I want to fully comprehend are talking about the Mid-Term Review of the National because if His Honour the Vice President whom I love Development Plan (NDP11) in the past two years and dearly and I know that can influence the perception of our goals in the next three years. the public otherwise we will find ourselves in situations where the Permanent Secretary (PS) has allocated him/ Mr Speaker, there is still extreme poverty amongst us. herself a huge farm and the other one awards him/herself Honourable Lucas defined it excellently like a typical a lucrative tender to supply overalls and at the end we Professor at the University. He spoke like a typical find that a large percentage of the economy… person who hold three degrees with the experience of lecturing at university, he defined it very well. The MR SPEAKER: Honourable Member! problem of the economy of Botswana is unemployment MR MOSWAANE: If we raise such issue in the House, which affects the youth. There is one report just before will… we went for elections which stated that there are up to 90 000 unemployed graduates. The most disheartening part MR SPEAKER: Honourable Moswaane! is that there is what we call underemployment. When MR MOSWAANE: Thank you so much. we talk about underemployment, we are talking about youth who have Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates MR SPEAKER: There is nothing unprocedural about yet they are engaged under Tirelo Sechaba, Internship, the statement. I think you should have just stood on a Green Scorpions and Ipelegeng programmes earning P1 point of clarification not procedure. 300, they are even hired as petrol attendants yet they MR TSOGWANE: Let me proceed because time is have Degree qualifications. not on my side. The issues raised by Moswaane were Our economy is faced with the ever declining health addressed earlier and were refuted. I do not know where condition as compared to countries like Mauritius which he was then but let me proceed Mr Speaker. were in the same economy with us, in fact our per capita Mr Speaker, I was indicating that we have challenges is higher than that of Mauritius. If you look at our health surrounding our economy which we run through cluster and education outcomes they are worse than those of development. We know that land is a valuable asset. Mauritius. So we should ask ourselves what caused that The Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and looking at National Development Plan (NDP) 11, Mid- Systems (LAPCAS) programme has currently shown us Term Review as to why Mauritius is ahead of us yet that people can own rights to use land and even own it, we are rich in diamonds? We should ask ourselves why something which was difficult before. Batswana were Mauritius leads in manufacturing of jewellery including unable to use their land properly more especially at the timepieces whereas they do not have precious minerals rural areas. while we have diamonds from Jwaneng which are the Let me also indicate that tourism should not only most precious in the world. We should ask ourselves these be concentrated at the deltas. Areas like Boteti are in questions and answer them. We should ask ourselves between two parks, so roll out of tourism should spill why there are high failure rates Mr Speaker. We should there. Currently people go there to hunt for elephants ask ourselves why there is skewed development. If you but there can be a programme Minister of Tourism to see look at the plan Honourable Matsheka presented, it how these trusts can benefit from that tourism. These only caters for Greater Gaborone as Honourable Reatile animals have been troubling them and destroying their alluded. It starts from Dibete and extends to Kanye fields, however, during the hunting season they do not and Borolong. If you look in terms of the impact of benefit. So can they not be given those trusts andbe development projects which the Government plans to given these animals so that they can also make a living? implement they do not even cover a single Kgalagadi I now want to focus on Information Technology (IT), area or even pass Dibete. Honourable Speaker, we have we should also use it and link it to the economy. Thank to talk about such things so that skewed development you Mr Speaker. can be discouraged.

MR KEORAPETSE (SELEBI PHIKWE WEST): Corruption; we should talk about it. In the Umbrella for Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker let me first say we Democratic Change (UDC) manifesto, we stated that have always explained that in order to deal with problems we are going to talk about issues such as corruption and and find a solution, you first have to comprehend the good governance. Honourable Leader of the House, you

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hit the nail on the coffin when you said the President Mauritius. What is surprising is that when we look at should not compete for girls banyana (ambiguous the per capita at the time that I looked at that report, in meaning it can either mean girls or a farm called I am saying I am amenable to your correction if the Banyana) with Batswana who are making efforts to… situation has changed, but the point is that we began at the same time with Mauritius, but Mauritius is ahead HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Laughter!) … and we should wonder what the problem is? Honourable MR KEORAPETSE: I mean Banyana Farms, sorry! Speaker, there is always talk that we copy the Manifesto Banyana Farms tendering; that he should stop competing of the BDP. BDP has never beat us on ideas, it has never with Batswana, ordinary citizens. That is not demeaning happened. the President. If you say the President’s relatives should HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… not be awarded tenders more especially through direct appointment, that is not demeaning the President, rather HONOURABLE MEMBER: And it will never you are promoting good ethical governance. So that happen. is what the Honourable Leader of the Opposition was talking about. It is not to demean the President, if there MR KEORAPETSE: Just look at the Constitution, Mr is any Honourable Member who attempts such, I will Matante has long said in 1965, that this Constitution chastise him/her myself. As Honourable Gobotswang is not okay. Just imagine, that was the People’s Party said… stance at that time. Right now, there has not been a time that we did not talk about amending the Constitution MINISTER OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS (DR of Botswana. Right now, because they have written in KWAPE): Point of order. Thank you Mr Speaker. the Manifesto, they are copying from us, now they are We should rectify something before the Honourable trying to think they are better and say they are the ones Member goes any further. When he started his debate, who came up with this idea. Old Age Pension Fund, he alluded that per capita of Mauritius is lower than 1967, Mr Matante advocated for an Old Age Pension that of Botswana, he should go and check his statistics Grant. Mr Dabutha came with a Motion to Parliament because what he said is not true. in the early 1990s, the BDP did not agree with it, 30 MR KEORAPETSE: I do not know what the years later, they told Mr Mfa to quickly come with this Honourable Member is talking about because if you Motion to Parliament, and that is when they accepted look at our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, it, 30 years later. The BDP has never beat us on ideas. we have been ahead of Mauritius as a country. It will The formation of Botswana Defence Force (BDF) was be humiliating if Mauritius is ahead of us because these the idea of the Opposition. The Pula currency and the things change but per capita in the region, we were Central Bank were the ideas of the Opposition. Free ahead. education was the idea of the Opposition, university HONOURABLE MEMBER: Order! idea, when the Botswana University Campus Appeal (BUCA) programme was formed, it was said that we MR KEORAPETSE: It is not actually order, it is cannot stay without a university, let us build our own correction. university, until there were unrests of Leabua Jonathan at MR SPEAKER: Honourable Member! Lesotho, Batswana being sent back, then that was when BUCA was formed. Damming the north and pumping MR KEORAPETSE: It is correction. water down south were the ideas of the Opposition. MR SPEAKER: I have a problem if you say order then you do not say because the Member is not out of Chobe-Zambezi, I told Mr Mokaila that, these are the order to be honest. If you are seeking for clarification or ideas that came up with the likes of Dr Kenneth Koma, you want to correct, then he will yield for you. I guess saying let us source water from big rivers. Morupule B he is a gentleman. He will yield, will you Honourable was the idea, go and look at the debates of the National Member? Development Plan (NDP) 8, which the Opposition stated that we must be energy self-sufficient. Today they MR KEORAPETSE: I will give you a report by came with a monument of corruption and they call it Econsult, in which they stated that our health and Morupule B, they think that they can have better ideas education outcomes are worse than countries such as than us. We come a long way leading…

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HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… We said that we want Old Age Pension to be P1 500. Sanitary pads should be given to women for free, men MR SPEAKER: Honourable Keorapetse, are you still are privileged, they are given condoms for free, and relevant to the subject matter? Can you go back to the women are not given sanitary pads for free. As the UDC, subject matter? we stated in our Manifesto, and we are still repeating MR KEORAPETSE: The subject matter is that, I am ourselves. Tablets for learners; Honourable Letsholo talking political economy here, there is no how you was talking about teachers, we are saying even learners, can discuss NDP Mid-term Review without talking all of them need to get tablets. Tertiary education allowance; we are saying it should be P2 500. Also we about political economy. When you talk of energy self- are saying, let all the mines that have been closed, the sufficiency, it is part of the ...(Interruptions)…even likes of BCL, Karowe, Lerala, Tati Nickel and Firestone their plagiarism that is too much. Right now we have a be opened. Thank you Mr Speaker. problem that if your approach to development is going to be that you do not listen to the ideas of the Opposition, HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… you are going to play catch-up to the world. Industrial MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I can see that… hemp, the world is benefitting, generating wealth. They are making billions. Industrial hemp is a multibillion- HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… dollar industry. You do not agree with it because it is an idea of the Opposition. What sort of Government are MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members, should I wait you in that you do not agree with ideas just because they for you to chat? are from the Opposition? HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… So many things; medical marijuana, are ideas of the MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members, I can see that Opposition that we talk about. Beneficiation, you come there is no one rising. I think the time has now come for a long way not agreeing with beneficiation which we are saying let us process our minerals here and create jobs, me to call upon the Minister of Finance and Economic instead of taking soda ash, copper and diamonds outside Development to respond to the debates. the country, let us beneficiate and add value here. And, MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC when it comes to the one of diamonds Honourable DEVELOPMENT (DR MATSHEKA): Thank you Minister, you need to be very careful with it because, you may wonder why De Beers is not interested on Mr Speaker. Let me start by reminding Honourable cutting and polishing, because there is not much value Members of Parliament, Standing Order 95.2, I was there. Let us go to where the value is. Look at Mauritius, listening... I gave the example of Mauritius. LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): We explained Mr Speaker in our Manifesto that 100 000 Point of procedure Mr Speaker. Honourable Pono jobs in 12 months is possible and we still agree that it Moatlhodi is new in Parliament, now we should teach is possible. Living wage that you say we are promising him the procedure, reading of newspapers in Parliament people heavens, heaven is a public servant who earns is not allowed. more than P120 000… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… MR SPEAKER: You are quite right Leader of the MR KEORAPETSE: …and the least earns a salary not House. more than P3 000. Heaven is that situation of someone earning that salary. Income and wealth inequalities, I am DR MATSHEKA: Just to say Mr Speaker, thank you disappointed that this plan, there is absolutely no target very much. Let me thank you for giving me time to be able on ways we are going to reduce income and wealth to respond to Honourable Members who commented on inequalities. There is no target in terms of the number the Mid-Term Review which we put before Parliament. of jobs that would be created, how underemployment Let me say as the order is Mr Speaker, which you were would be reduced. There is no plan or targets in terms of in accordance with Standing Order 95.2, which requires how education and health outcomes would be improved. me to listen to macro-contributions and comments of a

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general policy nature. I know that Honourable Members Committees (VDCs), and then it arrives at the districts, have been commenting from both sides, now let me and then it ends in the National Development Plan (NDP). explain that our framework is like this, I am going to be That is how the Mid-Term Review is formulated, that is summarising macro-issues that were raised. how the NDPs are done. So when we come here with a programme which was agreed to by the Government, There were those that addressed different Ministries; being the Mid-Term Review, by the way we are looking relevant Ministers will address them since we have at NDP 11. The NDP 11 is a document; it went through Thematic Working Groups (TWG), now I will not get all the appropriate steps. into the many issues, which were said here that will be answered by the Honourable Ministers. Let me be Let me also explain that in 2019 before elections, when thankful that all of you managed to comment, those who we were busy campaigning, there were people who commented, and saying that this document is focused continued working in Councils, and they dealt with on some people, some have indicated that they are not the Mid-Term Review which we are debating today. impressed. I take it that that is the goal for us to be able It went through various committees, being run by the to meet as Members of Parliament and give each other Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development advices, and let me assure you that we will continue and districts, they were all consulted. The process took working hard to try to listen to the wishes of Batswana, place when we were still out there campaigning for we are listening to all Batswana that are represented elections. District structures met at that time to address here and for being able to tell us this. the necessary sections, because that is how things are done. Let me also say that there is no one who disputes the fact that COVID-19 virus has caused confusion on how There was a workshop, which was held at the Gaborone the economy is run and being able to stand up to its International Convention Centre (GICC) in November, challenges. There is no one who can dispute that, and 2019 which collected the views from the districts, to I do not want any Member of Parliament to stand here be further interrogated by those outside Government, and say, COVID-19 is an excuse that is used by some so that they would have an input as well. There were Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that were people, it happening all over the world. We said here there, the media, academia, research institutions and when I was talking about the Budget that COVID-19 has other religious organisations were there Mr Speaker. proved that we will have to dig deeper from our sources, Therefore, allow me to say this Mid-Term Review, for us to be able to achieve our goals. We should work was subject to wide consultations, even beyond local harder than we did so that we can achieve goals that are authorities. There is a Mid-Term Review Reference in our plans. So I do not want to hear anyone saying they Group, Thematic Working Groups, PIC Force, Economic are excuses of the ruling party, and really we agreed that Committee of Cabinet, and therefore it benefitted from we are all going to unite in develop the economy of this shaping out of such a process. country. So one cannot say we did not go around the whole When we first heard about this virus, because Iwas country, it is the Economic Recovery Transformation dealing with the Budget Speech Honourable Members, Plan (ERTP), because it showed the Government’s all of us did not expect this virus to be where it is now, response to what we have placed before Parliament as but here we are, now we have put before you the Mid- the Mid-Term Review and as NDP 11. To include the Term Review Plan, and we also included a document Thematic Working Groups, is a further enhancement that showed what the Government was thinking in of our mandate to consult. Please read this document again Honourable Members so that you would be able responding to this virus in regards to the economy. We to realise that it is the objectives and the contributions requested for all those things to be read so that it can of Batswana across the economy. It is not correct to be clear that Mid-term Review cannot stand alone, it suggest that this document has not been subject to a should be read, it has to be read considering how things process of consultation which we are all familiar with, were before. it is not correct. I mean, what was said by Honourable The Honourable Members have spoken, Honourable Moswaane, and perhaps others, is actually not true. Molale commented by telling us how the NDP of this Mr Speaker let me clarify that...(Interruptions)... country is formulated. It starts right at the village level, and keeps climbing up the ladder to Village Development HONOURABLE MEMBER: Correction Mr Speaker!

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DR MATSHEKA: …Honourable Members, let me Please when you comment on such issues; consider the explain that the Constituency Fund was given a budget fact that you have a responsibility to build this nation. of about P300 million for 2020/2021. By saying it has You should say something that you can refer to and be not been allocated a budget…we really have to pay proud of your contribution. What did you say when you attention to detail on the document, so that when you looked at the PIP; what did you request to be added say things have not been included in the plan, you would to your constituency which is in line with a certain have looked at the figures correctly. thematic group?

I have explained that there are some constituencies that HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Applause!)... have not utilised their budgets for the past two to three years. What is the point of giving them some more funds DR MATSHEKA: We agreed on the priority areas, in 2021? The truth is that we have to...(Interruptions)... they are included in the NDP. You have to comment set amount. on how the export-led growth, efficient Government expenditure, human capital development interrelate HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification! with those areas. Do not just talk, and make it appear as if your people have been sidelined, yet you had a right to DR MATSHEKA: Please allow me to continue say things that would build and show us how you want Honourable Moatlhodi. The set amount…You took time to build this nation. talking and I was listening to you. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification So there are some funds which have been allocated, Honourable, clarification! which are in the budget so that you would be able to utilise them. DR MATSHEKA: Therefore Honourable Members, as I have said there are some things…, I will give you. Honourable Kekgonegile talked about inclusion of the They are specific to ministries, and they will respond to National Spatial Plan (NSP), that it is one of the key the questions. elements that have been included in the plan to show that indeed we shall do certain things in a particular Let me say there are those who talked about principles, way. I heard him saying we should not use the funds the likes of Honourable Molale, Honourable Kwape and as Honourable Reatile was cautioning, selecting areas... Honourable Billy; they talked about human resource (Interruption)..., whether it is tribalism or whatever it is. development, even some Members of Parliament here did that. Let me confirm that it is indeed true that we are HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification working hard at Vision 2036, to make sure that we give Honourable! priority to dealing with the things we talked about. The DR MATSHEKA: Yes, but Honourable Members let economic structure is not something that you change me clarify that… overnight, it is something that we work on, and these are MR SPEAKER: Just a moment Honourable Minister. policies. When you identify development challenges, Honourable Moswaane, can you switch off your and you make it appear as if nothing was done in the past microphone, oh! It is off. years, that is ignoring the truth that the job that is being done here, it is actually a development challenge. There DR MATSHEKA: Thank you Mr Speaker. Honourable is no country that does not have pockets of challenges Members, we have a responsibility. When we do the in their economy. Let us not make it appear as if when NDP, we prioritise. That is why you have been given we comment or debate the Mid-Term Review, there are the Public Investment Programme (PIP), where you specific problems. are shown projects that are included in the NDP and in the Mid-Term Review for you to advise where Honourable Mmusi made a comment; he commended projects should be done when you look at the geography us for the prudent management, we find ourselves in of developments of this country. You cannot bring a better financial position from a balance sheet point tribalism in and then say your constituency has not been of view. Therefore, what was said at the end that we given any project, when you have a right to comment should be able to borrow monies from outside, because and tell us which thematic areas it connects with among we have a good credit rating, it is always about prudent the listed ones. management. How do you prudently make sure that

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when you borrow it is actually necessary? I said I am not that when we read this Mid-Term Review, we should going to borrow money so that the Government would consider them in totality, and we would be satisfied. be able to buy food hampers. We are not going to do that, we are going to make sure that when we borrow Honourable Makwinja referred you to page 14 of ERTP, money from other countries, we are going to develop where there is a table that outlines all the factors that are this country. We identify the priority areas that we want sitting there. It is very important. I kindly request you to to finance, and then we become very clear, that indeed go and read the macro chapters, so that when you now we know what we are doing as the leadership. listen to the specific chapters by other Ministers, you would have a glimpse of what is being said. On the issues that were mentioned by Honourable Saleshando, I continue to merge them as I have been Prioritisation is actually very important; prioritisation of doing. Sometimes if one has not worked as I have, in projects is actually controlled by the House. What we doing planning, you cannot stand up here and say to the have here is a Motion to adopt this Mid-Term Review. people that ‘COVID-19 did not do anything, in fact it So, you need to look at these projects and look at the is just an excuse’ you cannot. Even the basic planning thematic areas that we have chosen; the themes that we models will show you that certain elements you will not have actually selected to say how do we then take this be able to predict, you have an error tag, which is totally project out and leave this other one. stochastic, and it shows you that you have not actually The suggestion of how road construction plan is planned for those things. going, Greater Gaborone plan is actually to misdirect So, the fact that right now we are saying, what we are yourselves because you are not reading the document. going to do is to entrench key areas that are necessary We have said very clear that we are going to pick areas for a transformed economy, we are basing on the that are necessary to converge the economic structure fact that even the import substitution, all these issues of this economy. We are going to take those measures. that he raised, and the issue of food security, citizen If you want to suggest any other idea, please align it to empowerment, nobody has got monopoly of ideas. what is in the document so as to you debate properly so We have agreed here in Parliament that it is actually that if and when we listen to you, we can put your ideas the rate of implementation that distinguishes countries in the document, and see if you are making sense. successfully. Countries that have implemented faster The other issue, on the... and more efficiently are actually ahead of the curve. So it is not in the new ideas, there are no new ideas around HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… this House. It is whether you can actually implement DR MATSHEKA: …infrastructure, Honourable those ideas, and how far you are in implementing such Members, we said that that infrastructure on its own ideas. serves purposes to try and develop the economy and In terms of employment creation, Members of to improve the livelihoods of people because we Parliament gave different reasons in their contributions. need to be very clear. The choice and decision around I agree with them that indeed there are some things selecting Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) which need to be done, which will be different, it will areas was actually subject to a very rigorous process of not be business as usual, so that we would now enhance identifying the opportunities that are in those areas, to our capacity to be able to move much faster. make sure that the clustering indicates that there is a greater opportunity. Like in the beef, diamond, logistics What COVID-19 has simply done is to expose the hub clusters, what are the criteria that you use? It is fragility of the structure, it has exposed it. You also important to clearly understand these issues when we never saw the number of trucks that were there before, talk about them you used to just drive going to Mahalapye, passing many trucks that were countless; only trying to overtake. The MR MOSWAANE: Point of order Mr Speaker. Mr fact of the matter is that, because there was a standstill Speaker, I thought that I will calm myself. I rise on a of trucks, and you saw them being escorted by police, point of order because the Honourable Minister has now you know how many trucks are there, how many of quoted my name when responding that the consultation them are registered in this country, how many belong to process was followed, but we are here in this House to our people here. Those are issues that are very important, adopt whereas there are no minutes from the City of

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Francistown full Council to adopt the same document Mr Speaker; Honourable Pule, Honourable Mmolotsi which show consultation of people. The City of and Honourable Molebatsi sternly talked about the state Francistown ought to have met to adopt the document of infrastructure, our health facilities and education of City of Francistown. So, as a representative of facilities which we have said and recognised in our Francistown West, that is not true. programme that those are matters that need to be attended urgently because indeed, those vulnerabilities MR SPEAKER: Honourable Member, what is out of are quite clear. The sooner we expedite; carrying out order? That is my challenge. that task sooner, and all those things are included in the MR MOSWAANE: He is out of order because he is ERTP which has been presented before this House. misleading my people in Francistown. Honourable Tshere, Honourable Mmolotsi, Honourable MR SPEAKER: No. Honourable Members, I want to Brooks and Honourable Billy talked about agriculture, request something from you. If you want to stand on that indeed agriculture and the tourism sectors are very important, but you would not come here and say a point of correction, elucidation or clarification, you that just because your constituency has tourism, all should say so, and you will be at the mercy of the person the monies must go to tourism. That is not planning. who is on the floor. That is what the Standing Orders are Planning requires a balancing act to see how much you saying. If they do not yield for you, then hard luck. Now are going to move into one sector because we have only if you push something trying to cheat the Speakership, it P100 but you have to share it across the country. That is not okay because there is nothing from his statement is what we are asking everybody to look at holistically that is out of order. I do not know why you are standing and be satisfied that even if you wish your respective on a point of order Honourable Member. Honourable constituencies, like you were giving examples about Matsheka. your constituencies, that they should look better than others, no. There is always an effort and that is why the DR MATSHEKA: Thank you Mr Speaker… policy of this country stipulates that even if diamonds LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): On are found in your constituency, they are not yours. a point of procedure Mr Speaker. I believe that maybe Those resources must be shared across but I know that the other Ministers will actually speak to some of the there is something that we are missing. When a Member issues that are sitting there. is standing on a point of order and that thing is not an order, the Member must be ordered to be out of order There are some who commented about health and himself because if one stands up on a point of order and security sectors. I mentioned education; Honourable there is no order, it means the person who is asking for Moatlhodi and Honourable Tshabang. It is indeed true a point of order is the one who is out of order. That must as I have said before, there are challenges and we have be very clear. not denied that there are challenges that we need to overcome because when you work in a normal curve, it MR SPEAKER: You are quite right Honourable Leader is normal. It was abnormal that we were locked down. of the House but I wanted to instil order by not ruling It was abnormal. It was totally new. So, when you deal him out of order. I wanted to put him to order because with an abnormal situation, you really have to respond he is doing this for the second time. Third time, I will much more strongly to those challenges. deal with him. We also spoke about issues of productivity to actually HONOURABLE MEMBER: You are tumbling. try and do all those things to develop rural areas to see MR SPEAKER: I will tumble on him. Honourable Dr how we can manage Mr Speaker. There is another issue Matsheka. which was raised, corruption. We have talked about corruption and I am happy that we are in agreement in HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… our manifestos about corruption. We are very clear that DR MATSHEKA: Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, corruption is a very pervasive and heinous crime because I have been listening to the Honourable Members it affects developments. Nobody else tolerates corruption debating for eight straight days, but now it seems like it but I have said before that there are institutions that are is too when I debate for 30 minutes. entrusted with the responsibilities to actually investigate

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those and those institutions have laws which govern months. There is only six months left to this financial them so that they can be able to combat corruption. year and we have got nothing to show for it, nothing! So We met here as Members of Parliament, discussing the do we spend money now or do we stabilise and then start Assets and Liabilities Declaration Bill, and in unison, to actually invigorate the economy in the next financial we agreed that we defer this Bill and come and present year. That is a choice that we need to be thinking about, it in the next six months. No one said that there is going to make sure that all of us understand what we need to to be corruption during the six months that we agreed do. When we come to you we will not be asking for to defer. the total P14 billion that we want for the next financial year. We would be asking for what is enough for the There is also a law which shows that as you were saying remaining part of this financial year. I want you to be that civil servants are going to venture into businesses ready to deal with real issues, that are going to help us and that there is going to be corruption, which we sent deliver Batswana from the situation they are in as soon back in agreement, that Law included all civil servants, as possible. us included and it stipulated that we should declare what we accumulated before assuming office. After that, what Another issue raised was self-reliance; indeed did you accumulate while in office? Did you accumulate Honourable Molale was saying that the review of the them legally? Those things are coming. So, we should guidelines of Citizen Entrepreneurial Development not celebrate corruption. It is actually a very dangerous Agency (CEDA) is actually part of that resilience and practice because there is a lot of need for us to be able we have got to make that choice. You either come in to do so. or subsidise funding so that people actually take the loans into their hands which they could not take from So, the other issue which was raised, I know that private commercial banks. That way you are directly Honourable Kapinga mentioned Accounting Officers. empowering the very people that you are taking out Like I was saying, we are bringing the public procurement of welfare programmes. So it is very important that all law which will be clear about what we really want these things should be viewed in that manner. because there was no denial that project implementation has been a key challenge. Because of the delays, people Honourable Shamukuni asked that the tourism sector be go to court as if they were supposed to be awarded the extended, like I have said before, when I come into this tender. If they are not awarded the tender, they will the Parliament to ask for more money, I will lay out a whole go to court. These things are a concern, Batswana are programme of which sectors are going to get what, what not getting developments. These are the things that we we are going to be doing as part of that programme. To have to pay attention to, working together as Members show that indeed the tourism sector has been affected of Parliament taking into consideration the fact that we and it is important for us to respond to all those sectors. are representing people and that we have to improve There is an informal sector that is out there that we need to their standard of living. make sure we target, but the ultimate solution is actually Members mentioned some issues of… I take it that I to control this disease, because even a tourist who is in have answered Honourable Healy’s question about bond London does not have access to Makgadikgadi. He or issuance programme. I will come back to Parliament she is wondering if there will still be COVID-19 when to come and ask for the approval of the increment of he or she arrives. It is the disease that is holding back the our bond borrowing from P15 billion to P30 billion economy, it is not the economy that is collapsing, it is which will be below the threshold that we have set as the disease that is causing all these issues. Parliament to allow us to use the flexibility for us to In terms of monitoring and evaluation; yes, I agree be able to use those funds in a way… we have agreed Honourable Members around monitoring and evaluation on. I am still going to come back here and ask you to and we have admitted that there are challenges around authorise other funds to finance the Economic Recovery project implementation, there are challenges about and Transformation Plan (ERTP) and Mid-Term Review. coordination. There are a number of initiatives that are I have also said, like Honourable Tshere was saying, being done in Government currently to seek to look at urging caution that this is not post COVID-19 and he is the whole Government structure. I know as well that right, COVID-19 is still there. So we have to make that Honourable Mathoothe spoke to parastatals, that what choice that do we pump money now or we use the six are we doing to make sure that we reduce dependency

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of parastatals on the economy. There is a sub-committee MR SPEAKER: Honourable Boko, last time I asked of Cabinet that exists, there is also a parallel process that before you stand up wait for the Speaker to call your that deals with reviewing the Government structure name for record sake. in totality so that we now start to realise important efficiencies to achieve all that we have talked about MR BOKO: Thank you Mr Speaker, I will correct in Mid-Term Review and the Economic Recovery and that next time. Thank you for that advice. Honourable Transformation Plan. It is important like Honourable Minister, I thought you will respond to an issue raised Gobotswang said about enhancing accountability, so by Leader of the Opposition which he deliberated on that the planning process becomes very clear and open, for some time and which I also commented briefly on that is very important. That is why we have devoted the concerning the principal agent relationship because the whole chapter to issues of monitoring and evaluation world is concerned about it, we are also concerned about in the implementation of National Development Plan it and I believe you are also concerned about it because (NDP) 11. It also requires simplifying the whole it will not represent your presentation well. Thank you. Government structure, so that it does not become this DR MATSHEKA: Thank you very much. I think monolithic structure, which eventually there are just too on answering the issue of laws which are needed for many structures to seek to pass through. administration purposes, laws which talk to assets and Another matter that was debated was agriculture, the liabilities, which is why I referred to that particular law. use of green technologies by Honourable Motaosane, I did not want to engage myself in the specific matter Honourable Manake and Honourable Regoeng. I want that you want to drag me into. I think it is very important to say that, yes indeed the agricultural sector and it is that when we make laws, it should even affect all of not going to be a matter of increasing the budget of us as Honourable Members, as senior officials in the agriculture, but there are inefficiencies that are to be public service, we cannot make laws for any one person, looked at and we have talked about efficient Government we need to make laws for this country and make sure spending. It is not about money anymore. We have noted that the laws are applied in this country. As far as I am that a lot of money goes unspent, even with the most concerned, you spoke about the issue that an individual ambitious programmes, so implementation is going to can apply for a loan while working! So if a person be closely paid attention to so that the funds allocated be applies for a loan while working… spent and show us how you spent it, then come and ask HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Laughter!)… for more. Do not give us a plan and then ask for money. Give us what you have done then come and ask for more DR MATSHEKA: No he is working, we have voted money. We are reviewing this and reprioritising, so it is for him like we have also been voted. Now the fact of very important Honourable Members that in all these the matter is this, we need to have laws that are clear. issues we should go back to page 1 of the Mid-Term We have withdrawn the law of Assets and Liabilities Review. The first page was basic, that is why the debate Declaration, so we must bring back that law and make around macro chapters is key because you need to start sure that we are compliant, we know what we are talking looking at how much is available. You cannot doing with regard to all those matters. I believe I have just ask for things without looking at the available responded to the one on Constituency Funding. funds. Then you find that you are mixing matters asking for P6 billion worth road whereas the available budget is Mr Speaker, I therefore would like to move and finally P2 billion. We then spend the whole day arguing about just thank the Members that this Honourable House something which is not possible. We are all accepting resolves that the Draft (Macro Economic and General that the funds we said will be available are not available. Principle Chapters 1, 2 and 3) of the Mid-Term Review So we are going to have to borrow. We are going to (MTR) of the 11th National Development Plan be have to look at the tax structure, fees and investment in approved. I thank you Mr Speaker. education and infrastructure. All those things are to be financed internally if we need to borrow. Alright, I yield HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… Honourable Member. Question put and agreed to. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. Thank you Honourable. I thought you will… MOTION

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ADJOURNMENT

LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): Mr Speaker, I move that this House do now adjourn and I thank the Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Development for his lucid response.

Question put and agreed to.

The Assembly accordingly adjourned at 5:46 p.m. until Wednesday 26th August, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

52 Hansard No 198 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, Ms M. Madubeko HANSARD TRANSLATORS Ms B. Ntisetsang, Ms M. Sekao, Ms B. Mosinyi, Ms V. Nkwane, Ms N. Kerobale, Ms K. Alepeng, Ms T. Motsau, Ms O. Phesodi, Mr K. Setswe

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

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