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THE FIRSTTHE SECOND MEETING MEETING OF THE OF THE FIFTH FIRST SESSION SESSION OF THEOF ELEVENTH THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAYTHURSDAYTUESDAY 13 06 07 NOVEMBER FEBRUARY NOVEMBER 20202018 2018

ENGLISH VERSION HANSARDHANSARD NO. 192196

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

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

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

Hon. K. T. Mmusi, MP. (-) --Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Hon. Dr 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. () - Development

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hon. 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 ( Democratic Party) Hon. L. Kablay, MP. (Government Whip) - Hon. M. R. Reatile, MP. Jwaneng-Mabutsane Hon. P. Majaga, MP. Nata-Gweta Hon. M. I. Moswaane, MP. Francistown West Hon. J. S. Brooks, MP. Kgalagadi South Hon. C. Greeff, MP. Gaborone Bonnington South Hon. T. Letsholo, MP. Kanye North Hon. T. F. Leuwe, MP. Hon. T. Mangwegape-Healy, MP. Gaborone Central Hon. S. N. Moabi, MP. Tati West Hon. M. S. Molebatsi, MP. Mmadinare Hon. T. Monnakgotla, MP. Kgalagadi North Hon. P. K. Motaosane, MP. - Hon. O. Regoeng, MP. Molepolole North Hon. J. L. Thiite, MP. Ghanzi North OPPOSITION (Umbrella for Democratic Change) Hon. D. Saleshando, MP. (Leader of Opposition) Maun West Hon. P. P. P. Moatlhodi, MP. (Opposition Whip) Tonota Hon. D. L. Keorapetse, MP. Selebi Phikwe West Hon. Y. Boko, MP East Hon. Dr K. Gobotswang, MP. Sefhare-Ramokgonami Hon. K. C. 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 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE SECOND MEETING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT THURSDAY 6 FEBRUARY, 2020

CONTENTS PAGE (S)

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER...... 1-8 Apropriation 2020/2021 (Bill), 2020 (No.2 of 2020) Second Reading (Resumed Debate)...... 9-34 Thursday 6th February, 2020 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Thursday 6th February, 2020 the administrative process I have just outlined. Clearly, some major changes/corrections in the process have to THE ASSEMBLY met at 2:00 p.m. take place.

(THE SPEAKER in the Chair) Mr Speaker, to improve on service delivery regarding P R A Y E R S payments of students’ allowances, the ministry is presently in commercial consultations with Botswana * * * * Post (the entity to contract to disburse the allowances) regarding the best possible payment method that can QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER reduce the turn-around time drastically. LATE PAYMENT OF STUDENTS ALLOWANCES Poso-Money and the associated enabling technological AT NATA-GWETA BRIGADE interventions is a consideration in this respect. This is MR P. MAJAGA (NATA-GWETA): asked the work in progress but we are pursuing a mobile-funds Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and wallet which learners can access at their convenience Skills Development if he is aware that Nata/Gweta and without being restricted to a specific time-window Brigade students do not get their allowances on time and of making withdrawals, as is the case presently. therefore are unable to pay their rentals. The proposed solution is intended to have management MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR control benefits such as the ministry being able to PRODUCTIVITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT reconcile and check balances on line. (MR BALOPI): Good afternoon and thank you Mr Mr Speaker, that is where we are headed. It is my Speaker. expectation that our contracted services provider will Mr Speaker, I am aware that learners in all brigade help deliver the required technology-driven solutions institutions and technical colleges and not just Nata/ sooner rather than later. I thank you Mr Speaker. Gweta Brigade, have not received their January 2020 MR MOSWAANE: Supplementary. I want to ask the allowances. The delay is a consequence of the students’ Minister a question looking at his response. Are we really registration and payment control process, which presently takes up to 25 working days before learners up to date because issues of technology have always can be paid. This happens at the beginning of each been there, we even experienced them at Ipelegeng five semester. years ago? Are we up to date enough to respond to the concerns of the students? An example is that, sending a According to Section 8.6 of the Learners Rules and student to a brigade is more like sentencing someone to Regulations Manual, students are given and have challenges. Minister, are we moving with times? How accepted a period of 10 working days to either register long is it going to take for us to look at this problem and/or attend classes before disbursements of allowances and see it as a problem of the past? How long is it can be made. The rationale of this is to let institutions going to take to eliminate this problem because many observe the enrolment list (monitor late arrivals and of the students are back at home because they have quit drop-outs) before a cut-off for payment is determined. completely? Upon the lapse of the 10-day grace period, another MR BALOPI: Thank you Mr Speaker. I do not know administrative process which can take up to 15 days between the institutions and ministry’s headquarters sets what Honourable Moswaane means when he asks about in. This process is what results in payments being made whether we are up to date because it is a bit complex. long after the day of opening. In this sense, although the This morning we met with Poso House personnel to try current semester started on the 7th January 2020, it is true and resolve this problem. Our aim is to try and speed that allowances still remain unpaid. up the processes in order for the students to receive their allowances on time. Honourable Moswaane, the Honourable Members, I must inform you that I important thing that you should know is that this does readily share the concerns highlighted by Honourable not happen every month, it normally happens when Majaga`s question, and I can also relate to the schools resume because we are being told that some underlying frustrations of the students as a result of students come and get their allowances and abscond a

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week later. They will then choose to go elsewhere and Later date sometimes they are even admitted elsewhere, whatever the case might be. That is why there is an agreement with UPGRADING MABABE HEALTH POST the students and the ministry to set dates for enrolment. MR G. KEKGONEGILE (MAUN EAST): asked Honourable, our aim is to speed up the processes so that the Minister of Health and Wellness if he will consider as time goes on, the students do not run out of money to upgrading Mababe Health Post to a specialised clinic to go and attend classes. That is why we are talking about this Poso Money Ewallet process which will ensure that serve the entire labour force and communities in Savuti, they get notifications that the money has been credited Moremi, Khwai and Mababe concessions, given the and know that they will be assisted. Thank you sir. long distances to adequate facilities, terrain travelled and worsening conflicts between tourism workers and DR GOBOTSWANG: Supplementary. Minister, I am employers in the delta due to increasing number of non- asking myself questions; you admitted a lot of students issuance of permits to attend health facilities in Maun. at the brigades, you are offering courses which are not accredited and you are not even crediting allowances for ASSISTANT MINISTER OF HEALTH AND the present students. Minister, what is effective at your WELLNESS (MR LELATISITSWE): Thank you Mr ministry? Speaker. Let me point out that, the response to the above question by the Ministry of Health and Wellness which Thank you. I am directing…

MR BALOPI: Thank you sir. Thank you Honourable HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… Gobotswang. The question that you are asking should (Inaudible)… be answered in a specific way. Sometimes when you think that you are doing well and or moving forward MR LELATISITSWE: Mr Speaker, may you please as an individual, sickness will attack you and you will protect me. be taken to the hospital and or be compelled to take HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Inaudible)… some time off even though your intentions were to lead a healthy life without sickness. So, even though we are MR LELATISITSWE: The ministry that I am… having a challenge of experiencing the same problems that we talked about repeatedly, the issue of allowances MR SPEAKER (MR SKELEMANI): Honourable just started beginning of the year. Moving forward, our Minister, you are protected. aim is to do…. the effective thing is that we are coming up with solutions to resolve these problems for good. MR LELATISITSWE: The ministry I am responsible Thank you Honourable Speaker. for of Health and Wellness is planning to upgrade the Mababe health post to a clinic. Due to budgetary PLANS FOR LENTSWELETAU-MOLEPOLOLE constraints, this health post could not be included in the ROAD current development budget. Mr Speaker, let me indicate that Mababe health post falls under Bojanala Cluster MR P. K. MOTAOSANE (THAMAGA- which also includes clinics of Shorobe, Matsaudi, KUMAKWANE): asked the Minister of Transport Sankoyo and Mababe villages. So there is a doctor who and Communications if he is aware that Lentsweletau- does round visits to those cluster clinics every month; Molepolole road was once planned for; if so, to update Bojanala Cluster according to our health jargon. I think this Honourable House on the current status of this road the Member of Parliament knows all these areas I am or any alternative plans to ensure that people are able to talking about because he is from there. access services in Lentsweletau. Mr Speaker, let me also indicate that this ministry Later Date which I am responsible for sometimes visits people at STATE OF THE GABORONE WEST YOUTH the camps like Khwai and Savuti every month. They CENTRE (MMA MASIRE) do round visits across that area checking on patients, infants and so on. During those visits, some weigh their MR C. GREEFF (GABORONE BONNINGTON infants while others seek medical attention. Camps SOUTH): asked the Minister of Youth Empowerment, which are visited are Moremi, Khwai and Savuti. Sport and Culture Development to update this Honourable Member of Parliament, if people seek job Honourable House on the current state of the Gaborone related medical examinations they are attended at Maun West Youth Centre (Mma Masire). hospital. Thank you Mr Speaker.

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MR MAJAGA: Supplementary. Honourable Minister, HONOURABLE MEMBER: Further supplementary. they are saying that since the Minister of Health is in the House, your senior that is why they are not MR SPEAKER: Last supplementary. saying it is wrong for you to say you are heading the MR KEKGONEGILE: Further supplementary. Thank ministry. They were saying the person responsible for you Mr Speaker. Honourable Assistant Minister, I think the ministry is here …(laughter!)… Mr Speaker, I want you missed the main point within the question. It is to ask the Minister since all the Honourable Member is of specialized clinic, not upgrading from health post seeking is for the establishment of centre point which to clinic; that is the bone of contention. Honourable can assist those health posts at a time, what seems to be Matsheka recently talked a lot about transformation and the problem because this tendency of saying, “we will not doing business as usual. Upgrading from health post visit, we will visit, there is a team visiting,” it has proved to clinic in an area that is quite unique needs not doing not working in many areas which are in Honourable business as usual. So what are you saying? Member’s constituency like Thabatshukudu, Tswaane and Maleleng. They only visit when they hear that the HONOURABLE MEMBER: He is on business as Minister is visiting the area or the Member of Parliament usual. is planning to hold meetings. What seems to be the MR KEKGONEGILE: Are you saying that there is no problem in order for your ministry to do something need for a specialised clinic in that unique area? which can assist Batswana, than to cut off these expenses of regular visits? Secondly…

MR LELATISITSWE: Thank you Mr Speaker. Let me HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible) … answer my favourite Member of Parliament Honourable Polson Majaga, there is only one problem. I said the MR KEKGONEGILE: Wait first Assistant Minister! ministry I am responsible for, its main challenge to HONOURABLE MEMBER: Relax. upgrade this health post is shortage of funds. It is my wish to upgrade all the health posts in his constituency. MR KEKGONEGILE: Secondly, you talk of monthly It is due to shortage of funds which I think you will soon visits; when was the last date of the monthly visit in that particular area? authorise as Parliament in this House. Thank you. Thirdly, you talk of Khwai, Mababe and Savuti Camps, MR MOSWAANE: Supplementary. I would like to ask we do not have such in that area. Do we not have the Minister of the ministry… such concessions which have camps in them. Are you HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… talking of concessions or are you talking of camps? Which camps specifically on that particular date did that MR MOSWAANE: …(Laughter!)… whether your particular visit take place? ministry never returns the money every year. Is this Lastly Mr Speaker, if you are to talk of cost effectiveness, shortage more than the money you return? Thank you. if it is the monthly visits and establishment of a service MR LELATISITSWE: Thank you Mr Speaker. I centre, when we are to go into National Development cannot dispute that the ministry I am responsible for Plan (NDP 11) review, if we try to transform, try to change ever returns funds. There are many reasons for this; from business as usual, would it not be economic wise to sometimes as the Government, we will realise that the have that particular service centre there, rather than have contactors do not meet the standards and are suspicious. monthly visits going all over the four concessions which it takes a week or even ten days for a doctor to visit all Sometimes there is a shortage of civil servants which those camps, because there are more than 40 in those means we end up not being able to use up all the funds. particular concessions? Thank you. In Government process, a project is first included in the development plan. We cannot as we are travelling along MR LELATISITSWE: Thank you Member of the Francistown road then we hear that there is a road Parliament. I can see that they have driven you to ask leading to Mmashoro and turn to go there. We tread on supplementaries now. The concessions I am talking the road which you as Parliament has authorised through about are the ones written here, I said the first concession the development plan. is Savuti, Moremi and Khwai, which doctors visit every

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month. Your second part of the question whether we the Minister to declare any place a township, subject do not think it is necessary to have a specialised clinic, to consultation with the District Council, Kgosi and the you were asking that looking at the employees in that community of the area where such place is situated. area. I answered it in short that we have interest. In other words, you were saying something along the Palapye was approved as an Administrative Authority lines of occupational health clinic, a specialised clinic. through Presidential Directive CAB 21 (B)/2008. As You are talking about the one which will be used to such, for me to declare Palapye a town, consultations monitor the workers there; in terms of x-ray and medical must ensue with Palapye community and Central District examinations. That is what you are saying. As a Ministry, Council so that I can make an informed decision. we are dealing with many issues. What you are talking That notwithstanding, the resolution adopted by about today is what we are interested in as a ministry Central District Council to declare Palapye a town but the challenge is money. Moreover, we do not deny is among many presentations placed before me by that the route that we wish to take today is of taking the District Councils requesting for Sub-Districts and Government from where it is forward, we are working Administrative Authorities to be declared fully fledged on that plan; we intend to move forward. We were districts and townships. I will, in light of the envisaged with associations of Hotel and Tourism Association of Decentralisation Policy, which will be concluded in the Botswana (HATAB) this afternoon and we discussed next financial year, that is 2020/2021, make a decision these issues. So Honourable Member, that is where we on all these requests. I thank you Mr Speaker. are heading so that the economic centres like those, where we believe Batswana are employed, health should MR MMOLOTSI: Supplementary Mr Speaker. be one of them so that we can expand them. The main Minister, even though you say that you have different challenge which I mentioned is that because the plan applications on your desk, do you not think Palapye is here, the budget is before us; we hold discussions stands a better chance to be upgraded into a city looking at the budget and the plan that we have. I cannot regarding its appearance? talk about issues of Mid Term Review because they are MR AUTLWETSWE: Mr Speaker, I have not gauged moved by Parliament, I will be talking about an issue them as a way of determining which one stands a better which you have never moved in Parliament. Those are chance. The way I know it, they are all sub-districts and the issues which we will continue to assess there. If we we treat them all in that manner. I will be getting myself manage, you will move it here in Parliament. Are you in trouble if I say that I have gauged them. I thank you listening Honourable Dithapelo Keorapetse? Mr Speaker. Sorry Mr Speaker, about the last visit, I do not have HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Laughter!)... information as opposed to when they visited the Constituencies but let me confirm that they go there MR KEORAPETSE: Further supplementary. Thank every month. I believe that one is fine, it is not a big you Honourable Speaker. Honourable Minister, your question because I can call Honourable so that we can Ministry delayed to take action towards the issue of show them the date when they went there. But it will not Decentralisation Policy. Allow me to ask; can you give make any difference towards what he is looking for, all us the assurance that you would have worked on it next you want to do is distort his issue. Thank you. year like you mentioned? The issue of Decentralisation PLANS TO DECLARE PALAPYE A TOWN Policy was mentioned in 2008/2009 if I remember well, it is a long time ago. I do not know what is it that can MR O. RAMOGAPI (PALAPYE): asked the Minister really give us the assurance that it will surely be done of Local Government and Rural Development if there this time around? are any plans to declare Palapye a town following the adoption of a Motion by the Central District Council MR AUTLWETSE: Thank you Honourable. A short some 10 years ago. answer is that, believe that it shall be so. I explained that right now I said the next financial year, I am talking ASSISTANT MINISTER OF LOCAL about something that is already on my table. You can GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT reference my words as evidence, therefore if we fail to (MR AUTLWETSE): Mr Speaker, Section 8 of the do that, you will ask. Right now, let your heart not be Local Government Act, 2012 CAP 40:01 empowers troubled.

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MR RAMOGAPI: Supplementary. Mr Speaker, (i) to confirm whether his ministry entered into a does the Minister know that Palapye was the only one lease agreement with a certain landlord at Central called Administrative Authority in Botswana? It was Business District (CBD) to occupy some premises evident that Palapye was fit to be upgraded into a city, on September 2018; and if so, to state: it is only that the person who delivered the message or the one who carried out a research or survey, did not (ii) what has delayed them to move to the said convey it appropriately? It is the only one which is building; an Administrative Authority but not headquarters of a (iii) whether indeed monthly rentals have continued to district. The Administrative Authority falls under the be paid and if so, how much; headquarters of districts. Palapye was elevated from sub-council to an Administrative Authority; it qualified (iv) if he does not consider this a waste of public to be upgraded into a city. As such, I want to know if funds; if so, how and when he intends addressing the Minister knows this, Palapye was elevated from all this problem. sub-councils which he mentioned that there are different ASSISTANT MINISTER OF TERTIARY applications on his desk and he has not yet gauged them? EDUCATION, RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND The gauge has already given an answer, let him do away TECHNOLOGY (MR SHAMUKUNI): Mr with this issue. Moreover, we have already carried out Speaker, let me start by indicating that my ministry consultation at Palapye, Bogosi also approved and we was established in October 2016 following the re- are only waiting for your approval. organisation of Government ministries. The ministry headquarters is housed on the third floor of the former MR AUTLWETSE: Mr Chairman, I believe that the Ministry of Education and Skills Development building, Honourable Member missed some information since he commonly known as Block 6, sharing with the Ministry joined the Central District Council after me. Palapye of Basic Education, Department of Mines and that of is not the only village which is concerned about been Department of Information Technology (DIT). Due to upgraded to a city, all of the villages which are here like inadequate office accommodation for my ministry staff Tutume have the same case, they want it to be upgraded in the current location, we saw it fit to find alternative to a full-fledged district. When dividing Serowe- office accommodation. Palapye, we ended up having Serowe Administration Authority and Palapye Administration Authority. That (i) Mr Speaker, I can confirm that my ministry entered did not mean that Palapye has an upper hand or it into a five-year lease agreement for office rental in the Central Business District which commenced somehow differs from other sub-districts. That is how on the 1st September, 2018. he feels. It came as a Motion in 2008 ... (interruption)... please listen Honourable. It was an idea which came to (ii) Mr Speaker, reasons for the delay to move to the the Central District Council before it was brought to the said building are: council, the request was for Palapye to be declared a • The building was acquired as a shell and required Township Authority and the Central District Council space customisation to partition it to the ministry approved. They kept applying; Bobirwa also followed requirements. For that reason, my ministry could not suit. Like I said, Tutume just applied recently. There are occupy the building straight away. several which want to be declared either fully-fledged • The design for customisation was completed and districts or town councils. It is a decision that has to approved by the Gaborone City Council on 22nd be made holistically instead of employing a piecemeal February, 2019. approach. Thank you Mr Speaker. • Subsequent to the approval, there was a dispute MINISTRY OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, between the designer and the contractor with regards RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY to their payment terms. CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CBD) LEASE AGREEMENT • The construction commenced on the 2nd May, 2019 after the dispute between the designer and contractor MR P. P. P. MOATLHODI (TONOTA): asked the was resolved. Completion of construction was Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and scheduled for 28th June, 2019 following which my Technology: ministry would immediately occupy the building.

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• During construction Mr Speaker, another dispute MR SPEAKER: Do you not know the owner of the arose between the contractor and my ministry with current building that you are occupying? regards to customisation specifications. This is the main factor that has led to the delays. MR SHAMUKUNI: The one that we are currently housed in … we are there under Basic Education, I will (iii) Mr Speaker, the first quarterly rental was expected have to confirm if we are really paying rental. on the 1st of September, 2018 and my ministry honoured its obligation by paying the rental on that MR SPEAKER: Honourable Member, please! date. Monthly rentals of P665,395.60 continue to MR KEKGONEGILE: Thank you Mr Speaker. The be paid on a quarterly basis in terms of the lease catch words of Monday is ‘transformation’ and ‘not agreement signed. business as usual’. Honourable Assistant Minister, are (iv) Mr Speaker, my ministry realises the need to you saying that you took 17 months and you will take 20 account for public funds and we have since months to transform a shell into a workable space? Are prevailed on the contractor to move with speed you saying that situations that we see in China whereby to complete the works and deliver the building they can build a thousand bed hospital in six days, are a for our immediate occupation. I thank you Mr pipe dream in Botswana? Speaker. Second question Mr Speaker, the Honourable Minister MR KEORAPETSE: Supplementary. Honourable talks of two disputes of a shell in eight months. Minister, I would like you to confirm whether as the Honourable Assistant Minister, on Monday we were ministry, you paid two rentals; where you are currently told of a P5 billion deficit, do you not see your ministry housed and where you want to move to. That is the first as a major contributor to this P5 billion deficit in question to confirm that you were paying double rentals. terms of inefficiency and wastage? We hear of another Secondly, I want to know if you are saying you pay wastage in the Ministry of Land Management, Water P665,000.00 or thereabout, quarterly? Therefore how and Sanitation Services in the issue of Maun, Jiangsu many quarters have passed still paying rentals before and so on. Thank you Mr Speaker. the building is occupied? MR SHAMUKUNI: The Honourable Speaker, with regard to Honourable Member’s first question, MR SHAMUKUNI: Mr Speaker, let me indicate that obviously I am not from China and I do not know what the monthly rentals is P665, 395.60 per month and to they dream in terms of what he was saying. I can only date, a total of P10,646,361 has been paid effective 1st talk about what is obtaining in Botswana and surely September, 2018. Just to note Mr Speaker, the quarterly Mr Speaker, we regret the situation we find ourselves rental is around P1.9 million and this has been paid in. We should not be in this situation right now but we before occupation. I thank you Mr Speaker. know what we are dealing with. We contract Batswana HONOURABLE MEMBER: Further supplementary. to do most of these works and they do delay and cause contractual disputes. This is common across most MR SPEAKER: The last supplementary Honourable contracts of Government. We find ourselves in that Member. situation but Honourable Speaker, just a few weeks ago MR KEKGONEGILE: Thank you Mr Speaker. The as I indicated, we prevailed on the contractor to speed Monday’s catch words… up the works and have this building delivered to us in three months. We have an agreement on that and we are MR SPEAKER: Honourable Minister, Order! Order! confident that in three months, we will be in a position Honourable Member. Honourable Minister, there was to occupy the building. a question whether you were paying two rentals, your answer to that. With regard to the issue of deficit, as I have indicated, it is an unfortunate situation we find ourselves in. We MR SHAMUKUNI: Mr Speaker, I can only confirm just have to deal with it. It is a legacy issue and we find that we are paying rental to the building that we are it, but I just want to assure this Parliament, Mr Speaker supposed to move to. I am not sure about the current that we are moving with speed just to have this issue one where we are… rectified. I thank you.

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MR SPEAKER (MR SKELEMANI): Sometimes MR SPEAKER: I have asked a question. your problem is you have never been a prosecutor, so you do not know how to ask questions. So Ministers are HONOURABLE MEMBER: Ooh! Sorry. I wanted to lucky. ask the Minister something because he did not answer properly sir. MR MOSWAANE: Supplementary. May I ask Minister how you got into a lease agreement where you start DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIAMOND INDUSTRY paying, without having occupied the building? I do not INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY know how it happened because you have lawyers that MR M. S. MOLEBATSI (MMADINARE): asked the are supposed to advice you whether you can start paying Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry to state: for a building that is not ready for occupation. Can you explain how you got into a situation of starting payments (i) how much of the Diamond Industry Intellectual when the building is not ready for occupation? Thank Property is developed in Botswana; and you. (ii) if it is implemented in Botswana; if not, why. MR SHAMUKUNI: Mr Speaker, the thing is once you ASSISTANT MINISTER OF INVESTMENT, identify a building that you wish to occupy, most of the TRADE AND INDUSTRY (MR GARE): Good time you will find that it is not really customised to our afternoon Mr Speaker. requirements as a ministry. So once you have acquired that building, contractually, you have an obligation (i) Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and to start paying rental, and that is the situation we find Industry through the Companies and Intellectual ourselves in. We have acquired the building, we started Property Authority (CIPA) is mandated to protect paying rental and then when the process of customising intellectual property in Botswana. This protection it… and initially, the general assumption was that we is achieved through the Industrial Property Act would have completed customization maybe in six (CAP 68:03) and the Copyright and Neighboring months, but it was delayed Mr Speaker because of Rights Act (CAP 68:02). There are 19 patents the challenges that I alluded to concerning our local filed by various companies in the Mining Industry contractors. I mean we find ourselves in such situations. to date. Out of the 19 patents, three have been Thank you Mr Speaker. granted protection, eight are still being examined to determine if they can be protected. Furthermore, HONOURABLE MEMBER: Supplementary. seven patents have expired and are now in public MR SPEAKER: The last one. domain and one patent was withdrawn by the owner. MR MOATLHODI: Supplementary. Thank you Honourable Mr Speaker. Greetings to you colleagues. In addition to the patents, we have 58 trademarks and Whose building is this Honourable Minister? one industrial design registered by mining companies in Botswana. MR SPEAKER: Honourable Minister, do you know? (ii) My ministry is unable to know if all the intellectual MR SHAMUKUNI: Mr Speaker, I will have to go and property is implemented in Botswana. Intellectual ask, I do not know the owner of the building. property rights are considered as private property, therefore, it is the owners who can verify if such HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ... (Laughter!)... rights are being implemented in Botswana. I thank MR SPEAKER: There is somebody saying he is going you Mr Speaker. to take the question for Honourable Molebatsi, number ALIGNMENT OF BOTSWANA LABOUR LAWS 6. INTO INTERNATIONAL LABOUR LAWS HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order Mr MR Y. BOKO (MAHALAPYE EAST): asked the Speaker. Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and MR SPEAKER: Is there anything out of order? Skills Development if the Committee of Application of Standards of International Labour Organisation (ILO) in HONOURABLE MEMBER: Yes sir. 2017 made findings that the Government of Botswana

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violated Convention 87 (Freedom of Association) and • Amend the Trade Unions and Employers 98 (Protection of Right to Organise and Collective Organisations Act, in consultation with employer Bargaining); and the Committee put it to Government to and worker organisations, to bring these laws into engage with social partners for holistic review of Labour conformity with the convention. Laws to align them to International Labour Standards and to state: Additionally, the committee called upon the Government to develop a time-bound action plan together with (i) when Government intends to complete this the social partners; in order to implement these process and comply with International Labour recommendations. standards at a time when the country’s Labour Laws are anti-workers and anti-Trade Unions; Mr Speaker, as already indicated, the work to address and the recommendations regarding Convention 87 is underway and involves ongoing consultations with the (ii) if Government intends to allow for unionisation relevant stakeholders. A tripartite committee comprising of Prisons Services as per recommendations by representatives of Government, employers and workers ILO. was established to spearhead this process. During these consultations, it was resolved that the review of the laws MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR should not be restricted to the Trade Disputes Act and PRODUCTIVITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Trade Unions and Employers Organisations Act, but (MR BALOPI): Thank you Mr Speaker. should also cover the Employment Act and the Public It is a fact that: Service Act. This is being done; in order to close all the gaps in the Labour Laws, while incorporating the (a) Mr Speaker, in 2017, the International judgments of the courts in the country and aligning Labour Organisation’s (ILO’s) Committee the provisions of the laws with the provisions of ILO on the Application of Standards (CAS) made Conventions which Botswana has ratified. In doing recommendations on Botswana’s compliance with this work, the stakeholder committee doing the work ILO Convention No. 87, regarding Freedom of is assisted by an ILO expert, as recommended by the Association and the Right to organise, but did not Committee on the Application of Standards. make any recommendation on Convention No.98 on the Protection of the Right to Organise and (i) A time-bound work plan was prepared and agreed Collective Bargaining. with representatives of employers and workers on 28 June 2018. This action plan was to end in July (b) The 2017 Committee on the Application of 2019 with presentation of the Bill to Parliament. Standards did not recommend holistic reviews Unfortunately, this timeline has not been met of Labour Laws to align them with International because the ILO expert who was facilitating the Standards. The issues which the committee process was withdrawn by ILO due to ill health. considered involved compliance with Convention In April 2019, the ILO appointed a new expert 87: hence recommendations thereto, which the to facilitate the process. Since then, substantial ministry is, presently addressing. progress has been made to review Labour Laws. (c) In respect to Convention 87, the committee The tripartite stakeholder-committee is scheduled th recommended that the Government should: to meet with the ILO expert on the 7 February 2020, (that is tomorrow). • Take appropriate measures that ensure that the The meeting is expected to close all the gaps in the labour and employment legislation grants members proposals for the review of the laws. The consequential of the prison service the rights guaranteed by the proposals will then provide a basis for instructions to convention; the Attorney General to draft the required Bill. Once the • Ensure that the Trade Disputes Act is in full Bill has been drafted, it will be presented to Cabinet for conformity with Convention No. 87, and engage in consideration prior to its presentation to this Honourable social dialogue, with further technical assistance of House. It is our desire that the process to review Labour the ILO; Laws be concluded by July 2020.

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The matter of unionisation of prisons officers is one of the have given us the honourable responsibility of adhering issues that are currently being discussed in the Tripartite to the procedures and governance of this country. When Labour Laws Review Stakeholder-Committee, and they we accept this responsibility, we should know that have been alluded to. Mr Speaker, I think it would not be everything that we discuss here is in relation to what justified or prudent for Government to pronounce itself they want to hear and see happening in their country. on the matter while the consultative structure, which is dealing with the issue, is still deliberating. Accordingly, Even though that is the case Honourable Members, I would not like to pre-empt these discussions. I thank there are two types of authorities; legal authority and you Mr Speaker. moral authority. I strongly believe that if we are in a democratic governance, we should ensure that there is HONOURABLE MEMBER: Supplementary Mr moral authority when we make decisions. I am saying Speaker this because, I sometimes hear Mr Molebatsi saying that they have the right to make decisions…not Molebatsi, MR SPEAKER: I am afraid we have run out of time. sorry Honourable Molebatsi, Honourable Modukanele! HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order Mr They sometimes brag that they have lawful rights to Speaker. govern the way they want. They forget that they have moral authority. When you start emphasising the Law MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order. We have run too much, abusing the moral authority, you should know out of time. That is simple English. We have overshot that you are no longer in the pursuit of social justice and the runway. democracy. That is what I wanted to highlight.

APPROPRIATION 2020/2021 BILL, 2020 Mr Speaker, I will start by thanking the Minister for (NO.2 OF 2020) presenting his 2020/2021 budget plan. I will start Second Reading by applauding him and then applaud the Botswana Democratic Party (Domkrag). Honourable Minister (Resumed Debate) Matsheka, I thank you for understanding that we should change the way we have been doing things. Thank you LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): for realising that things have not been running well Point of procedure Mr Speaker. I thank you Mr Speaker. I just wanted, for the sake of knowing, what will happen which resulted in our country bring stagnant and or going forward, if the same thing that happened yesterday, failing to move forward and that it could have moved happens again. What will be your take on it? Probably, forward if things were done differently. We should Members may not be aware that when such things appreciate your consideration. Even if these ideas do happen, you truncate the debate. If you can clarify on not get implemented, we should thank him for having the position, why it was not truncated yesterday. Going listened to us. I should also thank Botswana Democratic forward if that happens or repeats, you will have to take Party (Domkrag). I applaud it from the governance of Dr the appropriate action in accordance with the conduct of Khama, Sir Seretse Khama Ian Khama. this House. I thank you. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: He is not addressed as MR SPEAKER: Thank you Honourable Vice President “sir” (VP). I took it there was no need for me to say that. The MR HIKUAMA: No, that is how he is addressed. Standing Orders are quite clear. If no Members want to Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, I will debate, I call upon the Minister to reply to those who start by thanking him because for the longest time, have debated, and the matter is closed. We are together. Botswana Democratic Party did not believe that poverty MR HIKUAMA (NGAMI): Thank you Mr Speaker. is manmade and that it can be eradicated. During Dr Mr Speaker, I thought I should take this time and respond Khama’s governance there was an understanding that to the 2020/2021 Budget Speech which was presented poverty can be eradicated. Botswana Democratic Party by Minister of Finance and Economic Development started chanting that poverty can be eradicated. In the Honourable Dr Matsheka. Before I get to my debate, I past they believed that God tailored some people to be want to highlight some points to the present Honourable poor and others to be rich so that they can exploit others. Members from both sides of the isle that, Batswana We should applaud that position of change.

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We should also be grateful that the Botswana is poor. It is unfortunate because at the Ngami area and Democratic Party governance, at least the Minister’s the whole North West region, perhaps we are unlucky Budget Speech acknowledged that Batswana should... as the Botswana Democratic Party. If you look at the that Citizen Economic Empowerment Law which was infrastructure development, the roads to start with, you rejected for the longest time should be crafted. Coming might think that we are at those countries where there to one’s senses like that should be applauded. Those are is war, you will not believe that it is in Botswana. You important things which you should benchmark on and might think it is a country you have never seen before, also use the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) where there is war. Roads are worn out, even if you try manifesto to try and get out of the mentality that some to visit the constituency, I now have a backache caused things are impossible. We should applaud you on that. by the vehicle running into bumpers. That is the current Mr Speaker, I am focusing on you Minister of Finance situation. I believe that these are the situations you were and Economic Development, Dr Matsheka, I do not talking about so that our country can be developed. believe that I am one to teach you Economics because When I look at our roads and place that against your that is your filed, you understand everything about it. speech, I do not think we have a share. I do not know Before I get into other issues, I would like to highlight if people of this constituency should be happy about that it seems like Botswana Democratic Party (Domkrag) this Budget or they should completely ignore it as it is comfortable and or it only becomes satisfied when caters for the lucky few, the rich, it is for the likes of economic growth is being discussed. I have noticed that you get satisfied by discussions on middle, high Honourable Mmusi? income, what status, economic growth. As Umbrella HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… for Democratic Change (UDC), myself included, we believe that we have to do more than that. What we need MR HIKUAMA: Because there is a plan of projects in the country is economic development; an economy a to be undertaken but no project has been allocated to Motswana will enjoy back home. It should not just be our constituency whereas our roads are the poorest in numbers whereby the Government releases a statement Botswana. that our Gross Domestic Product has grown this much while the life of a Motswana has not improved. If the Minister, it is difficult for me to accept this Budget. economy is growing and we are boasting about it, If it was possible, it should be, we should return it so countries are praising us but a Motswana is still poor that it can include our developments before it can be his/her life has not improved, then it is not a satisfactory accepted. His Honour the Vice President, we should economy. refuse to accept this Budget because it has nothing in Mr Speaker, we have to consider whether the speech store for us. When you look at water when talking about presented by the Minister improves the life of a infrastructure, especially Ngami region from Etsha to Motswana. When you delivered this speech on Monday, Gumare there is no water. People have now started everyone was listening and they were pondering at what buying underground water. I do not know if you know it has in store for them, how are their lives going to kwakete Dr Matsheka. They source underground water, improve? Those are the questions they were pondering. Honourable Tsogwane knows it. That is what we should see, if it affects the life of a Motswana back at home, unemployed youth whose HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… faith is in this budget? Does a farmer at Bodibeng have faith in this year’s budget? Those are the things we have MR HIKUAMA: That is the water being sold to the to look at from your Monday speech. people; the water is red in colour which is a risk to their health being. We have to ensure that such things Looking at the way you composed the budget, you are addressed in this budget. If this budget promises identified some priorities. The first one being provision nothing or does not address these issues, it is going to of appropriate infrastructure; refurbishing infrastructure, be difficult to accept and praise it. Although you have road structures and all those needed to facilitate the good initiatives but you budget is contrary to that. smooth running of the economy and resources. This one Infrastructure; which you have been talking about as a is true there is no economy which can grow, no one can priority to drive these things, many areas in our region do anything if resource and infrastructure development do not have electricity. This situation is worsening. In

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this era Dr Matsheka, you will find that clinics and health Minister, there is a high rate of unemployment in posts do not have electricity but others have maternity Botswana. You also mentioned in your statement that wing. People end up using their phones “lesedi la me” during the first quarter of the three months; July up to during delivery. September last year (2019) it was almost 20.7, the rate of unemployment in Botswana. If it ranges around 20.7 HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)... for the whole country, it means that if you can isolate MR HIKUAMA: Yes, using its torch to light. You are Ngami Constituency, it means that it will range around not aware of these situations because you stay here, you 40 something. Because it can never range around 20 are from Molapowabojang and you are too playful. there when it is 20 in the whole country. It normally contributes to high levels of unemployment in Botswana. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… That means we have nowhere to go. Therefore, we have to come up with plans and ideas of fighting against MR HIKUAMA: A person will be using “lesedi la me” unemployment which is in our country. to light in that situation. If this budget has nothing to offer us, as it does now, I cannot accept it Mr Speaker. MR MAJAGA: On a point of elucidation. Mr Speaker, thank you. You are on point Honourable, you spent a HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)... lot of time addressing infrastructure which is in the MR HIKUAMA: …(Laughter!)… should I leave those constituency and I agree with you. Since Honourable who agree? Matsheka is in the House today and is listening, what are your suggestions so that the situation that I know HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)... and is similar to mine can be improved? MR HIKUAMA: No, we want it, we want to also MR HIKUAMA: Thank you Honourable Member. benefit something from this budget. Honourable Matsheka must give us money so that we HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)... can improve infrastructure in our constituency. That is the only thing that he can do, nothing else. He must not MR HIKUAMA: I told you that you were only elected think twice. He only has to decide that, today I am going for special skills, do not turn to be like Dr Dikoloti. to give these constituencies some money so that they HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… can do this because we need them.

MR HIKUAMA: You were brought here for special Honourable Matsheka, you talked about moving from skills; you should provide special advice. resource-based economy to knowledge-based economy. Residents of Ngami and North West Constituencies HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)... at large will be in trouble. How can we benefit from MR HIKUAMA: No, but I hear you Honourable knowledge-based economy when we failed to benefit Kereng, you are my friend maybe you want to talk to from resource based economy, we had the resources; me. As I have already said Honourable Matsheka, I we had wildlife, cattle and water? Education has to be am going to dwell on infrastructure because we need the pillar or root of a knowledge-based economy. We do it. Ngami is the only constituency where you will find not have that. Whenever academic results are out, North a person driving more than 200 kilometres to access health care in poor roads. Where he/she has to access West is always number one when it comes to failing. social amenities and services, more than 200 kilometres, If I can give you a brief statistics of community junior but you did not think to construct roads which can reach secondary schools in Ngami, the one that passed got 23.8 Xangwa because these people live in remote areas. per cent, the least performing got 14.2 per cent. How can you tell me about knowledge-based economy when HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible )… we have this situation? This means that we will always MR HIKUAMA: Yes, it is in Botswana. You do not be left behind. If you think about it, where will they be have that knowledge as a Minister. They are areas which in 10 to 20 years to come? It is worrisome. But we can are very much neglected. You mentioned somewhere change that if at all you were serious. When we were at that there are funds for infrastructure Minister, you have Selebi Phikwe, I asked you if you have conviction when to consider us on that. I believe than on the Mid-term you talk about these things or it is only for the purpose Review, we have to include these things. of workshop? You assured that you really want them

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to change. I really believe that they can change. But it HONOURABLE MEMBER: Fighter jets. looks like some are lagging behind, they do not have the same dream as you. Even when they address questions HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… you can tell that these people do not want change, it is MR HIKUAMA: What do you do with Fighter jets, business as usual. who will you be fighting? Let us take this money and A clear indication that our schools will be left behind invest even in pre-education. is that, the Development Budget for Education through HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… which you can have some expectations that something that can change the situation will be done, is very MR HIKUAMA: Who are you fighting with? What for? Why do you provoke others? Our major challenge small. We are saying that Recurrent Budget is very high is poverty and we cannot eradicate it with planes. which shows that the Government is not committed Dr Matsheka. You know Recurrent Budget better than me. HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… It only talks about paying the teachers and the existing MR HIKUAMA: Let me continue Honourable Dr officers, it does not talk about anything new which Matsheka, I support the idea of poverty eradication, we is going to change the situation in schools. There are should come up with programmes in order to eradicate no classrooms which are going to be constructed and it. You have cited Ipelegeng as one of those programmes there are no incentives which can be given to teachers. that we can use to eradicate poverty. I believe that with There is absolutely no development whatsoever that can a bit of re-orientation of it, it falls under productive improve the situation of our schools which we need more activities and we can use it to eradicate poverty. It has to than anything else. Our schools are beyond dilapidated serve the intended purpose; it is called Ipelegeng which such that people are sad when they go to work. Minister means that people should use it to eradicate poverty. of Finance, this situation is a clear indication that we We should not create people who get the food basket need what is known as affirmative action. Your solution every year. People must be able to fend for themselves cannot help us because it will only be business as usual. when the Ipelegeng funds run out. We should map Nothing is changing. programmes that can sustain them even when we run out of funds. These things are possible. There are so many Instead of taking money to Botswana Defence Force programmes that can be established through Ipelegeng (BDF) in order to buy air assets although we do not have to sustain people. We have farms at Somelo… schools, at least if … HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs) … MR HIKUAMA: …(Laughter!)… We have a farm at MR HIKUAMA: …(Laughter!)… Honourable Mmusi, Somelo, where people can be assisted to move from poverty through Ipelegeng programme, maybe it can I do not insinuate that this department should not get assist them to develop this farm. funds. HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… MR HIKUAMA: It belongs to someone else, it is not MR HIKUAMA: I do not mean that. If you could mine. at least take the money that you use to buy air assets, because we do not need them … HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Laughter!)…

HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… MR HIKUAMA: …(Laughter!)… Honourable Matsheka, I understand that there are funds allocated MR HIKUAMA: We do not need them; what purpose to Thematic Working Groups (TWGs)… Looking at will they serve when students fail? Otherwise we are not another programme there, you mentioned that it is to doing what we are preaching. develop the vulnerable and marginalised groups, it has been given quite a larger sum. We can also use it to HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… develop these people’s lives; the TWG. It is said that MR HIKUAMA: The army is not managed through Thematic Working Groups are your priorities that you aeroplanes … came up with…

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HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Inaudible)… MR KAPINGA: This also raised in my mind, what is the colour of the transformation that the Honourable MR HIKUAMA: Were you not even listening to the Minister is talking about because when he finished his speech? delivery, I did not feel convinced that we had embarked HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… on a process of transformation. The feeling that I had was what the French call, “déjà vu.” We have been there; MR HIKUAMA: These are the initiatives that you heard, promised and seen this before. My debate today came up with to improve people’s lives. So, you are to the Minister will be that; I am looking forward to you not aware and I am now teaching you? Are you not a proving us wrong that this is something, your Budget is Minister? something that we have seen and heard before. It cannot really drive us to any significant transformation. We are HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… in a state of crisis and we need to acknowledge that we MR HIKUAMA: …(Laughter!)… I think we can take are in that state. If we do sincerely acknowledge that we from this budget of P2.5, P3 billion and ensure that we are in a state of crisis, we need to take bold decisions. assist people to be economically independent. We should not be talking about carrying out reviews and setting up Cabinet Committees as if the situation that we Lastly Minister before I sit down, it is there in Ms Venson- are faced with arose yesterday. The problems that we are Moitoi’s report that Sehithwa should be a sub-district. facing now have accumulated over many years, it is a I believe that if Sehithwa is made a sub-district, most concatenation of problems that went on and on without people who come from far can manage to get services taking relevant decisions. nearer. This means that we require your assistance or maybe we can use part of these funds to establish this I want to say to the Minister; beware like a man who sub-district so that services may be brought closer to the spoke in Julius Caesar that, “beware the ides of March.” people. I do not support the idea of service centre, we Beware of the old system Honourable Minister. Beware need a full sub-district at Sehithwa. of the people that you are going to call upon to be your partners in this transformation journey, in your own That is all Mr Speaker. Thank you. party and in the public service. Beware because some of them are so committed, they are so rooted in the old HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… system that if you tell them that this is no longer the MR KAPINGA (OKAVANGO): Thank you Mr way to go, they will not be with you, they will pretend Speaker for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the to be with you but they will not be with you. Beware of people of Okavango. vested political interests which are benefiting from the current situation. I have lived in a number of countries HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… and in one of them, they are in a state of economic MR KAPINGA: Yes, if you could listen. Mr Speaker, collapse. That state of economic collapse is producing I listened to the Minister of Finance and Economic superrich people who pretend that they want to create Development with utmost attention because I had a solutions for the situation that is there but in fact, they lot of hope in him as an individual. From what I have would want things to stay as they are because they are getting rich; superrich out of the situation. So, beware heard him saying, from the line of thinking that I have who you look at as your partner in trying to implement seen in him, I had a certain hope that this time around this transformation, which I believe sincerely that you something new and dramatic would come out of our as an individual, you really want to see it happening, but Budget Speech, but when he finished, there is a song beware who is with you. that came into my mind by Billy Ocean that says, “what is the colour of love?” I now proceed to issues of urgency. Mr Speaker, in this public service which is very demoralised, especially HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… in a lower echelon of the public service, there are a MR KAPINGA: I listen to quality music. lot of arrears owed to public servants; overtime and subsistence allowance in hard conditions. People have HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… been owed for a number of years Minister. They are (Applause!)… knocking on the doors of their supervisors’ day in and

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day out, in my office as the Member of Parliament Another thing that compounds this situation, if you want asking me to intervene and probably get somebody to to go on a journey of transformation, you have to be pay them for what is due to them, but Government is not truthful in the way you do things and take decisions. paying. Even if you make an enquiry, “when will these If you disarm the Wildlife Anti-Poaching Unit and go people be paid,” you are sent around in circles. I had around telling the nation that those arms were acquired hoped, and I had told them that, let us look forward to in violation of the law when you know that it is not the budget; whether it would make provision for these true, I do not know how to describe that behaviour, it arrears that you are entitled to, to be paid, but our hopes is dishonourable. I am saying this Mr Speaker because have been dashed because I do not see any possibility of Section 73(3) of the Wildlife Conservation and National them being paid. So, I ask you to look into this so that Parks Act is very, very clear. people who are owed by the Government, how can you make sure that they are paid what is due to them. HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)…

Funding and Transformation of the Security Sector MR KAPINGA: I am going to read it. “Where it is necessary... This Government needs to make a bold decision as to how you want to manage the security sector, it cannot HONOURABLE MEMBER: It is said that you ask for be business as usual. If you continue to say the bulk of permission to quote. the budget goes to Botswana Defence Force (BDF), that thing has been said for more than 20 years. It has always MR KAPINGA: Oh! Mr Speaker, I am sorry. “Where it been the same song, same song, “the bulk of the budget is necessary for the discharge of his duties or the exercise goes to the Botswana Defence Force,” why should it of his powers under this Act, and notwithstanding the continue to be like this when the threat analysis clearly provisions of the Arms and Ammunition Act, a Wildlife shows where the risks facing this country are coming officer may carry a firearm with him, even on lend of from? which he is not the owner for the protection of himself or any other person, the prevention or investigation We are now dealing with the issue of poaching of of offences under this Act or the arrest of any person rhinos, and instead of taking money and giving it to committing or suspected of committing an offence the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, you under this Act”… and now this is the key part,…“and continue to pump money into the BDF and give a false where the Director so directs, such firearm may be of narrative that it is the responsibility of the BDF to fight a type not otherwise permitted under the Arms and poaching; that is not the core business of the BDF, it Ammunition Act…” is the core business of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. The BDF is a military; it is military, and HONOURABLE MEMBER: They do not know their it is not the duty of the military to look after wildlife. own laws. There are appropriate institutions which if properly funded and resourced, can carry out that function without MR KAPINGA: The Director may decide to procure a the assistance of the military. Why do you continue to firearm that is otherwise not permitted under the Arms divert resources from the people who are supposed to and Ammunition Act, and that kind of firearm is what get them, to the military, it is wrong! If indeed you are are commonly called… embarking on a journey of transformation, you should HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. look at this and distribute the resources in the security sector correctly. MR KAPINGA: Allow me to conclude honourable and then you can come in. That is what are commonly The second threat that is facing this country is crime; called “military firearms, arms of war.” Those are the violent and intrusive crime especially in the urban areas. ones that are prohibited under the Police Act, but this There is a growing upsurge of violent and intrusive law which you passed, authorises the Director to acquire crimes in the homes and in the streets. Actually, if you such firearms if it is in the interest of the nation. look at the way you distribute the resources, it does not reflect that you accept this as a priority, it does not! Some HONOURABLE MEMBER: Where is Honourable of you will go from here and say Honourable Kapinga Kereng so she can be educated? does not like the military, whether you say that or you do not say it, it will not bother me because I know that MR KAPINGA: If it is in the interest of the security of what I am saying is the truth. the nation.

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HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… grant a murderer who has killed twice bail, how do you do that? Yet this budget that has been presented before MR KAPINGA: Now you can raise what you wanted us does not present any, anyway, we will wait until the to raise Honourable Member. Honourable Minister presents his ministerial allocations HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR to hear transformative initiatives. We are talking TSOGWANE): Thank you very much. Entirely transformation and not deja vu; not business as usual; agreeing with you Honourable Member, but in the same transformative initiatives that will change the flavour of vein, you must now talk to the one that specifically our criminal justice system, and that will deal away with confines, allows or empowers the BDF to be the only the temptation for people to resort to mob justice. By institution that has the mandate to carry weapons of war, pointing at people and telling them they are barbarians because I want to hear in the same vein if that one will and uncivilised, that is why they engage in mob justice, relate to what you are saying. we are totally missing the point. The point is that confidence in the criminal justice system is waning, and HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… it continues to wane towards crisis propositions. So, there is need for you to take urgent action in that regard. MR KAPINGA: Mr Speaker, when I prepared for this debate, and even at the time the decision was taken Schools to disarm the Wildlife Unit, I carried out a thorough Honourable Minister, I will do what my colleague has research into the law, I looked at the BDF Act, Police done, to tell you that the constituency I represent, is in Act and the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks a crisis situation in terms of education. Gowa Junior Act to see where does the law say that it is only the BDF Secondary School recorded 14.8 per cent pass last year, that can carry military style weapons, there is no law Ngambao in Seronga recorded 14.1 per cent pass. Those that says that. If it is there, feel free Your Honour to raise are schools that are not in a state of dilapidation; they are it when you respond at the end of the day. ruins of schools; ruins and not dilapidated. I do not see HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… anything in this budget that says we have set aside this amount of money to refurbish our schools; a marshal HONOURABLE MEMBER: Where has he seen it? kind of plan is what I am looking for to deal with the state of our schools in Okavango; not business as usual. MR KAPINGA: I even challenged the Attorney General publicly to say which law goes against Section MR MAJAGA: On a point of elucidation, Mr Speaker. 73 (3) of this Act and nobody has ever raised such law. Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you Honourable So, some of these crisis are of your own creation, and if Member. I do not know whether I heard you as you were you want to transform and turn around things, admit that doing your presentation pertaining schools in your area, you have messed up and take the right decision. referring to one of the schools as ruins. This means that it is in a bad state and it is not a school. In Botswana? Is HONOURABLE MEMBER: And apologise. it true? Thank you Sir.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: Own up! MR KAPINGA: Honourable Majaga, it is very true. I MR KAPINGA: Funding of the Criminal Justice say this not to impress anybody, but to drive the point System home. If anybody disagrees with me, I challenge them to put me at the back of their vehicle and we drive to Crime is the real threat in this country. If we want to Seronga and they see for themselves with their own two make this nation a safe and secure nation, like we were eyes, like the Nigerians would say. saying in Vision 2016, I do not know what it says in Roads the new Vision, but in Vision 2016, you were saying you want to create a safe and secure nation, it will not Honourable Minister, I looked at the budget, and I had be safe if crime is not under control. It will not be safe hoped that there would be something for us in the line if there are inordinate delays in our court system to of Sehithwa/Shakawe road. I will be honest with you dispose of serious criminal cases. It will not be a safe Honourable Minister. I was addressing Kgotla meetings and secure nation if bail is granted indiscriminately to in my constituency, and fortunately I was restricted by violent criminals and repeat offenders. How do you time. I am saying fortunately for you because when I

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was addressing these meetings, the sentiments that I best one to prescribe the list for you, but those are the saw and heard from my people, are what amounts to a people to pursue and not an individual just because he potential insurrection. Do you understand me Minister? is involved in politics; we then deploy all the resources An insurrection is brewing in Okavango because of the behind him because we want to frustrate his political state of our road. People are saying, “Enough is enough; initiatives. It was bad, immoral and unjustified; what we cannot continue to be served by a road like this when happened in terms of the behaviour of your Botswana we are a part of an upper middle income of the Republic Unified Revenue Service (BURS). You have to pursue of Botswana.” they are not at fault Minister; that road the right people who can make a significant contribution is horrible. to our tax coffers because they are involved in business and leave alone poor individuals just because they are Corruption involved in politics.

Honourable Minister, you have good ideas, and from As long as you are there Honourable Minister, I what I have seen in you, you have a good heart. You have a ray of hope, and I would encourage you to be want to do something good for this country, but from this courageous despite that you are entangled in that system budget, I do not see anything that is going to happen to that is called Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). A uproot corruption in Botswana. What drove me into this single individual like yourself can make a change, and business of politics is to see my country being pervaded that little change that you can make will be appreciated by corruption. I do not see anything in the budget that by the citizens of this country. I thank you Mr Speaker. says to me that anything effective is going to be done to uproot corruption in this country. Countries have been HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… taken down the drain because of the people that are MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR assigned to the top most positions in key institutions. PRODUCTIVITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT I want to say to you that if you do not appoint the right (MR BALOPI): Thank you Mr Speaker. Let me also people to lead an organisation like the Directorate on start by…sit down Dithapelo Keorapetse. I believe Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), you will Honourable Members of Parliament’s presence has been never get any result; it will be business as usual. We acknowledged and they were greeted. I want to start by will be told of investigations and arrests, but you will commenting and also thank Batswana for the decision never hear of any meaningful conviction because the they took to change things. I want to say Batswana person in charge has no idea what he is there for. You took a decision that they want transformation we are have to appoint the right people Honourable Minister, talking about as the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). people who have proven competency in investigation Batswana took this decision by coming Vision 2036. and law. In other countries, they appoint judges and distinguished law enforcement officers who have Mr Speaker, the issue we are talking about transformation carried out investigations, not to take a soldier from the is in line with what was delivered by the Minister of barracks and make him Head of DCEC. That is wrong, Finance and Economic Development, Honourable Dr and you will never get any good results if you continue Matsheka. He delivered the speech diligently aligning to do as you are doing. it to the transformation Batswana want and the one they placed in the Vision 2036. Others said we cannot Lastly Mr Speaker, I want to commend the Minister for continue relying in resource-based economy, we should not hiking taxes. When we were in Selebi Phikwe, the rather move to knowledge-based economy. I want to say buzzword was that taxes were going to be increased. when there was a census conducted in 2017, Batswana I was pleasantly surprised that taxes have not been were asked three questions and these Batswana were not increased. What I would like to urge you is that, pursue members of the Botswana Democratic Party congress or the right people and companies that are failing to pay tax of the Botswana Democratic Party Council or at the rally. in this country. Pursue the Chinese who are not paying Batswana at large were asked these three questions; the tax in this country, who do not issue receipts. You pay first question was, what kind of Botswana do you want in cash and they give you a little thing. That is obvious to see by the year 2036? The second question was, what symptom of people who are involved in tax evasion. kind of a Motswana do you want to see in Botswana Those are the people to pursue, not Duma Boko. People by the year 2036? The third question was, in order to involved in the second hand motor industry. I am not the achieve the Botswana and the kind of Motswana you

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want, who should do what and what should that person MR HIKUAMA: The problem is hearing, we do not do? That was the third question which was asked the know what we should do if you have a hearing problem. nation of Botswana. The overall answer by Batswana We are saying the vehicle to drive us there is through was that we want an inclusive economy where every education. Education is disputing not the people. Motswana will benefit. We want the economy of the Education and our student’s results are showing that we country to be diversified, transformation; which they cannot achieve that goal, not that people do not wish to. say, they do not want a resource-based economy as a People want to, the problem is those who are driving driver of the economy going forward, and rather, they the vehicle to take us there. They are the ones who are want a knowledge based economy. As the Botswana failing Batswana. Democratic Party (BDP), we listened to Batswana and addressed their interests through our mandate, we shall MR BALOPI: Thank you Honourable Hikuama. You align their Vision 2036 and move forward. surprise me but I am not too surprised because you are mixed up, you do not understand yourselves and you HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. disagree. Yesterday when the Leader of the Opposition was speaking, he said there is no one in Botswana who MR BALOPI: I just started, let me debate first I will can agree with the Botswana Democratic Party when later yield for you my good friend. talking about knowledge economy, he was standing HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR right here in this Parliament. He said he disagree. You TSOGWANE): Point of clarification. I agree with you were just saying that you are still in the same position Honourable Member. What I would like to know is, in Ngami. A census was conducted and Batswana at are the Batswana you are talking about include those Ngami said they want a knowledge economy yet you at Okavango and Ngami, were they part of that census? say you have not seen anything. I do not know which people you are representing Honourable Hikuama… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Laughter!)... HONOURABLE MEMBER: ...(Inaudible)... MR BALOPI: Leader of the House, His Honour the MR BALOPI: Let me proceed. I want you to understand Vice President, you are right. Census was conducted our concept. I want to clarify it here because you think and different stakeholders took part in that census that the issue of transformation; knowledge economy is such as Dikgosi, academics, advisors of the country for the Botswana Democratic Party, it is your initiative. who are highly educated like Dr Matsheka. Normal You were also sent to come and assist us on that so that people, representatives of different industries, business we can go where Batswana want. Do not just come here owners, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), and oppose it because you are the opposition. Agree communities of people with disabilities… with it and come up with ideas which will help us to drive it because it is from Batswana, you should not to HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. just oppose it.

MR BALOPI: I am still clarifying Honourable, I will The other thing that I thank Honourable Matsheka for yield for you. They were all invited and sent throughout in his speech is highlighting economic background of the country like Ngami, Shakawe, Mahalapye West, Botswana. Mr Speaker, kindly allow me to quote from Mahalapye East, Sefhare-Ramokgonami, every area. one of the speeches once delivered by the first President They visited Dikgotla and interviewed the employees of this country Sir Seretse Khama, may his soul rest in and all the people. They are the ones who formulated peace. He once said, “a nation without a past is a lost this Vision Honourable Leader of the House. nation, and a people without a past is a people without a soul”. This issue is in line with the fact that we all know MR HIKUAMA: Point of clarification. Thank you that there are some things which could have already Honourable Minister. Thank you my friend, Honourable been implemented and the things we expect to be done Balopi. It is not in dispute that, that is what we want, because we have a trail. You cannot assume governance everybody wants to see Motswana moving from and you do not have challenges which need to be resource-based economy to... addressed. In order to amend something, you should have faced challenges. That is why as the Botswana HONOURABLE MEMBER: ...(Inaudible)... Democratic Party, as you heard the speech here we were

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aware of the previous challenges, therefore we come not understand where we come from. I am very proud up with initiatives to address them in future together of what the civil service and those who came before with Batswana. If you retell stories that this is what us contributed for us to be here. We call ourselves happened in the past without offering solutions, you are Botswana just as it is, international countries envy us not helping. You are highlighting those things as they and it is more competitive compared to other countries. can help us to achieve what we want. It is as a results of the civil servants from different Ministries which built it for us. Moving on, the Minister spoke at length about improving the economy. Improving the economy, your focus was As such, we wish to consult them looking at the situations mainly on the fact that we cannot move forward as a that we are facing so that we can move forward. That country, we cannot improve our economy if many way, we will be able to empower and teach because things which can earn us profit as well as what we use, we can learn a lot from them as well as show us how are imported. We must stand up and take action and they dealt with such issues. We should not treat them become a country which produces skills and knowledge, like they were never there by criticising everything that consumables and clothing. We must produce and export they did. Just like some advised us to kick out the civil them just as you said so that we can balance our bills servants because they are not important. But they are and reduce deficits that are mentioned. important and we must know that they need guidance and relevant education as well as to retool and reskill I believe that this paragraph that you mentioned which I them to be able to address the current challenges so that love most means that every Motswana who is at home, we can go forward as a country. must hear us in one voice as we give them ideas, advice and many others which can benefit them wherever they You also mentioned the issue of corruption sir. Corruption are. When we talk about knowledge-based economy, is not only about stealing money or cheating someone so we do not only talk about the school and education, I that you can earn more profit than you were supposed to. will talk about it later. We talk about the indigenous Corruption is also about denying people information and knowledge which goes hand in hand with our natural denying them what they should have. Corruption relates resources like animals; both wild and domestic. We to being a Member of Parliament or a representative can modify them such that we can utilise them. Just who use Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency as our beef is highly valued, we must find out why it (CEDA) and tell people that CEDA is not good on the is highly valued so that everyone of us will have the other hand. That is corruption. If you do that, it means right information of rearing their cattle, how they can that you deny others from benefiting so that you are the improve their quality after research has been carried out which can demonstrate why our beef is valued in other only one who benefits from Government programmes countries. We can then process at a larger scale so that as they are for everyone although we despise them as it can benefit all Batswana. That is part of knowledge Members of Parliament. economy. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)…

We talk of small stock, as some of you from the MR BALOPI: That is part of corruption. We are not Kgalagadi, Tsabong and surrounding regions may know supposed to turn against our words. We are supposed to that it was once said that goat meat from those regions know and depict what works for us as well as make sure is of high quality because the plants in such pastures are that, that is what we share with others and stop being palatable and hence are absorbed by the animals which corrupt. improves the quality of the meat. As the Honorable HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… Minister said, more funds have been allotted to Research and Development as a way to strengthen research on MR BALOPI: What did you say sir? such issues so that everyone regardless of their location can grow such plants and be able to produce goats of HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… higher quality to export to other countries. This is the MR BALOPI: I was elaborating what corruption is. So, knowledge based economy. leave me alone and talk to Mr Speaker. We mentioned We also talked about our civil servants which built that we must have facilities and services. Mr Speaker, this country. When we all talk about them, it is like we I am grateful for the budget speech as tabled by the built ourselves and this country, and it is like we do Minister. He mentioned that our infrastructure or our

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facilities and services, we must start devising ways departments that can assist in improving the economy, of making them to be permanent and of good quality. which can advance it. We should not do them simply Minister, you must advise us as well as advise one because we saw them taking place in other countries. I another as Members of Parliament who come from 57 encourage and support you to use them collectively so Constituencies of this country. Looking at the facilities that they can be very agile and be able to address our and services that we have as a Government, it is not needs going forward. everyone here who will get their roads constructed from time to time as a way of satisfying them so that Sir, a time has also come for us to do what we have their constituents can vote them once again when they promised as the BDP and as stated in the Vision 2036 tell them that their road got constructed because of that we should start assessing land use. We know that them. We must start considering where our productive, there are three types of land ownership. There is state efficient areas are; those that can improve our economy owned land, leasehold and freehold. Initially, freehold fast so that we can take the services there. We must then referred to a huge farm occupied by people who carry construct permanent infrastructure there, one at a time. out their business there. With the current status of We must not construct temporary roads just because they shortage of land, looking also at living conditions near are trying to hit two birds with one stone and they are towns, people who bought freehold farms around the under pressure because Members of Parliament have to city have started to change them into residential areas deliver services. If we do that, we will come back after for Batswana. It is wrong Minister to continue saying five years claiming that we do not have tarred roads. they should provide services or be provided by others since they have already started and found their places We have to have proper planning so that we can compose of residence. In our assessment of land administration, permanent and concrete structures such as schools, roads, clinics as well as permanent hospitals. We should if we find that it is freehold but it is becoming high also know that they come at a great price. They will be density like in Gaborone North farms, in a constituency constructed one step at a time so that we will be able to I am representing, these people should be provided with assemble them at the end in the whole country as we services. They should become part of greater Gaborone will be having high quality infrastructure. For example; and be included in the Urban Development Plan (UDP) we have Constituency Fund worth P10 million. If and the National Development Plan (NDP) so that someone has 10 wards, they are required to divide this they can be provided with services. They only need to amount into 10 wards which is P1 million per ward. As our Minister, you have to advise us to consider services understand that it is an arrangement… that can benefit the Constituency by creating jobs if we HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)... each get P10 million which is for five years. We can create opportunities for people so that they can work in MR BALOPI: No, it is fine, it will also keep drawing such industries. If you give them that opportunity, they closer to Gaborone. will benefit from the economic activity which will be used to improve the economy in the end as small and MR KEKGONEGILE: On a point of clarification. medium enterprises. These are the reasons; if I construct a tarred road or do paving towards his house as a way of Talking about freehold land, there is a lot of land reducing dust from his car, but you leave unemployed which the colonisers took from us under those species people with brilliant ideas at home. Give them facilities of freehold land. They have long abandoned this land, that they can use because P10 million can maybe build what is your take on that in terms of Government taking one facility within the constituency. Now we have it over, to allocate it to Batswana? start driving fear away from people through these. We should explain the impact of developing meaningful MR BALOPI: Honourable Member of Parliament, I infrastructure in their Constituencies which people have included freehold especially in high density areas. can come and use then later on they can use skills and There should be consultation with the owners of that programmes which they might have learnt there. Please land because as a country run by law, if there is shortage help us with that one. of land, though I do not know the ones you are referring You also mentioned State Owned Enterprises. I believe to, there should be proper consultations so that that time has come for us to realise and collect our ideas of land can become productive. I believe that these are the bringing about developments as well as coming up with things that we will keep looking into.

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The Honourable Minister mentioned Agriculture in his efficiently. Honourable Members, if tenders that are speech. Honourable Members, Agriculture is a sector supposed to provide services to people are litigated at that is core when it comes to improving the lives of court, job creation halts. When a case is at court when Batswana, thereby developing the economy. That is water is supposed to be distributed to Maun West, it why the bulk of the budget has been allocated to it in the becomes impossible. Not only are people going to be speech that you presented. Right now if I can ask you left thirsty, but the economy also suffers. The people Honourable Members that, if you are given a 20 hectare who are supposed to benefit through employment ploughing field… suffer. We should consider looking into this matter as soon as possible. For us to execute what you are talking HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)... about, be it corruption or a long process, maybe it is now time for the courts to deal with these cases swiftly MR BALOPI: My pointing a finger at you is actually if there is anyone who is not satisfied with the process harmless in comparison to how Honourable Kapinga like you did with elections petitions. We allowed you does it when he is angry. If a person has a 20 hectare to appeal and you lost but you exercised your right as ploughing field and assisted through Integrated Support Batswana. Dealing with these cases swiftly will ensure Programme for Arable Agricultural Development that Batswana enjoy services on time as it is their right. (ISPAAD) or Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID), uses his or her donkeys for Citizen and Economic Empowerment Law; it does not ploughing, having built a mud house roofed with grass matter, I hear people saying that we have long talked and another one works and stays in Gaborone with a about it and it is only now that is coming to fruition. mortgage loan, taking his children to private schools, Honourable Members, everything has a system by when we talk about quality of life, who is living a better which by the time it is implemented, Batswana should life? We have to ask ourselves this question. When we be in a position where they stand to benefit substantially. talk about quality of life, the person that I defined who When you start, it is important to learn first before you can be independent. The time has come for Citizen stays in the rural area, ploughing and eating organic and Economic Empowerment…, so that Honourable food which are good for health but very expensive in Saleshando can manage to supply food to Botswana the market is the one who lives a better quality of life. Defence Force (BDF) without any hiccups and having Therefore, we should not encourage people to come to partner with anyone in delivering services everywhere to towns because it brings misery and heartbreak. We even in hospitals. should start assisting these farmers and encourage them to produce more and high quality products. That is what You might relate because you have made several attempts we should do. Minister, I therefore encourage you to to rule but to no avail, so is running the country. You are maintain the budget of Agriculture as is. slow in realising that it is difficult to unseat BDP. Thank you Mr Speaker for having given me this opportunity. Let me address Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as I I also thank you for your comments because Batswana am about to conclude. I believe that the time has come can see that this year will bring changes that will benefit to look at our schools concerning the results that we see. them henceforth. Thank you Mr Speaker. We heard about the state of our schools and conditions of service. We also consider if what we are teaching is MINISTER OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS (DR relevant to where we want to go. I therefore believe that KWAPE): Thank you Mr Speaker. Let me also thank the the time has come for teachers, education specialists to Minister of Finance, Dr Matsheka for his presentation consider Public Private Partnerships. The reasons being on the 2020/2021 Budget Speech. that private schools always maintain good results and I will start my encouraging him, he was saying that he there is something we can learn from them. I believe is holding a position which was held by people who had that we should pursue that direction like we are in the the nation’s interests at heart. It is indeed relevant for process of considering the likes of Gobotswang to run him to hold that position. brigades so that they can feel what it means to run schools. He stands strong and firm because he is walking on the foundation which was made by veterans, Veterans like On Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board QKJ Masire, Peter Simako Mmusi, Festus Gontebanye (PPDAB) Act, I am grateful that you talked about Mogae, Baledzi Gaolathe and Mr Matambo whom he is its review to enable it to provide services to people currently succeeding.

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I am grateful that the Leader of Opposition (LOO) we can use to develop our economy. These things will applauded that it seems like your speech is a breath of make sure that services reach at Lotlhakane East all the fresh air. I differ with him, since we are brothers, we way to Lefhoko, not forgetting Betesankwe Lobutse, never knew how to dance; the types of dances which are Tsonyane and Selokolela in the way that can make danced by the thugs of Lobatse and Kanye. I differ with Batswana happy. him because in his speech, Dr Matsheka made it clear that he recognises the entertainers. The message that I Minister, I appreciated one method which you talked heard you directing to the entertainers of Lobatse is that about which can elevate the to they should dance and make a living out of dance. So, where we want it to be in the next 16 years. You stated next time when Honourable Saleshando has an event, he that we should invest our funds into education; on should know that people who perform in the events are empowering people about the up-to-date things. That is being paid. That is a way of giving them something to how we can develop our economy. make a living out of. Agriculture, you talked about upgraded agriculture Honourable Minister, we thank you for not which is different from the one we are used to. One compromising anything when you gave your speech. I singer, Ratsie Setlhako has a song which says, “a will point out two or three things which show that you re tšhentšheng,” meaning that we should change. were not compromising anything when you made your We should also change our land use so that land can speech. You stated that some government ministries sustain us. You said that if we can observe our land use, should be looked into; they should be evaluated and be developing it can have a huge contribution in taking our developed so that those ministries can help us develop economy where we want it to be. this country and take it forward where we want it to be Tourism, you stated that tourism has a huge contribution so that it can have a better economy. in the economy of Botswana, you further went on to Sir, you boldly stated that we should be cautious because say that the problem is that the indigenous Batswana’s our imports exceed our exports. So, we should develop contribution is very low and that it has to be improved our government so that we can be in a better position to as a way to elevate our economy. You talked about use funds which you have allocated to us to produce and performing arts, you informed us about what is going to sell more goods instead of having high imports. be done in Botswana in a short period of time of which we will boost businesses. Minister, I want to congratulate you that you did not just make a speech, you came up with methods which can Sir, you also talked about what we should do to help be used to develop our economy since Batswana have those who are not able to sustain themselves or the less requested that they want the economy to be developed so privileged. You stated that they should be helped in a that the country can be first class country in the coming way that at the end of the day they can be free from the years. You talked about economic growth which will poverty that they are living in. create jobs, more especially because this country has Mr Speaker, it is important for me to express my the youth. There is an English proverb which says that appreciation regarding the share of my ministry. I should the youth and or the youngsters are the future leaders be thankful of the part of the speech which addressed of tomorrow. We are looking at the youth, since they issues of my ministry, Ministry of health and Wellness. are robust, they should be hands on so as to elevate our It is important for us to give Batswana an acceptable economy. quality of health services which will make them happy. You pointed out that we should develop our infrastructure When a Motswana goes to the hospital, they should be and that we do that in a modernised way so that even the able to find everything there. Sir, we are grateful that independent people and or companies can also take part you took the ideas that we always share with you into in these projects. consideration, ideas to have technology as the driving You talked about the use of technology and that force of our health services. Medication and x-rays times have changed hence we should be learning should be availed in the hospitals. I am grateful for the about technology and use it since it can have a higher portion that you have allocated to the Ministry of Health contribution in the development of our economy. Sir, and Wellness. We will use the little that we have wisely you highlighted that decentralisation is one of the tools so that Batswana can have access to services.

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I would not have concluded my debate well as a Member and things to come. He indeed has done a sterling job. of Parliament if I fail to say, we know that you have There will always be criticisms. Having listened to all delivered the budget and we know that as Ministers Honourable Ministers that have responded thus far, I and our leadership we are always on your case we want believe they have also appreciated the Budget Speech, developments. I should say, the Minister responsible and their constructive criticism if I heard them well, was for school development more especially since they mainly of lack of implementation, which continues to are dilapidated should ensure that they are in good cost this country dearly. Clearly, your articulation of the condition, he should work hard, he has our support so issues of concern that have to be addressed are those that funds allocated to him can address all these things. that the Government of the day has promised Batswana that she will deliver on, and to that we salute you at least Even the Minister responsible for electricity should this side of the aisle. bear in mind that as divides his share, I have a village called Tsonyane which does not have electricity. That The private sector approach to management of this is the only village in Kanye South which does not have country, valuable, fiscal assets and development of this electricity. Yes, he should not forget me when he does beautiful country of ours at this juncture require a man his budget. Electricity should also be extended to other of Dr Matsheka’s disposition, if we are as Government areas like Selokolela, Lefhoko, Tsonyane, Seherelela and going to transform to the high status economy we all Gamae. I am also grateful for the little amount allocated aspire for and it will be possible to attain. This transition to the water sanitation. I am saying this because at my Mr Speaker is not going to happen by itself. It is going to constituency there is an ongoing project. We would like need a total change in mindset in the way that we value the project to be quickly completed because we need the ourselves as Batswana in a fast changing globalised drainage system to be up and running so that people can world. open industries which you were talking about Minister because if there are industries, the development of the MR MOATLHODI: Elucidation. Thank you Mr country moves forward. I do not know want to say Speaker. Thank you Honourable Assistant Minister and much, I want to thank the Minister profusely, keep it up also Member of Parliament for Mmopane. Is that right? and so the same in the next upcoming years and know HONOURABLE MEMBER: Lentsweletau. that as your comrades, we support you. When they try to push you over those I know will, we shall offer you MR MOATLHODI: Of Lentsweletau. I am sorry. I our support. could not agree more with you Honourable Minister, I would like to conclude with your opening statement that other side of the aisle agrees in total with every part when you thanked your late parents. Be comforted and molecule of the Speech presented by the Honourable Honourable knowing that your parents, the Matsheka’s Member of Parliament for Lobatse. You also agree with are watching over you and are smiling because you him even though all the schools that are under your are doing a sterling job for Botswana. Thank you Mr superintendence are by definition antiquities. Speaker. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… MR SPEAKER (MR PULE): Honourable Members, the floor is still open for debate. MS MAKWINJA: Thank you Honourable Member. Before I attend to the critical issues raised in the Budget ASSISTANT MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION Speech, let me thank the constituents of Lentsweletau- (MS MAKWINJA): Mr Speaker, thank you very much Mmopane Constituency for being so patient with delays for the opportunity to respond to his Honourable Dr that have stalled the development in the constituency. Matsheka’s Budget Speech. Mr Speaker, let me first I say to them, please continue to be patient, because start by formally wishing you and Honourable Members of this Parliament and staff a belated blessed and some of the stalled development like internal roads for prosperous new year. Let me also take this opportunity Mmopane are being swiftly attended to. I thank those to congratulate the Honourable Minister of Finance and that found time to attend Kgotla meetings that I continue Economic Development Honourable Dr Matsheka, no to hold and I assure you that I will continue to pursue doubt, this year’s Budget Speech has been a breath of the issues that you raise with the relevant Government fresh air. What I believe is a start of new exciting year departments.

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Mr Speaker, I now turn to the four national priority areas to Botswana will see the 200 Botswana’s brightest that will be key to laying the foundation to transitioning interacting with the world’s best. It is our hope that with this country to a high income status economy as stipulated the generous investment incentives, the Government in the Budget Speech. The first priority Mr Speaker is will be implementing soon and other big businesses will promotion of Export Led Growth; the focus will be on give impetus. These young Batswana will become the accelerated promotion of our goods and services aimed guiding light in our transformation agenda. Mr Speaker, at addressing the issue of balance of payment, which history will judge us all harshly if we do not facilitate as the Honourable Minister has said poses a constrain the development of entrepreneurship that is core to to economic growth. This will result in the much sustainable economic growth. needed jobs for this country as different institutions converge to ensure maximum exploitation of value Mr Speaker, enable us, I have already mentioned the need chains in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. to implement the incentives to promote both domestic Mr Speaker, you took us to Selebi Phikwe to appreciate and foreign investment. It is also important to note that we as Government have an enormous purchasing the challenges faced by the people of that area. I must power. Through the Economic Diversification Drive say that there is great and I mean great potential to (EDD), the implementation of the exports strategy can create thousands of jobs in a very short period of time, quickly become a reality as the Honourable Minister has both boosting economic growth and enhancing export articulated in his Budget Speech. It is only through a development. In one clothing manufacturing factory deliberate and vigorous implementation of the export that we visited Mr Speaker, the caretaker or the manager and import substitution strategy that the company can said that at full capacity, that factory can create about restore its external balance and create jobs that are 10 000 jobs. We saw youth entrepreneurs who can grow required in an inclusive economy, in which Batswana and supply the region with their products in Information are major players; Budget Speech by Honourable Dr and Communication Technology (ICT), electricity area, Matsheka. We will also see the roles of parastatals in the bulb company that is manufacturing high quality his speech be revisited, to ensure that those that are still products. I am sure that more Batswana are out there relevant, viable and can self-sustain are aligned with the trying their level best to create jobs for Batswana. We transformational agenda. plead with the Honourable Minister; Dr Matsheka to expedite activation of these incentives that are being We support the Government’s effort in trying to resolve talked about to take effect. Please! Not only that, for the the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) crisis and Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry; to work flat hopefully in the medium term, we can see movements out and help these businesses to access export markets towards liberalisation of the sector, so is National Development Bank (NDB). This liberalisation principle so that they can be able to produce the quantities that is fundamental to transforming this economy. I would will actually result in creating more jobs for the country like to further call for liberalisation of most, if not all, and growing our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). public entities such as hospitals and schools in order to improve our standard of living for all Batswana, Mr Speaker, I am very happy that the Honourable Minister irrespective of their economic status. has categorically stated that we will be refocusing attention to the agriculture and manufacturing sectors Information and Communications Technology (ICT) during the Mid-Term Review and National Development Adoption Plan (NDP) 11. Therefore, we need to nurture and Botswana is ranked on average; 100 over 141 countries support the creation of an entrepreneurial culture. In according to the Global Competitiveness Report of this regard, Botswana is ranked on average 99 out of 2019. However, we are ranked 12 out of 141… I feel 141 countries on entrepreneurial culture. We are number like I am speaking to myself. one when it comes to poor work ethics, according to the Global Competitiveness Report of 2019. An ingrowth HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… of innovative companies, we are ranked 113 over 141 HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Applause!)… countries. The Government with the leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana, MS MAKWINJA: Can I continue Mr Speaker? In Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is determined ICT adoption, Botswana is ranked on average 100 over to see to it that these global competitiveness trends 141 countries, according to the World Competitiveness are reversed. The Forbes Under 30 that is coming Report. However, it is ranked Number 12 on mobile

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cellular telephone subscriptions. Mobile broadband HONOURABLE MEMBER: It is the upper. subscription; 65 over 141 while fibre internet subscription is ranked at 105 over 141. Yesterday we MS MAKWINJA: It is not upper. were told that we are far from getting to the Fourth HONOURABLE MEMBER: … (Inaudible)… Industrial Revolution as a nation. If all goes well Mr Speaker, maybe we are not aware of the development MS MAKWINJA: No, that is how you understand it, that I will share with this honourable House. but it should not be upper; it must be the minimum. So, we will correct it if you have been sort of implementing Review of Appropriate Policies and Enacting Citizen it as the upper. Economic Empowerment Programme Ensuring More Efficient Government Spending We note with excitement efforts, to enact a law that will facilitate meaningful participation of citizens in Again here Mr Speaker, the Honourable Minister has hit economic development. In reviewing this law, I request the nail on the head. that this word, ‘citizen’ should be preceded by the word, HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Murmurs)… ‘indigenous citizens’ for Batswana to fully benefit from this dispensation. To further improve on this MR SPEAKER (MR PULE): Honourable Makwinja, policy, please, consider including a clause that forces continue. foreign investors to partner with indigenous citizens MS MAKWINJA: The structural inefficiencies that on investment ventures. In some countries and I think characterise our doing business environment result in you know Honourable Minister, Mr Speaker, that in a lot of wastage of resources. The litigations on big the Middle East for example, there are Foreign Direct infrastructure tenders that stall developments, poor Investment (FDI) policies; that force foreign business implementation, wastage of resources and alleged and companies to partner with citizens. In some cases, white collar corruption are some of the major stumbling it even stipulates the number of jobs that should be blocks in growing this economy. I am confident that as given to citizens and where full foreign ownership is promised in the Budget Speech, our Government will permitted, it is in certain businesses. clamp down on corruption and wastage. We will see the Mr Speaker, we sincerely thank the Honourable reprioritisation of approved projects and programmes Member of Parliament for increasing sub-contract to align with the transformational agenda. We have awards to citizen-owned companies to 40 per cent by to clamp down on corruption and wastage. This will non-citizen contractors awarded Government contract. require us Mr Speaker, to take very bold decisions that To that Mr Speaker, I am saying we were having 30 per are going to unsettle a lot of people but if it has to be like cent and to what extent has that 30 per cent translated that, we will rather suffer the consequences now rather to empowering our business people; being Batswana? than later because this is the only opportunity for us to Would 40 per cent make a difference? We believe that transform this country. Not only that, social programmes with the law, it should happen. will be reviewed according to the Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Development to improve HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR TSOGWANE): On a point of clarification. Thank you efficiencies resulting in streamlined eligibility criteria Mr Speaker. I asked for clarification but maybe it should that would help to eradicate double-dipping. We thank be elucidation, not clarification per say. Some people do the Honourable Minister for having made a proposal not understand when you mention 30 and 40 per cent. to also enhance these programmes. The quantum They might think you are saying that companies which will always be debatable, but what I know is that belong to Batswana must get 40 per cent. However, the Batswana know when they are being sold a dummy, truth of the matter is that, they should not get anything and these programmes are not a dummy. They know less than 40 per cent, some think that is the upper limit and appreciate the fact that they can access almost free but not less than. Thank you. healthcare in this country and highly subsidised free education for their children and a plethora of all other MS MAKWINJA: Thank you Your Honour, Vice social protection programmes. President (VP). I think you have hit the nail on the head, 40 per cent is the minimum. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation.

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MS MAKWINJA: As aptly put, the aim is to have a While these are being attended to, slow as it may be, the social programme that will sustain livelihoods of our school leadership and teachers continue to be trained to people, and this will be made efficient to ensure that no enable them to stay relevant and implement this very vulnerable group is left behind. important strategic plan.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. Honourable Kapinga, we agree with you that we have a major problem with school maintenance. I would like to MS MAKWINJA: Decentralisation principle Mr believe that the insurrection that you talked about that is Speaker, is a welcome move and we are saying in my brewing, maybe the state of our schools also contribute constituency; Lentsweletau-Mmopane, we are calling to that. However, we can assure you that with the limited for a fully-fledged sub district. This constituency can Development Budget assigned to the ministry, we will try to attend to most deserving cases that are really dire. compete in agro and tourism businesses with the best in this country, and can greatly contribute to the creation HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. of much needed jobs thereby, reducing poverty and invigorating economic growth. Mr Speaker, Batswana MS MAKWINJA: Provision of Appropriate can benefit immensely from decentralisation because Infrastructure they will have services nearer to their businesses. Provision of appropriate infrastructure is very key for economic development. The Honourable Minister HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. of Finance and Economic Development must be commended for making it crystal clear that he will MS MAKWINJA: Building Human Capital prioritise provision of infrastructure with the highest I can attest to this one Mr Speaker. If you watched potential to increase productivity in economic sectors to drive transformation. We entirely agree Mr Speaker. the news last night, you will agree with me that the However, I plead with the Honourable Minister that for past declining performance in our schools will soon those infrastructure projects that pose a health hazard become history. In schools that I have personally visited and make lives of ordinary Batswana very difficult which are more than ten by now; mostly primary and to carry out their daily living activities and those that secondary, I have realised that where there is passion, have been in the pipeline for long, should be treated apparent interest in the child and apparent interest in differently. the environment in which the child is, there has been HONOURABLE MEMBER: Which pipeline? a remarkable improvement in academic achievement. I have come to appreciate that these indeed, are a recipe MS MAKWINJA: For example, the pipeline would for success in the education sector. be your Lentsweletau--Molepolole road that has been in the pipeline for ages now. I must declare Mr Speaker, efforts are being made through the my interest here Mr Speaker and Botate that my implementation of Education and Training Sector constituency, though adjacent to Gaborone City, pales Strategic Plan (ETSSP), to assess and remediate in comparison to similar constituencies. No internal children just as private schools are doing now. Children roads or whatsoever in villages like Mmopane Block will be helped from early on from preschool to develop 1, no roads linking these big villages. Therefore, while their God-given talents which will be further supported I support this principle of prioritising production areas by multi-pathway education system. I was in one school 100 per cent, I also truly plead with the Minister to when we were in Phikwe and without any Directive attend to some of these developments that really make from the region or headquarters, told me that they were our people feel excluded. The same goes to the rest starting a piggery project. They have actually started, of Molepolole constituencies within the Molepolole thus the journey to a knowledge-based economy has Administration Authority. Honourable Members, this already started Mr Speaker. We, in the Ministry of Basic authority comprises my Constituency, Mr Morwaeng’s Education, are very thankful for the budget provision to constituency and Mr Regoeng’s constituency. Mr effect this transformation agenda of our schools. Speaker, I am talking about Lentsweletau-Mmopane constituency which has more than 40 000 people while Like I said yesterday when responding to the member’s the two Molepolole constituencies have just over 60 000 question on school maintenance, we are very aware of people. So, you can see that I am talking about a lot of the challenges facing teachers and children in general. people.

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In my constituency, we have a productive coal mine to that question is that Presidents are only entitled to that is trying its best Mr Speaker, to develop the area, pension in accordance with the Presidents Benefits but the cost of maintaining the roads used to transport and other retirements, whereas Ministers, Assistant coal to markets, is proving to be very difficult indeed. Ministers and Members of Parliament are entitled to In our constituency, there is also great potential for either pension or gratuity. The choice is upon Honourable cluster crop and small stock farming because of the Members; whether they want to benefit from gratuity good soils and vegetation. We simply need roads to or pension. The legislature Honourable Members, make life easy for business to thrive in this area. On deliberately excluded the President in accordance with this note, the Letlhakane to road for example, Section 2 Sub-Section 2 of the Ministers and National leading to tourism facilities and Central Kalahari Game Assembly Gratuities and Pensions Act, that Sub-Section Reserve (CKGR) is one of the critical roads leading to 2 deliberately excluded Presidents from benefiting productive areas and tourist areas that can create lots from gratuity in order to avoid double dipping. I thank and lots of jobs for... you Honourable Members, I hope that answers your question. MR LEUWE: Point of correction. Thank you. It is not Letlhakane to , it is Letlhakeng. MR MOATLHODI: Point of clarification. Thank you Mr Speaker. Thank you madam for your efforts MS MAKWINJA: Thank you. Letlhakeng to Salajwe; in sourcing out this important information for us. The sorry I pronounced it differently, it is written right here. Learned Parliamentary Counsel in her reading did not So, these are the roads that are leading to tourist and say anything about His Honour the Vice President. In productive areas, that if they can be done; these are my knowledge, His Honour the Vice President as a the roads that should be given priority Honourable Dr Parliamentarian, qualified and obtained; I do not mean Matsheka to ensure that we grow the economy and we the current one qualified for gratuity, and thereafter sat actually implement what we say. and benefited from the monthly pensions and...

Talking about infrastructure development, for us to HONOURABLE MEMBER: That is double dipping. achieve aspiration of a knowledge-based society, there has to be extensive investment in Information and MR MOATLHODI: Definitely! That is what is being Communication Technology (ICT) to improve on the referred to by some of the top man as double dipping. Now as the situation is Mr Speaker, why can we not rankings that I alluded to above, of mobile broadband allow the former Members of Parliament to double dip which we are standing at 65 over 141; fibre internet if ever that is the language? subscription, we are sitting at 105 ranking. I am happy Mr Speaker, to see in the Budget Speech a commitment MR SPEAKER: Well, let me request this, can we leave by Government through Botswana Fibre Network the... (BOFINET), that it has started rolling out... HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR MR SPEAKER (MR PULE): Your time is up TSOGWANE): Point of elucidation. No, it is not like Honourable Member. Honourable Members, can I ask that Mr Moatlhodi, Vice Presidents do not have the you to sit down for a moment. If you remember, yesterday retirement packages... just in the middle of our discussions, Honourable Pono HONOURABLE MEMBER: The one before you has Moatlhodi raised an issue about pension for Members been receiving pension... of Parliament, and then he sought clarification from our Learned Parliamentary Counsel who actually said that MR TSOGWANE: Do you mean his pension from she was not ready with information. She just whispered Botswana Defence Force (BDF)? into my ear saying that she has collected information, and wants to give a response to the House. HONOURABLE MEMBER: No.

LEARNED PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL MR TSOGWANE: No, it is not there in the Greenbook... (MS MOKGOSI): Thank you Honourable Speaker, HONOURABLE MEMBERS: ...(Murmurs)... thank you Honourable Members. In fact, the question yesterday was whether Presidents do benefit from both MR TSOGWANE: No Honourable Members, stop gratuity and pension. Honourable Members, the answer falsely accusing those who are not alive.

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HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. still am, to congratulate them because the courts failed to rule on the matter. Unfortunately those cases were MR SPEAKER: Can we close it for now? not prosecuted. In fact the High Court stated that they MR MAJAGA: Point of elucidation. Mr Speaker, thank do not have jurisdiction to hear such cases and they are you for this explanation, but I was saying that, this issue therefore handing them to Parliament. That is where we will need some time to be discussed outside this House are at. The onus is on us as Members of Parliament not during Parliament debates so that we can know. to amend election laws so as to eliminate any doubt It should be our choice because out there it is making in our election process going forward. We will then people uncomfortable like Honourable Moatlhodi said present them here again, we want to talk about electoral yesterday. If it is possible, those who want gratuity reforms. We are talking about inks on people’s fingers should take it, if there are those who do not want it, it after we witnessed them vote more than once. These should go to their pension, but it is something that needs are some of the issues we will be looking at when we time. talk about electoral reforms. So, it is difficult for me to congratulate my colleagues on the other side of the MR SPEAKER: I agree with you Honourable Majaga. aisle. The floor is open. Going back to the speech delivered by Minister of MR TSHERE (MAHALAPYE WEST): Thank you Finance and Economic Development, Honourable Dr very much Mr Speaker. Let me greet the Honourable Matsheka, as he presented the Budget proposal for the Members this afternoon. Before I get into Honourable 2020/2021 financial year. Mr Speaker, let me first start Dr Matsheka’s speech, there are two issues that I would like to touch on, if you allow me Mr Speaker. It is an by stating that, in Mahalapye as far as we are concerned, issue that we saw on Facebook where it looked like a this speech is that same as the Budgets speeches we student was having a fight with a teacher at Mahalapye. have heard for the past ten years. There is nothing new Let me state that, I strongly condemn that incident Mr for Mahalapye in this budget. like all other budgets that Speaker. It is not our norm in Mahalapye to be beat up came before it. There is sadness at Mahalapye. teachers, it is the first incident we ever witnessed. We Like the Leader of Opposition mentioned yesterday do not know what caused the fight but I have full faith in Parliament, I breathe fresh air as well for the and confidence Mr Speaker in Madiba School and its appointment of Dr Matsheka and for him to present management. I am saying this as Madiba is in the road the Budget speech in Parliament, which was relevant to recovery, as we are speaking it moved from number and shortened from the one we are used to, with more 22 to number 15 in terms of performance. That being specific and more reduced numbers. If you could see, the case, I have requested the school management to investigate this incident of assaulting a teacher. They all the monies are expressed in millions and billions, have proper procedures in place to deal with it. As we there is no thousand, which was very interesting. It is know the youth, maybe he is not the only one, we will much shorter. While listening, I picked an economy or a be blaming him whereas there is a lot of gangsterism Government under review. That is what I picked up, that in our schools. We should investigate and uproot these we are under review. If I were to get review definition unlawful acts Mr Speaker. I wanted to quickly talk from the Oxford Dictionary… about that issue and state that the school management is handling it. MR SPEAKER: Honourable Member, do not forget that you started in Setswana. The other issue I want to quickly mention Mr Speaker is the one I recently talked about when I first stood in MR TSHERE: Sorry, I apologise. You know, this this House. I said I cannot congratulate our colleagues provision actually did not allow for some of us who on the other side of the aisle. I said I will wait for the cannot distinguish between English and Setswana. Courts to rule if there was rigging of elections as our Sometimes you cannot tell whether you are speaking comrades complained. The Courts indicated that it was Setswana or English. I am very sorry I will try to stick to the first time such case was brought. I want to repeat Setswana. I thought I was speaking Setswana actually. this issue and conclude on it for record Mr Speaker. I indicated last year that it is very difficult for me and I HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)…

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MR TSHERE: Mr Speaker, it was stated in the speech MR SPEAKER: Where is the Minister? Do you hear that we are under review. If you can allow me to quote that. Minister heard you. from Oxford Dictionary about review, because it is a word which was constantly mentioned in the budget. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… So, review by definition, if you permit, from Oxford LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): Dictionary… On a point of procedure. I hear, that is the existing MR SPEAKER: Go ahead. challenge that we are aware of and it is a concern. I went to Mahalapye once during the past rainfall season. The MR TSHERE: …“is a formal assessment of something important thing besides statement is that the Minister with an intention of instituting change if necessary.” will comment later because they are listening to you, That is where we are. This is what the budget is they will closely address your concerns when they talking about. We are assessing and examining. We are answer. Thank you. reviewing where we are to see how we can improve, that is what I picked. Therefore the Government will review MR TSHERE: Thank you Mr Speaker. I suggest to her priorities. Government will review the economy and skip that one because I was only letting you know that National Development Plan (NDP) 11. That is what I we will deal with it during review. As we speak, the picked yesterday. Government is about to review. I was only telling you that water penetrates people’s houses at Mahalapye. When We are eagerly waiting for NDP 11 at Mahalapye His Honour the Vice President, Honourable Tsogwane because according to the recent budget speech from this visited last year, people were fortunate enough not to be Parliament, when I was not yet a Member and Molefe taken away by water, but it managed to sweep away 12 was, there was a promise about storm water drainage at cattle at Mahalapye. When we woke up in the morning, Mahalapye which will be included in NDP 11. It was we found them in the culverts. It is not a laughing matter Honourable Members, the people of Mahalapye clearly said that when there is a review it will be included. It is stated that this was the first priority at Mahalapye. They there in Parliament records. I read Molefe saying that are saying that we should do something about the water and being promised that. We are waiting for NDP 11 to which is penetrating their houses. It is a worrisome see how much money will be allocated to this project of situation. storm water drainage at Mahalapye. So, the Government is dealing with reviews as hinted. Let me update you about the current live situation at We are going to review parastatal organisations so that Mahalapye; while sleeping, in fact when they see rain Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) can be privatised. clouds gather they pray that it should not rain…one old We are going to review National Development Bank woman told me when I visited her recently that she saw (NDB), Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board about a meter height of water flowing towards her house (PPADB), commercial and sustainable agriculture, and flooded her house. Water floods people’s homes at we are a nation under review. Concerning the issue of Mahalapye. People do not have chairs, beds, couches as commercial and sustainable agriculture, at Mahalapye the rain destroyed them all. Rain water is uncontrollable we are categorised by… at Mahalapye. This is a problem. That is why as we are waiting for NDP 11, we will try to emphasise it. The HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… Government is going to review… MR TSHERE: The review, we are comparing MR MOATLHODI: On a point of order Mr Speaker. commercial farming with subsistence agriculture, I Mr Speaker, I pray for your guidance. The words spoken was raised through subsistence farming. The issue is by Honourable Member of Parliament for Mahalapye not ploughing for consumption, it was possible to get a West are quite serious and frightening if you are a good harvest and sell part of it and also survive with part good and compassionate person. I humbly request of it. Nowadays the programme of cluster fencing, they the responsible Minister on the basis of these words tell subsistence farmers that they require 150 hectares in to deliver a statement, either tomorrow or Monday order to fence for them. Okay, I tried to find out why it regarding why water is flooding our parent’s homes? I has to be 150 hectares. If you consider advice from the humbly request that Mr Speaker. commercial arable farmers, they say that in order for

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you to be productive in commercial arable, you have to HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)... be planting 150 hectares minimum. That is what they are saying and they impose that 150 hectares on subsistence MR MOATLHODI: No, I know the name of the child farmers. This thing is disadvantaging us at Mahalapye, and he is a married man … many people joined Ipelegeng because of this issue. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… There is absolutely no programme which can assist these kind of farmers, we stood up. If that happens, they MR MOATLHODI: We do not call bachelors with the will tell you that they will fence only a half. name of their children.

HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Laughter!)… TSOGWANE): On a point of clarification. Thank MR MOATLHODI: You mentioned an important you Honourable Member. Let me ask for clarification point even though you were done with it and His Honour because if the procedure mentions 150 hectares for the Vice President tried to assist you, it appears that you subsistence farmers, cluster fencing means collecting have a disagreement. His Honour the Vice President hectares from all subsistence farmers who are in that mentioned that cluster fencing for 150 hectares is for particular area together. If someone have 10 hectares, a group; if you come with 30 hectares and I bring 32 another five and another that so that it can be viable for hectares as my field is 32 hectares and others. Our the Government to assist them. They have to add up to hectares should add up to 150 even if we are 10. It is like 150 hectares unlike commercial agriculture which can you did not capture this Honourable Member. I suggest be for one person. that you listen to what His Honour the Vice President MR TSHERE: Thank you Leader of the House. Yes, said if you did not understand. I am referring to those farmers but the issue is that HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)... subsistence farmers usually plough an area of five hectares. If you want to cluster 150 hectares, do you MR MOATLHODI: It is practiced in my Constituency, understand how many people are needed? They are thank you sir. many and that has proven that this thing does not work, that is the challenge that I am talking about. Let us revise MR TSHERE: Thank you. Yes, I believe that we have cluster fencing so that it can cater for these famers those an understanding, I will get back to it later. I mentioned who does not benefit. that the Government is carrying out a review, that is why I am encouraged because I have the opportunity The other thing as I conclude is Ipelegeng. It took to review with you and that is one of the things which farmers who could be ploughing. Mr Speaker, I want we will prioritise. We are reviewing the Economic to give an idea such that when we promote this kind Diversification Drive (EDD), Mr Speaker. Let me take of farming which is very important, we should assess about a minute to explain EDD. This programme has the issue of Ipelegeng. If someone has ploughed, if the been there. Firstly, those of us who know EDD … agricultural demonstrator confirms that indeed they some of us who are in the private sector, we can see ploughed a certain area then they can join Ipelegeng. this programme. We never get ideas which relates to this When they join Ipelegeng, they have to be able to programme from business community. When you look remove weeds from their fields as well. We should at EDD, it says that I have 15 per cent advantage when I take them out of Ipelegeng as soon harvesting time tender with a foreigner for example. Meaning that if my approaches Mr Speaker. That is what we can do as prices are 15 per cent more than those of my competitor, a way of empowering them, if we fail to do that, we I will still get a tender even though they quoted below, will end up in a situation where everyone goes to the which is a good thing. Practically, it is impossible, you Social Worker for assistance. I mentioned that we are know why? For example; we were at Selebi Phikwe last carrying out a review; we are going to review the citizen time. Do you know where the factory of that gentleman economic… who make bulbs is located? If he makes one bulb, relative to a factory in China, that makes over 100 000 MR MOATLHODI: On a point of clarification. Thank of those bulbs per hour. The cost per unit of a bulb you Mr Speaker. Pardon me Honourable Member for which comes from China and the one that comes from Mahalapye West, Abotle’s father, Honourable Tshere… Selebi Phikwe, the one from Selebi Phikwe is going to

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be higher and that is the case. In fact, it is higher than just by looking them over without carrying out a test. the 15 per cent margin that is put forth. It will still be This is where I come in, I bring the machine and make expensive even if you give them a 15 per cent discount, sure that the machine reflects good results to the doctor, that is what is happening. As a result, because we know the doctor tests and tells an individual the results. what? We did not protect this because a factory in China will bring the bulb at a cheaper price. If it is like that, Now, if I were to go as a Biomedical Engineer and I they will consider the one from China, there is nothing go to a hospital, and find myself as a senior official in that is done. a hospital, listen to me very carefully, hospital not a clinic not a health post, a hospital like Marina. I then MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND find that I am the only Biomedical Engineer and with RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MR MOLALE): On authority, I will order that hospital closed, because a point of clarification. Thank you Honourable Tshere there is no doctor. It is like that, and I will downgrade for not being influenced by the negativity by your it to a clinic and immediately start moving all medical equipment out of that hospital. Now here we are, we neighbour there. Let us try to differentiate them a bit have a Parliament that the three levels of command from my colleague; Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) Minister, Assistant Minister, and Permanent Secretary… is where whether you are a citizen or a non-citizen but manufacturing for purpose of import substitution, you HONOURABLE MEMBER: … (Inaudible)… must be given priority when it comes to tendering. MR TSHERE: No, let us stop there. The three-lines of The one which talks about Price Preference Scheme command at the Ministry of Health, there is no doctor. I where if we allow a citizen and a foreigner to tender do not know what you say about Parliament or Ministry and a foreigner is cheaper than me, I am given up to of Health, we are not serious. The doctor is at Deputy 15 per cent price preference. So, that is how I wanted level, as I talk to you right now…, I mentioned recently us to differentiate them but the point you are making is that there is Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority that, local manufacturers must be given preference and (BOMRA); do you know who is heading it right now, a actually there should be a barring system that if goods Veterinary Surgeon. That is, the whole medical system are produced locally, we should not buy them outside. is operating without a doctor. If it were me, I would shut down completely, because you know why, it will MR TSHERE: Thank you. I think I have addressed the kill people. Therefore, I am appealing to you, through issue of EDD, it is touching. The way it is, I can tell you Honourable Speaker, I am pleading that we should you Mr Speaker, what we are trying to do in Phikwe, is address this. I am not trying to badmouth anything, I am actually set in the path for failure. We cannot manage simply stating a scenario that I found myself in, and it is with these current regulations. We need to nurture very important that we stand up for this. Otherwise, we these young people if we are interested and make an will not run things this way. arrangement that those bulbs be manufactured in bulk and ensure good quality that we can market. Mr HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. Speaker, this is not what happens in departments as they purchase. MR TSHERE: Review; we are a nation under review, we are reviewing Public Private Partnership (PPP) I said that we are a nation under review, we are still Model. I heard in Honourable Dr Matsheka’s speech reviewing what is happening. That is what was said that we are reviewing the PPP model; PPP model in by Dr Matsheka. We are going to review healthcare, under review fine, it is good. It has been 20 years since Honourable Assistant Minister is here; let me pause we waited for a bus rank in Mahalapye, under this and be clear on this one. I stand here representing arrangement which does not even have a law that we are going to have PPP. part of it, I am the Chairperson of Health and HIV/ AIDS Committee of Parliament, but I am not a doctor Mr Speaker, the residents of Mahalapye are surprised Honourable Speaker. I can never be a doctor, I am that of all the villages, you will hear that Mahalapye will Biomedical Engineer professionally, I am not even have a bus rank through PPP. When we ask where it was supposed to pose as a doctor, I cannot. The regulations implemented , they mention Kanye and Masunga. Mr are clear of who is a doctor; where I come in is where the Speaker, the said villages, Kanye cannot be compared legislature now says, you cannot diagnose an individual to Mahalapye at all considering the magnitude of traffic

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in that area. I asked them why they saw it fitting to have something better for them. That is why I am saying, I a bus rank in Palapye that can absorb its traffic without am very proud of Parliament as an institution. In fact, extending the same benefit to Mahalapye. Now look at I take my hat off that I managed to sit here and face the fact that all the vehicles passing through Palapye, my oppressors, and be able to tell them, and I am very whether they come from north or south, pass through confident that with these oppressors, now my friends, Mahalapye. We do not see its importance. I am going to we will be able to take Mahalapye forward. I thank you bring this before Parliament. Now as we go … Mr Speaker.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: Elucidation. HONOURABLE MEMBERS :…(Applause!)…

MR TSHERE: I do not have much time let me finish. MR SPEAKER: Honourable Lelatisitswe, the floor is As we are under review and I am happy like was said, yours. I am breathing fresh air as well, just like my Leader of Opposition. We will be working with you on this review. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Applause!)… Comrades on this other aisle you should not forget that MR SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable Members! we are dealing with the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), this is the BDP that has been ruling this country ASSISTANT MINISTER OF HEALTH AND for 54 years! This is the BDP that has made our people WELLNESS (MR LELATISITSWE): Thank you Mr slaves. Speaker.

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

MR TSHERE: This is the BDP, today young people MR SPEAKER: Honourable Members! Honourable under 35 years are not working; over 40 per cent of them Lelatisitswe, the floor is yours. are not working, and over 40 per cent of those are at Ipelegeng in Mahalapye as we speak. They are earning a MR LELATISITSWE: Mr Speaker, thank you for little over P500, working six-hour shift without nothing; giving me an opportunity to respond to the… cutting trees and grass without protective clothing. Remember we are dealing with the BDP, this is the HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… BDP where you graduate from school and you are told, MR LELATISITSWE: Mr Speaker, thank you for you are not yet eligible and you are enrolled in a funny giving me an opportunity to respond to the 2020/2021 programme called Government Volunteer Scheme or Budget Speech by the Minister of Finance and Tirelo Sechaba, all funny names. When you look at Economic Development Dr Matsheka. Firstly, I would them, they are meant to impoverish and enslave our like to appreciate the freedom in our country, which I people. This is the BDP we need to be talking to. This is am noticing from the Honourable Members before us. the BDP where in history, the unemployment rate in the Mr Speaker, I am from Boteti East Constituency and country is at an all-time high, this is the BDP we should it consists of villages like Mokubilo, Mmeya, Khwee, never forget. This is the BDP that refuses to pay 113 728 Mosu, Mmatshumo and Letlhakane which is the biggest old age pensioners P1 500, and instead they are given a mere P500. This is the BDP we should never forget. village of them all. Honourable Minister, thank you for your presentation, it is a presentation which shows that On a lighter note, as I conclude, people were asking me we are moving forward as a government. how it feels to be in Parliament, to stand here before you. I told them, it is like telling a guerrilla, after staying We should firstly thank the Botswana Democratic 10 years in the forest that you should get on a suit and Party (Domkrag) government for we have never failed tie and come to Parliament to have a seat and face your to present a budget speech before the Honourable oppressors. I am facing you right now. Let me tell Members. Sir, you speech highlighted some of the you something, behind me there are so many guerrilla challenges we have as a country. You indicated that fighters, they are there in Mahalapye, and you know every year in the past five years our budget has always what they have done, when they heard that a guerrilla showed that we use funds which we do not have and of their own is here in Parliament, they laid down their that as a parliament, we should help you to eliminate weapons, and hoped that my coming here will yield this situation.

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It is a key point which I believe…Batswana voted for the with the plan to use it but that always leads to us being BDP government, the administration in which we went taken to court by companies. I believe that it is time for around the country informing them about how we are things like bigger projects…we have self-governing going to run and or govern this country. Sir, I appreciate companies which can help us to develop this country. that the points that you presented before us correspond Companies like KPMG, First National Bank (FNB) and with some points in the BDP manifesto. We recently had Stocks can take over from us and build hospitals. robust elections, elections in which we witnessed things that we never anticipated could happen. I remember HONOURABLE MEMBER: FNB? seeing my friend Honourable Dithapelo Keorapetse MR LELATISITSWE: Yes, you do not know that FNB being offered food by a white man in a flight, dressed the does that as well. As a government, we should refrain way he was dressed. I believe that it was hard. Batswana from always following issues of infrastructure. We now trusted that Honourable Matsheka’s party deserves should give this task to the private sector so that they can to be the one governing this country. employ Batswana. I believe that you can also form those Sir, I appreciate the Motions which you presented before companies and run the country because it is a challenge us in your budget. One thing that I highly appreciate for the government to have a huge public service. If you could observe, government projects take years to is that our BDP party still highly recognize education, be complete. We currently want to build a hospital at health and other subjects which affect Local Government. Tutume and we know that, that project is going to take Looking at basic education and tertiary education. They years. We want to build a hospital at Letlhakeng, and the fall within the top 5 ministries which have been given a same thing is going to happen. When we handle these higher percentage of the funds in Botswana. This shows issues, we should think of using our private sector to that we are serious about developing our country. I drive these developments because it is the only thing sometimes find it disheartening when people compare that can help us reduce our high capacity. Sir, I believe Botswana to countries like China. China is a country that these projects could be completed in a short period which has been existing for many years, it is older than of time. When the private sector builds a mall that is most of us here and Botswana on the other hand has bigger than a hospital building, in a short period of time only 53 years but she came a long way to be where she the mall will be complete and operating because they is now. use companies which I have been talking about. We I am thankful for the 9.1 billion funding which has been take a long time asking for funds to be taken to Ministry allocated to Basic Education. Let me face the Minister of Infrastructure. These are the things which delay the and say that, like you were saying, we need to go and development of our country. Sir, like you were saying, assess ourselves as a government. You frequently I believe that bold decisions need to be made, we need stressed that we should change the way we have been to take those bold decisions, and stop these cases. We doing things. You made a statement that if someone could not be having these Public Procurement and Asset at the office keeps on forgetting their password, she Disposal Board (PPADB) cases because we will know should not think that she can bring any impact and or who is running those projects. development to this government. We applaud you for You have said it Honourable Minister same thing being that. Let us point out that World Bank has indicated that said by our Botswana Democratic Party; we want Botswana government has a lot of employees that issues larger citizen participation towards the economy of the of infrastructure development end up getting a small country. If you go to Shakawe, Batswana should be the portion of the funds. Sir, we should thoroughly evaluate ones in charge of tourism. We thank the Government and see that we try to empower our private sector to be for introducing citizen economic law which will give the ones running the economy of our country; we should Batswana so much power… delegate some of the works. I have realised that it seems like we are still holding on to some of them and I believe HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… that it is time for us to delegate them. MR LELATISITSWE: It is not the first time I Minister, let us take a major point which affects discern these issues, I have long talked about them, infrastructure. I believe that the reason why we frequent Honourable Wynter Mmolotsi knows very well. But if the courts of law is that we issue funds as a government the Government took a step then we are grateful.

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Mr Speaker, I am from the constituency area I already do not produce anything at all like that of Honourable mentioned of Boteti East which has a lot of mines. I Motsamai, I wonder whether they will even be able to believe that the name of your Ministry is Finance and have a school? A person like Honourable Kapinga, where Economic Development but at our constituency it is the they do not produce anything in their constituencies. economic hub of our economy. So Honourable Minister A person like Honourable Dr Never Tshabang where I would simply like to advise that, it is now time that there is nothing they produce, if this concept was alive where necessary for private sector not to make more will they have developments? Honourable Member, I developments than us as the Government. Right now if believe that as Boteti constituency we are the economic you take a village like Letlhakane in Boteti, after the hub of Botswana and I believe it is time for us to reap closure of BCL and Tati Nickel Mine at Francistown, we saw many people migrating to that village. those profits.

HONOURABLE MEMBER: Which village? Honourable Minister, I am very thankful for the initiative you presented, such that… MR LELATISITSWE: At Letlhakane Honourable. A lot of people from Shakawe have migrated there MR MAJAGA: Elucidation Mr Speaker. Thank you in numbers. We should therefore ensure that there is Honourable Member of Parliament for Boteti, you are decentralisation. There should be a deliberate move to on the right track. However do you not think what you ensure that we develop areas where there are mineral are saying could cause confusion, as my constituency resources for example, building hospitals and so on because if you look at the hospital built before I was produces a lot of salt and is a tourism destination but born, it cannot accommodate the magnitude of the I do not have roads which I am advocating for their people there. If you look at the internal roads, when construction, I am now sick because I hear you saying investors visit areas like Karowe and Orapa then look at that you should be considered I believe because all the the state of infrastructure, others lose interest. I believe large diamonds are produced from your constituency. that is an area which we have to ensure that infrastructure So I should also say the same thing looking at all the is developed more to empower Batswana so that they can migrate there as they have been doing. We see sodium exported to Central Africa. all Bobirwa, Selebi Phikwe, Honourable Nkawana’s HONOURABLE MEMBERS:…(Laughter!)… people also migrating there. We should highlight these things and explore how there can develop the economy. MR LELATISITSWE: Thank you my colleague. I MR MMOLOTSI: On a point of clarification. am saying this looking at the population there who can Honourable Member, I wonder if you believe that what bring growth… you are saying is rocket science because I think it could have long been implemented. I wonder if it does not HONOURABLE MEMBER: Are you alluding that embarrass you that currently the diamond mining town Nata has no people? is the poorest. It is just like Mmadinare where water is channelled from Letsibogo Dam through Mmadinare HONOURABLE MEMBERS:…(Laughter!)… but there is no water in that village. Does that not embarrass you Honourable Members? MR LELATISITSWE: Population at Letlhakane; there is no one who does not know that the population MR LELATISITSWE: Thank you Member of of Letlhakane village is the same as the population in Parliament for Francistown South. I believe that myself and Honourable Member were both members of the Ramotswa in fact, the population keeps increasing, Botswana Democratic Party and were both in the same the ones I am talking about here are the old ones. The faction of Barataphathi, you left me here my friend, difference is infrastructure. Honourable Member, we during the era of Motswaledi. did not cause the infrastructure to be as it is, it was influenced by the situation we are in. One of the reasons HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… being the issue you just stated that it is the intention of MR LELATISITSWE: We did not chase him, he the ministry to consider decentralisation. We believe knows how he left. Honourable Member, the concept of this will develop the economy. However let us remind how this country is… this concept of minerals not being you that our constituency area of Boteti is in the Central beneficial to the whole country, in constituencies that District, a region which has Members of Parliament…

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MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): Can we please go and rest. Elders want to go and rest, we have elders in Parliament.

Question put and agreed to.

The Assembly accordingly adjourned at 6:00 p.m. until Friday 7th February, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

34 Hansard No 196 HANSARD RECORDERS Mr T. Gaodumelwe, Mr T. Monakwe, Ms T. Kebonang HANSARD REPORTERS Mr M. Buti, Ms N. Selebogo, Ms A. Ramadi, Ms D. Thibedi, Ms G. Baotsi, Ms N. Mokoka, Mr J. Samunzala, Ms Z. Molemi

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

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

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