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YOUR VOICE IN PARLIAMENT

THE FIRSTTHE SECOND MEETING MEETING OF THE OF THE FIFTH FIFTH SESSION SESSION OF THEOF ELEVENTHTHE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAYTUESDAYTUESDAY 13 0507 NOVEMBER MARCHNOVEMBER 2019 2018 2018

ENGLISH VERSION HANSARD NO. 192

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. Gladys K. T. Kokorwe PH, MP. DEPUTY SPEAKER The Hon. Kagiso P. Molatlhegi, MP Gaborone South

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

Hon. F. S. Van Der Westhuizen, MP. (Kgalagadi South) --Minister of Local Government and Rural Development

Hon. D. K. Makgato, MP. (Sefhare - Ramokgonami) --Minister of Transport and Communications - Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Hon. N. E. Molefhi, MP. (Selebi Phikwe East) - Administration

Hon. S. Kgathi, MP. (Bobonong) --Minister of Defence, Justice and Security -Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Hon. O. K. Mokaila, MP. (Specially Elected) - Tourism Hon. B. Arone, MP. (Okavango) --Minister of Basic Education Hon. M. N. Ngaka, MP (Takatokwane) --Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs

Hon. O. K. Matambo, MP. (Specially Elected) --Minister of Finance and Economic Development

Hon. V. T. Seretse, MP. (Lentsweletau - Mmopane) --Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development

Hon. T. Olopeng, MP. (Tonota) --Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Hon. Dr U. Dow, MP. (Specially Elected) --Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation -Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Hon. T. Mabeo, MP. (Thamaga - Kumakwane) - Development Hon. Dr A. Madigele, MP. (Mmathethe - -Minister of Health and Wellness Molapowabojang) - -Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Hon. E. M. Molale, MP. (Specially Elected) - Security Hon. K. Mzwinila, MP. (Mmadinare) --Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Hon. T. S. Khama, MP. (Serowe West) --Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development

Hon. P. P. Ralotsia, MP. (Kanye North) --Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security

Hon. B. J. Kenewendo, MP. (Specially Elected) --Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Hon. B. M. Tshireletso, MP. (Mahalapye East) --Assistant Minister, Local Government and Rural Development Hon. M. M. Goya, MP. (Palapye) --Assistant Minister, Investment, Trade and Industry -Assistant Minister, Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Hon. D. P. Makgalemele, MP. (Shoshong) - Development -Assistant Minister, Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Hon. F. M. M. Molao, MP (Shashe West) - Technology

Hon. K. K. Autlwetse, MP (Serowe North) --Assistant Minister, Local Government and Rural Development

Hon. G. B. Butale, MP. (Tati West) --Assistant Minister, Health and Wellness

Hon. T. Kwerepe, MP. (Ngami) --Assistant Minister, Basic Education

-Assistant Minister, Land Management, Water and Sanitation Hon. I. E. Moipisi, MP. (Kgalagadi North) - Services -Assistant Minister, Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Hon. M. R. Shamukuni, MP (Chobe) - Administration

Hon. K. Markus, MP. (Maun East) --Assistant Minister, Agricultural Development and Food Security MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND THEIR CONSTITUENCIES

Names Constituency

RULING PARTY (Botswana Democratic Party) Hon. Dr P. Venson-Moitoi, MP Serowe South Hon. S. M. Guma, MP Tati East Hon. C. De Graaff, MP Ghanzi South Hon. P. M. Maele, MP Lerala - Maunatlala Hon. L. Kablay, MP Letlhakeng - Lephephe Hon. S. Lelatisitswe, MP Boteti East Hon. J. Molefe, MP Mahalapye West Hon. P. Majaga, MP Nata-Gweta Hon. M. I. Moswaane, MP Francistown West Hon. B. H. Billy, MP Francistown East Hon. E. J. Batshu, MP Nkange Hon. S. Kebonang, MP Lobatse Hon. K. S. Gare, MP Moshupa-Manyana Hon. M. R. Reatile, MP Specially Elected OPPOSITION (Umbrella for Democratic Change) Hon. Adv. D. G. Boko, MP (Leader of Opposition) Gaborone Bonnington North Hon. G. S. M. Mangole, MP Mochudi West Hon. A. S. Kesupile, MP Kanye South Hon. N. S. L. M. Salakae, MP Ghanzi North Hon. Dr. T. O. M. Mmatli, MP Molepolole South Hon. S. Ntlhaile, MP Jwaneng -Mabutsane Hon. M. I. Khan, MP Molepolole North Hon. Kgosi Lotlamoreng II Goodhope - Mabule Hon. D. L. Keorapetse, MP Selebi Phikwe West Hon. S. O. S. Rantuana, MP Ramotswa Hon. K. M. Segokgo, MP Tlokweng Hon. B. M. Molebatsi, MP Mochudi East Hon. H. G. Nkaigwa, MP Gaborone North (Alliance for Progressives) Hon. W. B. Mmolotsi, MP Francistown South Hon. Maj. Gen. P. Mokgware, MP Gabane-Mmankgodi Hon. N. N. Gaolathe, MP Gaborone Bonnington South Hon. S. Kgoroba, MP Mogoditshane Hon. Dr P. Butale, MP Gaborone Central (Independent Member of Parliament) Hon. T. Moremi, MP Maun West TABLE OF CONTENTS THE SECOND MEETING OF THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT TUESDAY 05 MARCH, 2019

CONTENTS PAGE (S)

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER...... 1-5

APPROPRIATION (2019/2020) BILL, 2019 (NO. 1 OF 2019) Committee of Supply Organisation 0700: Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Resumed Debate)...... 6- 8

Organisation 0400: Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs...... 9-31

Organisation 1000: Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security...... 32 - 36

Tuesday 5th March 2019 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Tuesday 5th March, 2019 (iv) Madam Speaker, as stated above, there were more pressing needs to assists other schools. Currently, THE ASSEMBLY met at 2:00 p.m. a contractor is on site to address the Honourable (THE SPEAKER in the Chair) Member’s concern. I thank you.

P R A Y E R S PERFORMANCE OF THE ADVISORY AND ARBITRATION COUNCIL * * * * MR E. J. BATSHU (NKANGE): asked the Minister QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs to apprise this Honourable House on the performance REDIRECTION OF P2 MILLION ALLOCATED of the Advisory and Arbitration Council since its TO LETLHAKANE SENIOR SECONDARY establishment, highlighting the achievements and SCHOOL challenges; including measures to address the current MR S. LELATISITSWE (BOTETI EAST): asked the challenges moving forward. Minister of Basic Education to state: MINISTER OF NATIONALITY, IMMIGRATION (i) who gave the Central District Office the power AND GENDER AFFAIRS (MR NGAKA): Thank you to redirect 2 million Pula which was allocated to Madam Speaker. Letlhakane Senior Secondary School; Madam Speaker, following the establishment of the (ii) what was to be done with such funds; Advisory and Arbitration Council in April 2017, the council received 17 cases for arbitration, out of which (iii) whether the redirection was communicated to the six (6) have been concluded and 11 are being processed. school management; Madam Speaker, the Advisory and Arbitration Council is faced with challenges of poorly formulated Constitutions (iv) if what the funds was intended for is no longer as well as poor record keeping by Registrar Societies, relevant; and which delayed settlements of disputes. To address (v) what prompted the decision and what will be done this challenge, my ministry has developed a model to rectify this. Constitution framework to guide prospective societies in developing their own. Further to this, my ministry MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION (MR ARONE): continues to create awareness and educate public on Thank you Madam Speaker and Good afternoon. issues of good governance and related to societies. I (i) The Permanent Secretary (PS) Madam Speaker, thank you Madam Speaker. has empowered all Regional Directors as the sub PROMISES ON MAINTENANCE AND warrant holders to redirect funds when necessary PROCUREMENT OF EQUIPMENT AT to where there is the most need. LETLHAKANE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (ii) The P2 million was to assist maintenance in Letlhakane Senior Secondary School. When the MR S. LELATISITSWE (BOTETI EAST): asked the works were delayed, it was redirected by the Minister of Basic Education to update this Honourable Permanent Secretary to other schools to address House on promises made during the past 3 years urgent need. regarding Letlhakane Senior Secondary School in terms (iii) Madam Speaker, the School Heads were of maintenance and procurement of furniture, text books collectively advised to continue with any and equipment which have not been procured regardless maintenance projects and to request additional of the set time lines; and further state: funds at the time of need. A major maintenance (i) progress on the promises made in November 2017, contract of the value of P51, 338, 863. 79 has been including the scope and budget; awarded to Letlhakane Senior Secondary School and as we speak, the contractor has been given the (ii) progress on promises made in November 2018 site. This will take care of the daily maintenance including the 2 million Pula allocated for issues. maintenance and resources;

Hansard No 193 1 Tuesday 5th March 2019 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

(iii) why the Central Region Office redirected these MR ARONE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I appreciate funds; and the concern of the Minister. The P2 million in question which was … (iv) when the school will be treated fairly and be given what is due. HONOURABLE MEMBER: … (Inaudible) …

MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION (MR MR ARONE: The Member of Parliament (MP). The ARONE): Thank you Madam Speaker. P2 million which was redirected was specifically in the maintenance vote and the stationery is catered for (i) My ministry continues to assists all schools in the in a different vote, but we appreciate the concern. As country with the limited resources at our disposal, I have said, the allocation is as I gave you earlier on, including Letlhakane Senior Secondary School. Honourable Member.

(ii) Letlhakane Senior Secondary School was HONOURABLE MEMBER: Supplementary. allocated P12 121 in 2017 and a further P2 million in 2018 for maintenance. MADAM SPEAKER: That will be the last one.

(iii) For textbooks, the Central Region was allocated MR LELATISITSWE: Supplementary. Minister, I just P21 834, a budget for all the 93 secondary schools wanted to hear from you, whether you are aware that and the share for the Letlhakane Senior Secondary the same P2 million was used to fund some workshop School is currently being delivered. In 2017, in Maun instead of maintenance? Can you deny or the school was allocated 100 student chairs and confirm? additional P9 436 was given to the school to buy furniture. The allocation has fallen short of the MR ARONE: Madam Speaker, as I have answered, needs of the school which requires 59 staff chairs that is the official position of what happened to the P2 for 323 desks, 309 stools and 125 mattresses. In million that was redirected, the Honourable Member is 2018, the school was allocated P20 228 for the free to come and see me if he has got that information maintenance of equipment only. and we will be able to assist each other. I thank you.

(iv) Madam Speaker, my ministry has made MADAM SPEAKER: Honourable Dr Phenyo Butale joined Pan African Parliament (PAP). HONOURABLE commitments based on the availability of funds MEMBER: … (Inaudible) … in 2017. As for the P2 million for maintenance, a major maintenance contract of the value of P51, MADAM SPEAKER: Oh! … (Laugher!) … 338, 863. 79 has been awarded to Letlhakane Senior Secondary School and the contractor has UPDATE ON PERFORMANCE OF NON- been given site. This will take care of the daily GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION (NGO) COUNCIL maintenances. The P2 million was redirected for other pressing needs by the ministry, not Director MR E. J. BATSHU (NKANGE): asked the Minister Central Region, as the works were delayed. I of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs to give thank you. an update on the performance of the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Council since its inception, MR LELATISITSWE: Supplementary. Thank highlighting achievements and challenges; including you Minister. Minister, I wanted to get it from you, measures in place to address current challenges. according to your Director, when they redirected the P2 million; the one that you said was allocated to MINISTER OF NATIONALITY, IMMIGRATION Letlhakane Secondary School, they never thought that AND GENDER AFFAIRS (MR NGAKA): Thank the school had other pressing resources. I think that this you Madam Speaker. Following the establishment of P51 million tender is now used as an excuse to have the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Council taken that P2 million to do whatever activity. I want to in 2012, the following has been achieved; there has know when you asked them whether when redirecting been an improved coordination and dialog between the the P2 million, they never thought about pressing things Government, civil society and the private sector. The like stationery and furniture in the same school where council has held two biannual national stakeholder fora the money was allocated? to dialog on issues of national interest.

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Further to this, the council has developed a draft financing However, due to the limitation of funds that we are well strategy for the establishment of the Endowment Fund aware of, my ministry has been undertaking the needed which is still under consideration. Madam Speaker, improvements in a step-wise and phased manner. To the NGO Council is however, faced with challenges of just give an example, between August 2016 to August NGOs who do not affiliate to the umbrella organization 2017, the road benefitted from some spot improvements, thereby, liking representations at the national level. In but the funds ran out before we could complete it. The addition, the other challenge has been the retention of outstanding aspect of the road however is planned to be the secretariat staff and my ministry has so far appointed done during the next financial year that we are currently the program officer and is in the process of recruiting the debating once the budget has been passed we should be NGO Council Coordinator. I thank you Madam Speaker. able to do the remainder of the road. Thank you Madam Speaker. MR BATSHU: Supplementary. Thank you Madam Speaker and thank you Mr Minister. Would you by MR LELATISITSWE: Supplementary. Minister, as a any chance, know how many Non-Governmental ministry, have you perhaps not yet adopted some new Organisations (NGOs) are affiliated to the Council as technologies in terms of dealing with roads such as we speak? Thank you. Kubung and Naledi in terms of dust suppression? There are new technologies that can assist instead of tarring the MR NGAKA: Thank you Madam Speaker. Right now, I road. Have you not adopted those? do not have the actual number. I thank you. MS MAKGATO: I do not know how those areas are MR NKAIGWA: Supplementary. Thank you Madam Speaker, thank you Minister. I want to appreciate from near to Moshupa and Naledi. Anyways since he is my you why you do not have a database of the NGOs that colleague and is merely advising that we must try to have registered with the NGO Council. By now, one increase our budget to explore better technologies that would have supposed that indeed you should be well are available out there; certainly, it is something that we aware of how many NGOs are actually affiliated to your have looked at, at ministry level to be able to use the council, maybe you can share with us two or three of very limited budget to benefit most of colleagues that are them which are affiliates to the council. in the House. Thank you Madam Speaker.

Lastly, what support is the council offering to the various PROGRESS ON 4G NETWORK COVERAGE IN NGOs that we have in the country because NGOs have BOTSWANA been crying loudly of lack of support from the Council? MR M. R. REATILE (SPECIALLY ELECTED): MR NGAKA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I have not asked the Minister of Transport and Communications said there is no data on the numbers of the NGOs, I do to update this Honourable House on progress of the not have it with me here. Of course, if at all it comes as a different question, I can get the answer from my office 4G network coverage in Botswana in percentage form, on the day. The NGOs are being supported Honourable including the speed and to state when Batswana will get Member; I totally disagree with the view that they are full coverage. not supported, that is not true. Thank you. MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND CONSIDERATION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNICATIONS (MS MAKGATO): Thank MOSHUPA-NALEDI ROAD you very much Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the national rollout of 4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution) MR K. S. GARE (MOSHUPA-MANYANA): asked currently covers 56 per cent of the population of the Minister of Transport and Communications if she Botswana. This coverage entails 44 villages/towns and will consider constructing the Moshupa-Naledi road as cities. More villages will be connected as operators it offers the shortest route to Jwaneng. continue to upgrade and rollout high capacity networks capable of offering 4G services. MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS (MS MAKGATO): Thank 4G defines wireless technology which provides for you very much Madam Speaker. I am very much aware speeds of up to 40 megabits per second. For example, at that Moshupa-Naledi road offers the shortest route to these speed users can watch movies online as compared Jwaneng and naturally if I had sufficient resources, it to 2G and 3G, where movies will be too slow to watch would be most logical thing to do. online.

Hansard No 193 3 Tuesday 5th March 2019 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Per the National Broadband Strategy (NBS) which was The approved Job Effectiveness Description (JED) for approved in 2018, it is planned that by 2022, all locations the post of the Registrar and Master of the High Court with at least 10 000 inhabitants will have 4G broadband spells out requirement for the job as Bachelor of Laws network. These are the areas which have been identified (LLB) or its equivalent plus 14 years post qualification to have the required critical mass, to support broadband experience, two of which should have been served infrastructure without the need for a subsidy. at Regional Magistrate Level, F2 salary scale or its Madam Speaker, I am at this stage unable to state equivalent. The current Registrar and Master was when full coverage (100 per cent) will be attained recently appointed on a 24 months contract through the for Botswana, but can state that as we push towards a recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission knowledge economy during the current plan period, (JSC), exercising its discretionary powers conferred on National Development Plan (NDP) 11, every effort will it by the Constitution. I thank you Madam Speaker. be made to attain full coverage sooner rather than later. Thank you very much Madam Speaker. EMPLOYEES SENT FOR FURTHER STUDIES AT THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH MR LELATISITSWE: Supplementary. Honourable EMPOWERMENT, SPORT AND CULTURE Minister, let me ask why these packages that we buy for DEVELOPMENT internet have a timeline. Why do they expire? MR M. R. REATILE (SPECIALLY ELECTED): MS MAKGATO: Hey! Madam Speaker, I did not understand him so I will converse with him in private asked the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and in order to understand his question and then give him an Culture Development to state the number of employees answer Madam Speaker. sent for further studies at Masters level or specialisation by sports codes; and provide the breakdown by OFFICERS WHO HAVE REACHED THE department; and if none: COMPULSORY RETIREMENT AGE OF 60 IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (i) reasons why employees are not being sent for further studies; and DR P. BUTALE (GABORONE CENTRAL): asked the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security if there are (ii) to further state the amount spent on consultancy any positions occupied by officers who have reached the services in the past five years. compulsory retirement age of 60 in the Administration of Justice (excluding Judges who have a separate ASSISTANT MINISTER OF YOUTH legislation); and if so, to state: EMPOWERMENT, SPORT AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT (MR MAKGALEMELE): Thank (i) how many and the positions they are occupying; you Madam Speaker, good afternoon. (ii) if there was any succession planning; and (i) Madam Speaker, sport codes are mainly run by (iii) what special skills they possess which makes it volunteers with the Botswana National Sport difficult to replace them. Commission (BNSC), providing financial and other support. Therefore, most people in sport ACTING MINISTER OF DEFENCE, JUSTICE codes are not in the employ of any sport structure. AND SECURITY (MR MOLEFHI): Madam Speaker, Some of those trained were employees of the there is only one officer who recently reached the BNSC, Botswana National Olympic Committee compulsory retirement age of 60 in January 2019. (BNOC) or Board Members. Four employees The officer in question occupies the post of Registrar graduated with a Masters of Arts in Sports and Master of the High Court. Madam Speaker, there Management Degrees between 2004 and 2018. is succession planning for the post of the Registrar and One employee in athletics obtained a Masters in Sports Administration in 2014 while two Master of the High Court. Currently, there are six Deputy employees graduated with a Masters in Olympic Registrar and Master positions immediately below that Studies in 2013 and 2014, from tennis and athletics of the Registrar and the Master. Out of these, four are respectively. based in Gaborone and have specialised divisions; legal, judicial, corporate services and master’s office. The Madam Speaker, six employees graduated in the remaining two are responsible for overseeing Lobatse Executive with Masters in Sports Organisation and Francistown courts divisions respectively. Management (a two-year programme) between 2007

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and 2017 representing Volleyball, Judo and Hockey. certain legal experience. Judicial appointments One employee obtained a Master of Arts in Sport including the Deputy Registrar and Master one Development and Coaching in 2010 from Football. yet to be localised, are made by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), taking into account As for specialisation courses, three employees graduated a number of factors including Government policy in the International Coaching Course (ICC) between considerations such as localisation, but without 2012 and 2018 and these were from Handball, Boxing compromising critical qualities necessary for a and Badminton. judicial appointment. I am constrained to delve Madam Speaker, lastly, four employees each from into matters affecting proceedings of the Judicial Judo, Boxing, Athletics and Volleyball underwent an Service Commission which led to the appointment International Coaching Enrichment and Certificate of this officer, as they are confidential. I thank you course between 2012 and 2018. Madam Speaker, it is Madam Speaker. clear from the above that we have trained a total of 14 MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: Supplementary. individuals at Masters Degree level, and a total of seven Honourable Minister, can you just be specific. You have in specialisation and enrichment courses. been explaining to us some of the requirements or pre- (ii) This notwithstanding, Madam Speaker, the requisites, that are required for somebody to hold this amount used on consultancy services in the last particular position. Do we not have Batswana or one five years is approximately P1, 163,614.00, spent Motswana who qualifies? In addition, tell us again that as you say the contract is ending soon in March or April by Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) 2020, will we continue seeing this foreigner’s contract in the areas of legal and strategy development. I being renewed after six good years? thank you Madam Speaker.

FOREIGNERS EMPLOYED AT THE MR MOLEFHI: Madam Speaker, in the next coming ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE year as the worker’s contracts come to an end, there are other workers in the same position as him and those DR P. BUTALE (GABORONE CENTRAL): asked workers will be in good standing to compete for the the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security: position.

(i) how many foreigners are currently employed in the HONOURABLE MEMBER: Him too? Administration of Justice and for which positions; MR MOLEFHI: I am saying Batswana. You are still (ii) how long they have been occupying these posts; saying him too! I am saying the contract is ending in and April 2020. We will be opening for five Batswana who (iii) what qualifications or skills are lacking from locals are in the same position as him to compete. in the department so as to occupy these positions. HONOURABLE MEMBER: You mean he will be one ACTING MINISTER OF DEFENCE, JUSTICE of the competitors too? AND SECURITY (MR MOLEFHI): MR MOLEFHI: I am saying the contract is coming to (i) Madam Speaker, there is only one expatriate an end. You still keep saying him too? officer employed in the Administration of Justice as Deputy Registrar and Master of the High Court. HONOURABLE MEMBER :…( Inaudible)…

(ii) The officer has been occupying the position of MR MOLEFHI: No, we are talking about training and Deputy Registrar and Master of the High Court for localisation. I have just made reference to training and the past six years. Currently the expatriate officer localisation and I have made reference to the fact that in question is on a 24-months contract expiring on next year the position becomes available. Officers at th 30 April 2020. the same level but a little lower will compete for the (iii) In terms of qualifications and skills, it must be position that will be available. We will be localising it noted that generally judicial appointments not next year on Batswana who are in lower positions. That only require technical qualifications but also is what I am saying.

Hansard No 193 5 Tuesday 5th March 2019 ORGANISATION 0700: MINISTRY OF INVESTMENT, TRADE AND INDUSTRY Committee of Supply (Resumed Debate)

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… MADAM CHAIRPERSON (MS KOKORWE): Order! Order! When the House adjourned yesterday, MADAM SPEAKER: No, you heard him. Order! Honourable Minister was on the floor responding to the MR MOLEFHI: You guys are stubborn! Honourable Members.

MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Listen! Listen! MINISTER OF INVESTMENT, TRADE AND INDUSTRY (MS KENEWENDO): Thank you Madam EMPLOYEES SENT FOR FURTHER STUDIES Chairperson. A very good afternoon to you Madam AT THE MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE Chairperson. Yesterday I had begun responding to the AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT Members of Parliament and I just want to conclude by the last bit in responding to His Honour the Vice MR M. R. REATILE (SPECIALLY ELECTED): President and several other Members of this House that, asked the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing we indeed agree that rural development is a critical part Development to state the number of employees sent for for economic growth and for job creation. As such, the further studies at Masters level or specialisation and to Apex Model through the Small, Medium and Micro provide the breakdown by department; and if none: Enterprises (SMMEs) and Export Development have (i) reasons why employees are not being sent for specific initiatives that address rural development further studies; and initiatives.

(ii) to further state the amount spent on consultancy Madam Chairperson, we are reviewing our footprint services in the past five years. countrywide in how our services can reach all communities. In us reviewing our footprint, we have MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND reopened the office in Letlhakane and we have carried HOUSING DEVELOPMENT (MR SERETSE): out several road shows to some of the places where we Madam Speaker, a total of three employees of the do not have offices. Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development In response to the issue around Tokafala, the enterprise were sent for further studies at Masters level from development programme… 2015/2016 financial year. All the three employees were from the Department of Building and Engineering ASSISTANT MINISTER OF YOUTH Services (DBES). The three officers have successfully EMPOWERMENT, SPORT AND CULTURE completed their studies and have reported for duty. DEVELOPMENT (MR MAKGALEMELE): Point of clarification. Thank you Madam Chairperson. Thank (i) This question has fallen off as my ministry has you Minister. Minister, before you pass the issue of sent some of its employees for further studies at supporting what you call rural economic development, Masters level. which I wish you could refer to as attracting investors (ii) Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the Honourable to rural areas, do you have specific interventions for Members that outsourcing is a Government policy, attracting investors to the rural areas? Do you have which my ministry implements and it is not linked profiles or rural areas which when you go out to market to training of employees. Thank you Madam the country, you can specifically market certain parts of Speaker. the country, especially the rural areas?

ASSEMBLY IN COMMITTEE MS KENEWENDO: Thank you Madam Chairperson. There is a profiling of districts; what they are (CHAIRPERSON in the Chair) competitive in, and what their comparative advantage is in and those are the areas that we would be focusing APPROPRIATION (2019/2020) BILL, on. However, regions and communities’ attraction of 2019 (NO. 1 of 2019) investment is not necessarily based Madam Chairperson (Resumed Debate) on what the ministry does, it is also up to the rural and local administrators to ensure that they are competitive ORGANISATION 0700 – INVESTMENT, themselves because we hear cases of how for example, TRADE AND INDUSTRY the Central District Council handles trade licenses, this

6 Hansard No 193 Tuesday 5th March 2019 ORGANISATION 0700: MINISTRY OF INVESTMENT, TRADE AND INDUSTRY Committee of Supply (Resumed Debate)

is how Chobe handles trade licenses and the way those Mabogo-Dinku. We are aware of some of the challenges local authorities deal with businesses will lure more because they keep coming to the Minister’s office and businesses to themselves. So if the local authorities we are trying our level best to deal with some of those become hindrances and decide not to go by the humps that are associated with the product. regulations that we have set as a minimum standard, then of course attracting investors to your own localities There was talk around mining products and the various will be a challenge and they would rather end up in value chains yesterday and I think I provided an areas where it is much easier to get a trading license. elucidation on the spot that today we will be hearing For example, there are some localities that have decided a lot around the value chains from Minister Molale. I to adhere to the regulation that stipulates that trade particularly noted the Business Process Outsourcing license committee can meet at least once, at least, it is (BPO)s which we are working on, I just did not want underlined once, but they choose to meet only once and to go into that level of detail in my speech, but that is others meet more than once because they know that it one of the key areas that we are attracting investment around because as you rightfully mentioned, they can is their competitive edge. As Members of Parliament create a lot of employment. I should state that we are as I said yesterday, this is a matter that is beyond just not only looking at your traditional BPOs, we are the Ministry of Trade. You too if you want to attract looking at the highly skilled BPOs where they employ investors to your areas, you should implore them to the engineers, the high level accountants to service the act in accordance with the regulations and to go over larger companies offshore. So that is one of the products and above what is stipulated because at least once is that we were working on. guidance. For the informal sector; I mentioned during my statement I would like to therefore move on Madam Chairperson that we are working on the several markets and that to the matter… we are looking at housing the various informal sector HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. especially the ones that are along the major highways, not only because they really would be great for their MS KENEWENDO: Yes, I have many issues here; businesses, but it is also a security threat to their own the matter around Tokafala; in Tokafala Madam lives in the streets. So we are working on those. Then Chairperson, we indeed have a partnership with there are also other private sector initiatives that we see Debswana, De Beers Global Sightholder Sales (DBGSS) happening in Main Mall as an example, companies such and Anglo American, and this programme was supposed as Blind Vision that have taken that upon themselves and to be implemented for three years, or it is designed to be noted it as a business opportunity. We are encouraging implemented for three years. In 2016, it was extended to businesses like that to go forward. When it comes to December 2018, and it is expected to assist around 570 markets… enterprises. MR NTLHAILE: Point of clarification. Thank you Madam Chairperson, yesterday there were a lot of burning Honourable Minister. Minister, I was hoping that you issues around Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) requirements for security and CEDA would try to explain that the incentives which you repossessing. We understand these concerns and for have put in place to protect young entrepreneurs in one, we are reviewing the guidelines for CEDA loans, the manufacturing sector for instance, in the tailoring that are for loans up to P4 million and then CEDA may sector you have got young graduates from places like take security up to 100 per cent based on the risk profile Limkokwing and they have come up with brilliant of the project. However, we are looking at reviewing the ideas, concepts. They try to approach the chain stores, entirety of the guidelines to accommodate those projects the likes of Woolworths if I may mention one of them especially in manufacturing that may require patient but the challenge they are facing is that they are told market penetration. that they cannot do trade in Botswana but can go and When it comes to Mabogo-Dinku, I wish to advise that do it in South Africa, and that poses a big challenge for this product encourages financial inclusion and a savings them. So I just want you to try and address that area and culture and CEDA takes security of what it finances to give these young entrepreneurs hope in that area and the the group at large and there is no collateral required for manufacturing sector as well.

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MS KENEWENDO: Thank you Madam Chairperson. and to be mentored by international business people. Honourable Member, that issue I addressed it yesterday, We encourage them to apply. One just closed and one and it is in the speech and I was hoping to address will be closing March 17th and once again, please do it a little later on, but I will still indulge you. First, I encourage your entrepreneurs to apply. would recommend anyone who is in the textile industry, especially young entrepreneurs to join the Botswana Doing Business Reforms; yesterday I mentioned that Textile Association because when we make these deals these are a concern and we are working on an accelerated with the large retailers, our first point of call is with the agenda Madam Chairperson… Botswana Textile Association. As I stated yesterday that HONOURABLE MEMBER: On a point of one of our successes in relation to the retail sector has clarification, Madam hairperson.C been listing some of the Botswana products and some of the companies, I do not know if I can start to name them MS KENEWENDO: I have a lot of information to but some of the companies in that space that are in the share Honourable Nkaigwa. We are working on an clothing business have started upskilling some people in accelerated plan Madam Chairperson, like I said, we are the textile industry in order for them to meet the quality resuscitating the Doing Business Reforms Committee. and standards that are required for them to supply. I yield. Madam Chairperson, yesterday I actually mentioned one company in particular that has started onboarding MR NKAIGWA: Thank you Madam Chairperson, producers, so that is my recommendation to them. Then thank you Honourable Minister. I just want to appreciate they can also come to our market streets because a lot of Honourable Minister, what are you doing to address buyers are usually there as I mentioned yesterday during fronting by locals more especially in industries that the speech. have been reserved for locals like butcheries and bottle stores? When it comes to Economic Diversification Drive (EDD), I think I rightfully said yesterday that we are not MS KENEWENDO: Madam Chairperson, we should satisfied with the implementation. At the moment, we refrain from long clarifications. The moment you have only recorded about 53 per cent success, as we have mention it, I would have already…the moment you always stated, this figure still leaves much to be desired. see me standing up, know that I have heard you. It was We have implored various Government departments to my next point that Honourable Members, we are also do more because this though it is a Policy at Trade, it is concerned because in some sectors, as it was raised by implemented across board. Further, I have addressed the several Members yesterday that some spaces are being issue around the retail engagements, because Honourable overtaken by foreigners even though they are reserved… Major General Mokgware yesterday asked what is it We find out that there is fronting with you, and we cannot that we are doing about a young person at Mmankgodi. I always say let us send the police to such and such a would like to state several of the projects that were stated company to go find out if there is fronting, because these in my speech yesterday, and that are stated in the pack companies to us are registered for Batswana. When we that we have handed out. These include; the Tokafala go to see Companies and Intellectual Property Authority Project, the Centres of Excellence that I mentioned with (CIPA), we find that the Directors are Batswana and Local Enterprises Authority (LEA), the current existing legally we cannot then go back and say, we hear that incubators that exist, the retail engagements, the markets there is a Director…, if we do not have proof. If you where the buyers from the retailers come and handpick come with the proof and tell us that there is this proof projects that they want listed, a facilitation for business and you can know that there is fronting in this company, registrations, mentorships, incubations, partnerships then we will attend to it. Assist us since this is an issue for financing by banks and international organisations; which affects all of us in Botswana, because what it all of which were stated in the speech, and I reiterated is doing, is taking opportunities away from Batswana further by the pack that was delivered. These are just in the reserved spaces. Where we give waivers at the some of the things that you should be able to share with ministry, and I want to clarify this point, where we give your groups as Members of Parliament (MPs), of what waivers, particularly to the big retailers, they come to look out for. I announced two things yesterday that with commitments to local content, and this is why I are currently open internationally, because we want was earlier talking about what is happening with the to open our entrepreneurs to the international market Botswana Textile Association.

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Madam Chairperson, there are issues around awake and there is a mission that was carried out by unbundling of large projects and once again, I believe the Motswedi Savings and Credit Co-operative Society that Honourable Molale and Honourable Mokaila will (SACCOS) in 2018 and the movement is engaging on talk about these because these are the two sectors which the way forward of establishing a cooperative bank. have great opportunity where there can be unbundling We obviously want to be there to facilitate all of the of the vertical integration of companies and sectors, companies that need this level of assistance and even if then we can see a lot of opportunity of on-boarding it is benchmarking because the opportunities are plenty Batswana and small businesses along the value chain. Madam Chairperson. For example, just in tourism we could be talking about that the catering be provided by the Small Micro Medium I just want to state as I did yesterday, that the Trade Act is being reviewed. There is the Regulatory Impact Enterprises (SMMEs), the boats be done by the SMMEs Assessment (RIA), that will respond to most of the and so forth. Then when we talk about in mining for questions on the legislation that is too heavy on small example at Debswana, the contractor does not have to businesses. The RIA will guide us on where we need do the road grading. It does not still have to be the one to review in order to lighten the burden on smaller that do the engineering of the big trucks. They can on- businesses. board the various SMMEs at different levels. When it comes to indigenous products, we are working Special Economic Zones (SEZs); we have already with some groups; the likes of Kgetsi ya Tsie that are stated yesterday that we are in the process of reviewing being facilitated by Botswana Investment and Trade the selected sites for SEZs to ensure we exploit the Centre (BITC), not only for the domestic market, but comparative advantages of each region to ensure a for them to export. I want to also – oh! My time is up. balanced approach to development. I just want to make Madam Chairperson, let me move. a small clarity here Madam Chairperson, that there is a difference between a cluster and a special economic I therefore, move that the sum of One Billion, Forty-Eight zone. What many Members were talking about Million, Five Hundred and Seventy-Nine Thousand, yesterday are clusters. When Honourable Olopeng said Three Hundred and Eighty Pula (P1,048,579,380.00) they also have Special Economic Zone, that is actually a under the Recurrent Budget, and the sum of One Hundred cluster which is focusing on domestic demand. Special and Eight Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand Economic Zones are specifically targeted for export Pula (P108,470,000.00) under the Development Budget but we are reviewing what the comparative advantages for Organisation 0700 be approved and stand part of are… the estimates for the financial year 2019/2020. I move accordingly. Thank you Madam Chairperson. HONOURABLE MEMBER: On a point of clarification. MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Honourable Minister. MS KENEWENDO: …in order for the products to be exported Madam Chairperson. I was not opening up Questions put and agreed to. a room for debate. No, I am not yielding. I have been lenient. You know very well that I am cooperative, ORGANISATION 0400 - MINISTRY OF please allow me to make my point. Let me explain NATIONALITY, IMMIGRATION AND the cooperative bank that was mentioned yesterday; GENDER AFFAIRS first, I am very pleased that a lot of Members were MADAM CHAIRPERSON (MS KOKORWE): highlighting the cooperatives as one form of doing Order! Order! Honourable Members, we are now doing business in Botswana that should be encouraged. We Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs. This has are really pushing even the transformation strategy been allocated two hours 15 minutes, I will therefore that was put forward, but I just want to clarify that the call upon the Honourable Minister to reply to the debate cooperative bank is not to be done by Government as at 1705 hours today and the question will be put at 1735 much as the cooperatives themselves are not to be run hours. and established by Government. These were supposed to be undertaken by the cooperative movement which MINISTER OF NATIONALITY, IMMIGRATION I understand that for a bit of time, they themselves AND GENDER AFFAIRS (MR NGAKA): Thank you were a little hibernating. It looks like now they are Madam Chairperson. I will just go through the document

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here in the summary form with the anticipation that the • Marriage Act, CAP: 29:01: The Marriage Act is document has been distributed to Honourable colleagues under review to include registration of religious and in the House, and hopefully they have gone through it. traditional marriages, provide for the monitoring and regulation of appointed Marriage Officers, as Madam Chairperson, I have the honour to present to well as delete Section 15 of the Act based on the this House the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and global outcry that child marriages are in fact a form Gender Affairs’ Recurrent and Development Budget of child abuse as they violate the right of the child. proposals for the financial year 2019/2020 under The Marriage Bill is at drafting stage. Organisation 0400. The sum of Three Hundred and Eighty-Six Million, Five Hundred and Twenty-Seven • Change of Name Act, CAP. 15:02: The Act is being Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Pula (P386,527,540) reviewed to among others; regulate the number of is requested under the Recurrent Budget and an amount changes of names. The Bill is at drafting stage. of One Hundred and Seventeen Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirty- • Married Persons Property Act, CAP: 29:03: The Two Pula (P117,382,632) is requested under the Act is being amended to provide for a moratorium Development Budget. for registration of marriage property instruments that were not registered on time. The Act is at draft Madam Chairperson, my ministry is responsible for Bill stage. safeguarding national identity, facilitating movement across borders, regulating Residence Permits, Madam Chairperson, the civil registration system in registration of societies and the promotion of gender Botswana has continued to play a critical role in the equality. My ministry provides policy direction and governance of the nation from its inception. It is therefore fulfils its mandate through the Departments of: in order that Botswana positions itself strategically to effectively rise to dealing with the profound concern on • 0401 - Corporate Services; the quality of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics data • 0402 - Immigration and Citizenship; and its availability to inform development initiatives in the country. As a result, Botswana joined the rest of • 0408 - Gender Affairs; and Africa to recognise the 10th August as the Africa Civil • 0411 - Civil and National Registration. Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day. Botswana will be joining the African community to commemorate Madam Chairperson, as my ministry executes its this day, for the first time, during this coming financial mandate, it continues to take cognizance of the Government spelt out priorities and embraces the year. My ministry continues to implement numerous aspirations of our nation as articulated in Vision 2036 initiatives under Civil and National Registration (CNR). pillars of Sustainable Economic Development; Human Madam Chairperson, the National Registers of Botswana and Social Development; Sustainable Environment; indicate a live population of two million, four hundred and Governance, Peace and Security. Whilst the and forty-nine thousand, nine hundred and sixty-six mandate of my ministry traverses all these pillars, the main highlights are found under Human and Social (2 449 966). This compares well with the population Development; and Governance, Peace and Security. projections of two million, three hundred and four Under Human and Social Development, we find Strong thousand, two hundred and thirty-seven (2 304 237) Family Institution; Social Inclusion and Equality; and as per the Botswana National and District Population Gender Equality; whilst under Governance, Peace Projections. and Security, we find Human Rights; Civil Society Participation; Religion and Society; as well as Freedom Madam Chairperson, the National Birth Register stands of Expression and Association. at one million, seven hundred and ninety-two thousand, three hundred and sixty-nine (1 792 369) since 1968 to Madam Chairperson, in executing its mandate, my date. During the period April 2018 to February 2019, ministry continues to take cognizance of the Government sixty-four thousand, three hundred and fifty (64 350) priorities, ensuring implementation through the National births were registered, out of which thirty-one thousand, Development Plan 11 in contribution to Vision 2036. In five hundred and forty-one (31 541) were females and doing so the following laws are earmarked for review: thirty-two thousand, eight hundred and nine (32 809)

10 Hansard No 193 Tuesday 5th March 2019 ORGANISATION 0400: MINISTRY OF NATIONALITY, IMMIGRATION AND GENDER AFFAIRS Committee of Supply

were males. As at February 2019, the National Births Madam Chairperson, the total number of registered Register for people under the age of 16 years stood at societies stands at 9 568 since April 1973 to date. eight hundred and twenty thousand, one hundred and The majority of these are religious groupings at 2 312 thirty-four (820 134). followed by sporting clubs at 2 095, burial societies at 1 724 and charitable organisations at 566. Since April Madam Chairperson, according to the National Identity 2018 to date, a total of 202 societies were registered. (Omang) Register, a total of one million, six hundred and However, a total of five societies were deregistered for thirty-three thousand, four hundred and forty-six (1 633 non-compliance of the Societies Act. 446) people above the age of 16 years were registered as at February 2019. Out of this number, eight hundred Money laundering and terrorism financing is a major and thirty-seven thousand, four hundred and sixty-four global concern. Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) (837 464) are females and seven hundred and ninety- therefore are considered “subjects at risk” in the Money five thousand, nine hundred and eighty-two (795 982) Laundering (ML) framework, either as fronts for are males. A total of forty thousand, two hundred and twenty-five (40 225) new applications for Omang Cards terrorist organisations that raise and transfer funds or were processed from April 2018 to date. During the same as legitimate enterprises that indirectly support the aims period, one hundred and ninety-nine thousand, seven of terrorist organisations. In light of this development, hundred and forty-one (199 741) renewals were made my ministry has assembled its Risk Assessment Group while a total of forty-five thousand, eight hundred and for the NPOs sector that will assess the risk of money eighty-three (45 883) Omang Card replacements were laundering and terrorism financing amongst the NPOs made due to various reasons such as loss, correction of in the country. personal information, damage and change of name. My ministry plays a critical role in facilitating Ease The National Death Register stands at 359 131 since of Doing Business by continuing to explore strategies inception in 1968. Since April 2018 to date, a total of for improving efficiency in the processing of VISA, 15 662 deaths were recorded. Out of these, 7 615 are residence permits and permanent residence permits. females and 8 047 are males. Registration of deaths remains a challenge, particularly in remote and hard to A number of reforms were introduced to promote and reach areas. My ministry continues to intensify public sustain an attractive investment climate in the country, education on the importance of death registration. amongst them, decentralisation of VISA processing to Embassies and High Commissions; issuance of VISA at Madam Chairperson, the year 2018 was the 10-year cycle ports of entry; allowing visitors a maximum of 90 days period since the inception of the Omang card, of which instead of the 30 days; automatic granting of VISA to the initial cohort that got identity cards in 1988 was due for another renewal. As a result, the ministry experienced applicants who have been given work and residence congestion at all Civil and National Registration offices permits; decentralisation of the service of certification countrywide. Let me highlight that after implementation of copies of passports, residence permits and citizenship of mitigation measures, our turnaround time for Omang certificates to any Commissioner of Oaths in line with issuance has improved from eight weeks to one week. the Commissioner of Oaths Act; and winding up of Currently the production of Omang stands at an average investors extended up to six months as opposed to the of 700 cards per day. My ministry has improved initial three months. communication on processed Omang cards by sending Short Message System (SMS) notification once the My ministry continues to facilitate the promotion of card is ready for collection. Despite this effort, some gender equality and the empowerment of women. In this Batswana still delay to collect their Omang cards. As at February 2019, statistics for uncollected cards stood at regard, my ministry continues to engage Dikgosi and 27 228 nationwide. My ministry continues to undertake faith-based organisations in order to identify gender gaps outreach registration campaigns to provide Civil and and develop interventions which will address gender National Registration services. inequality and discrimination. This will further provide insights for effective coordination and monitoring of the The National Marriage Register indicates a total number national gender agenda. of 191 370 registered marriages. Since April 2018 to date, 3 746 marriages were registered. However, a total Madam Chairperson, in recognition of the … of 155 divorce cases were recorded during the period between April and December 2018. MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Seven minutes left!

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MR NGAKA: Seven minutes left; let me just go through hundred and Twenty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred the budget now. and Forty Pula (P386,527,540) under the Recurrent Budget for Organisation 0400 be approved and stand RECURRENT BUDGET part of the Schedule of the Appropriation (2019/20) Bill, Madam Chairperson, my ministry’s proposal for the 2019; and that the sum of One Hundred and Seventeen Recurrent Budget for the 2019/20 financial year is Three Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Two Thousand, Hundred and Eighty-Six Million, Five Hundred and Six Hundred and Thirty-Two Pula (P117,382,632) Twenty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Pula for the Development Budget for Organisation 0400 (P386,527,540). This represents a decrease of Seven be approved and stand part of those estimates for the Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, financial year 2019/20. I move accordingly. Thank you Six Hundred and Twenty Pula (P7,585,620) from the Madam Chairperson. 2018/19 budget provision translating to 1.9 per cent. MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Well done. Order! I do The decrease is attributable to the fact that overtime not tolerate it when you stand while I am still talking. allowance for the ministry has not been included in the budget. The budget is allocated as follows: ASSISTANT MINISTER OF LOCAL HEADQUARTERS GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MS TSHIRELETSO): Thank you Madam I propose that an amount of Sixty-Eight Million, Three Chairperson. Let me thank you for your presentation in Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Pula (P68,003,230) Parliament Minister. be allocated under headquarters. This is an increase of Ten Million, Nine Hundred Fifty-Eight Thousand, Two Madam Chairperson, I liked a very significant statement Hundred and Ten Pula (P10,958,210) or 19.2 per cent of in the Ministers’ presentation, he said traditional the 2018/19 budget provision. The increase is to cater marriages that are held at the customary court are being for service charges, mainly for payment of utilities and reviewed, they are known as Customary Marriages others. including the ones that are held in churches, they DEVELOPMENT BUDGET are also being reviewed so that they can correspond with Common Law. You delayed it Minister, let it be The Development Budget proposal for my ministry for implemented instantaneously. Those men and women the financial year 2019/20 is One Hundred and Seventeen have been suffering due to the amendments of the laws. Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Two Thousand, The laws in our country used to say that a man is the head Six Hundred and Thirty-Two Pula (P117,382,632) of the family, they later said with in matters of business; representing an increase of 88 per cent from the 2018/19 if a man is saying, the man should be a witness, and budget allocation. The budget is allocated as follows: vice versa. Now they are still under oppression because CONSULTANCY PROJECTS some form of colonisation is still going one; whereby one would come home and find out that the head of the A budget proposal of Six Hundred and Thirty-Six house has sold the house. Let these things be amended Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety-Two Pula quickly so that we may be treated fairly in marriages in (P636,392) is required to undertake consultancy projects. Out of this amount, Three Hundred and Fifty- Botswana, these things are torturing women more than Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy-Two Pula men because men would say “I am a head of this family, (P356,672) will be used to conduct a feasibility study I am in control of everything in my house.” The thing is, for the establishment and strengthening of Safe Havens. we are all equal in our love relations; we love each other These are places of safety for housing and protection of deeply. That is how love is. When you love someone, victims and survivors of various circumstances such as your things… Gender Based Violence (GBV). HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. CONCLUSION MS TSHIRELETSO: Denied. Madam Chairperson, I In conclusion Madam Chairperson, this concludes my also want to agree with the Minister on the issue of child presentation of the 2019/20 Recurrent and Development marriage. Let us not cancel Section 15, we should come Budget proposals for my ministry. I therefore request that up with a Child Marriage Act. We must have an Act the sum of Three Hundred and Eighty-Six million, Five which is against anyone who will try to marry a child. The

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reason we are deleting it is because we were basically pretext of culture. It should be clear what steps are going implying that a sixteen year old is fit for marriage. That to be taken again them Honourable Minister. When you would mean we are going back to the olden days where talk about child marriage, we no longer want it. Young when a child was born, it would be declared that she is children got married before they were responsible so and so’s wife. we have since changed that because we enough, that is why divorce is prevalent because upon expect someone to be responsible, to understand certain realising that things are not going well, they leave. At things and reach an age of maturity and decide whether first they would not be aware of what is going on, just they can enter into marriage. appreciating what they are being given; the enticements, money and so forth. MR SEGOKGO: Point of order. Thank you Madam Chairperson. Would it be appropriate for us to say that Now coming to the issue of churches Mr Chairperson, during colonisation period Madam Chairperson, we I appreciate what Rwanda did; apparently, they have were under oppression, is it all right to say that? reduced the number of churches. They realised there was a challenge; people were no longer working. They MADAM CHAIRPERSON: No, it is not oppression would go to church at night, taking things away from Honourable Members. I do agree that some things were people, just doing wayward things. In our country, we are not done properly but it was not oppression. in trouble as well Honourable Minister. When you talk MS TSHIRELETSO: Madam Chairperson, I am about churches; we heard that someone “raised” a dead talking about laws that oppressed women, I will never man, we have not heard about it here yet, but we know and I cannot retract Madam Chairperson. that people are going out there looking for marriages and other things, and they would be told queue; there MADAM CHAIRPERSON: No, but when you say the would be a line for P1000, another for P500, and then laws were oppressive, it does not matter. Please proceed. it would be said P100 and P50 cannot buy anything. They would only stop at a certain amount, and all this HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT (MR time you would just be here. So let us arise and review TSOGWANE): Clarification. I want to understand; these things, Right now I have case; someone has taken who oppressed others, was it done by the one who people’s vehicles, houses and pension money. Some was colonised or the coloniser? What does that mean churches that are said to be better than others, those Honourable Members? There is no one who likes to be that attract multitudes; even when someone dies they do colonised. not attend because they do not know each other. The MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Yes. So are you asking churches that can come and conduct a memorial service whether we were under oppression? Was it not for you are those that are looked down upon. So let us protection? probe deeper Honourable Minister. People are litigating regarding their pensions and some are winning because MS TSHIRELETSO: Thank you, I know you to be of the authority that you have sir. WE appreciate that, like that sir. That is why it was called Bechuanaland but these churches need to be scrutinised. We should Protectorate. I was referring to the laws concerning consider Rwanda and benchmark and find out what they women. A woman did not have an audience Honourable did to reduce them. Members. I know someone who came from maternity leave only to find out that their house sold, simply The issue of gender equality Honourable Minister; I because she did not have authority. I am glad because heard you saying that you are summoning Dikgosi, the Government of Botswana is amending the Common churches, but you are leaving out politicians. In Law, they are becoming better. I saying the church and politics when I talk about gender equality; when you Customary laws should also amend and improve the talk about committees, be it the central committee or way things are done. I appreciate it Your Honour the whichever, you will find out that there is no balance. Vice President. There is no balance in the sense that if a secretary is a man, their assistant should be a woman. At the branch, I was still talking about child marriage, let it also be in if the Chairperson is a man, the secretary should be a the law sir, we should not just repeal that section sir; it woman. I do not have a problem with those there is no should elaborate what would be done if someone marries remuneration. I am interested in positions at the Council a child because they are still going to do it under the and in Parliament sir; I was merely brushing on these

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ones regarding committees. I am interested in these I am so happy that you included the issue of change of ones here, so that I hear what we are saying exactly. names in the report. If a child does not like the name they Do everything in your might before leaving sir, maybe have been given, they can simply change it because the by June you would have accomplished something. We Children’s Act states that a child has an inherent right have to see what we can do about the non-existence of to be born and given a name which neither stigmatises women in this Parliament. What do we mean by gender nor demeans. Giving children names that are demeaning equality? When they fail to advocate for themselves can even create a situation where people make fun of the where laws are made, there will be no point. We have to name. Sometimes you call them referring to a lion or have a certain quota; we must assess… even something that they do not like. If they do not like that name, they can change it. Some people do not mind ASSISTANT MINISTER OF YOUTH being called Sitimekwane but others do not like being EMPOWERMENT, SPORT AND CULTURE called such names Madam Chairperson. I am supporting DEVELOPMENT (MR MAKGALEMELE): it. Clarification. Last issue is about Visas Honourable Minister; you have MS TSHIRELETSO: I am running out of time done a good job, the Visa is a welcome development. Honourable. When a person comes here they can be issued with one so we would also manage to attract investors to our The other thing Madam Chairperson is in regard to country. Madam Chairperson these are initiatives we Gender Based Violence. Madam Chairperson, let me have to embrace because failing to do so, we shall not applaud “Hear Me Too” and “Violence against Women progress while other countries soar ahead; and we will and Children,” in which male Honourable Members of be stuck in the issuance of 30 days permits. You will Parliament supported us as women … inform the President that I heard him talking about this and I am happy about these reforms. Thank you Madam MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Member, we Chairperson. have lost quorum. MR RANTUANA (RAMOTSWA): Thank you Madam MS TSHIRELETSO: Thank you Madam Chairperson. Chairperson. Good afternoon. Thank you for giving me the floor just as you arrived. First of all in the Minister’s MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Proceed. One has come presentation, he reported that since 1968, 1.7 million back. births were registered. Minister, are we that slow such that from 1968 to date we only registered 1.6 million MS TSHIRELETSO: Yes Madam Chairperson. I births only? You should go and check your statistics and was talking about “Hear Me Too,” and I wish to show see how many children have been born from 1968 to gratitude because there is a campaign called “E seng date so that we are able to… mo ngwaneng,” sir and we came up with a theme of HONOURABLE MEMBER: … (Inaudible) … “Ntheetsa le Nna,” so that we stop the abuse of women and children. I applaud you because you are personally MR RANTUANA: So that as we are in the budget saying that. The issue of assaulting women is still session we are able to budget properly. If our population prevalent sir; they are trampled upon, they are insulted. still stands at 1.6 million from 1968 to date, no! we are still behind. Sometimes they are not physically beaten, but they are exposed to appear as nobodies. These issues are still HONOURABLE MEMBER: … (Inaudible) … there, particularly concerning girls. They are raped by MR RANTUANA: Okay, Honourable Tshireletso people who purport to love them, married men, their alludes that we not having children, but we are! I uncles and everybody is doing as they please to a girl blame the statistics. Minister having children should be child. That is why we are saying the laws that deal with promoted… these matters should be stringent. ASSISTANT MINISTER OF LOCAL As I proceed all the male relatives, uncles do as they GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT please with the girl child. That is why we are arguing (MS TSHIRELETSO): Procedure. You are demeaning that since we have laws in place which addresses these the men and women of Botswana. He says they should issues, it should be reinforced. have doubled into millions. One man from Kenya told

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me they can have 15 to 20 children. Honourable Majaga allowance. A person who has many children should also is the only one who can match him. In Botswana we be given an allowance as a way of increasing population. are failing to have many children …(laughter!)…they So increase volume on that recommendation. are not making children. So, I do not know what he wants the Minister to say, he is just putting the Minister MR RANTUANA: Thank you Madam Chairperson. in a difficult position Madam Chairperson. It is not Thank you Major General. This is indeed true, if these procedural. Thank you Madam Chairperson. women can be given an allowance to have many children perhaps… MADAM CHAIRPERSON: No, proceed Honourable. HONOURABLE MEMBER: … (Inaudible) … MR RANTUANA: Thank you Madam Chairperson. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Laughter!) … MR KEORAPETSE: Point of order. No, Madam Chairperson, this is a very important issue but it seems MR RANTUANA: No! like the Minister did not tackle it in his speech. There HONOURABLE MEMBER: … (Inaudible) … are a number of hindrances, the first one is that under civil marriage, you are allowed to only one spouse. So MR RANTUANA: Some deny fathers access to their how are we going to have 15 to 20 children Honourable children. My point is they should be offered assistance Tshireletso is talking about when we only have one in terms of allowances. I once saw on the news, some spouse. If that could be reviewed, we could see what country at Europe pays your car deposit; a seven seater to do. if you have more than four children. This can assist us…

MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Okay! The Minister HONOURABLE MEMBER: … (Inaudible) … is still noting them Honourable Members. Proceed Honourable Rantuana. MR RANTUANA: Wait.

MR RANTUANA: Thank you Madam Chairperson. MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Sit down Honourable It is true Minister, we should promote child birth. Rantuana. Honourable Rantuana, you cannot stand at Maybe the reason our population is small since 1968 is the same with another member. Sit down. because there is a problem somewhere. As my colleague suggested customary marriage should be legalized to MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND ensure that one can have 15 children, civil marriage COMMUNICATION (MS MAKGATO): Point of does not allow that, it limits childbirth. So let us deviate order. It is a point of order Madam Chairperson. I want from civil marriage and legalize our customary marriage to speak, we should also know that Friday is women’s which allows us to have 11 or 12 children in one home day and we are faced with the challenge of taking of so that population can increase. children by ourselves without the input of their fathers. Can the Honourable Member of Parliament simply stand I just wish that single mothers should be given an and suggest that Government should take care of his allowance because they are struggling. You will find one woman with three children with no man in the house, children? Then as their mothers we pay tax and still take that woman has to deal with school fees and all other care of them without their input because he as a man has things to pay for. If that useless man is ordered to pay failed although it is his right, he is the father of those maintenance sometimes he cannot even afford to. So if children. Is he talking on behalf of all men in Botswana? single ladies with children can receive an allowance so Do we actually think it is right for Parliament to discuss that they can pay fees. Take it into serious consideration such issues Madam Chairperson? Minister so that as you go to caucus, you consider giving MADAM CHAIRPERSON: No, that is his point single mothers an allowance. of view. I do not think he is out of order. Proceed MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: Clarification. Thank you Honourable Rantuana. Madam Chairperson, thank you Honourable Member. Be clear when you recommend it my colleague. Increase MR RANTUANA: Thank you Madam Chairperson. the volume that single mothers who are struggling I take it that women are listening to you, October is to raise children by themselves should be given an around the corner.

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MR KEORAPETSE: Point of order. Madam HONOURABLE MEMBER: Are you Speakers Chairperson, Honourable Makgato is imputing improper yourselves? motives while distorting what Honourable Rantuana is saying. MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Order! What are you saying Honourable Members? I want to listen to her and HONOURABLE MEMBER: … (Inaudible) … hear the point of order.

MR KEORAPETSE: I heard Honourable Makgato MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND saying if Member of Parliament wants his children to be COMMUNICATIONS (MS MAKGATO): Point of taken care of but the Honourable Member is clear that order. No Madam Chairperson, with all due respect, the reality on the ground is that, there are useless men I do not want Honourable Rantuana to talk to me who abandon children. It is a reality faced by children like that, he is saying things that I did not say. He is out there, he sees them in his and Honourable Makgato’s saying I am rising here as a Member of Parliament and constituencies. Children who were abandoned by their as a woman, knowing very well how to raise children useless mothers and fathers. What he is saying is that without a father; when I try to advocate for all women there should be an allowance for those who would be in Botswana who have been dumped by men; those taking care of the child. That is what he is saying. He men whom you are referring to as “Tinto” like someone did not say he wants his child to be taken care of by the who is standing here; when I say those men should be Government. responsible enough to take care of the children…

MADAM CHAIRPERSON: No, I heard him right MADAM CHAIRPERSON: No. Order! Honourable… Honourable. I have already made a ruling on it, so let us continue. Please proceed Honourable Rantuana. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order. MADAM CHAIRPERSON: No, order please! I am MR RANTUANA (RAMOTSWA): Thank you talking here. Honourable Minister… Madam Chairperson. Honourable Keorapetse you heard correctly. Those who take long to grasp issues HONOURABLE MEMBER: Madam! are not supposed to be Ministers. I believe women are listening, and in October, those women who are MADAM CHAIRPERSON: … although you were on track saying that is not what you said; now you struggling with raising children should understand what are getting derailed when you refer to an Honourable the woman at the forefront is saying about them. The Member as Tinto. When did he desert his children? reason why it is said women do not like each other, it is a typical example. We are talking about children who HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Inaudible)… are suffering those who stay in filling stations 12 hours, chain shops; eight hours, a person having two kids, MS MAKGATO: No, there was no one who was paying for a combi, not being able to pay school fees standing Madam... for them; their partner having deserted them, staying at MADAM CHAIRPERSON: No, you were talking an unknown place. Sometimes women desert children about... too, and a man would remain at home with the children. MS MAKGATO: All right, I withdraw my words HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order. even though he was not standing up. I was still saying MR RANTUANA: … I mean Radio Botswana… he said I could not be a Minister when I say men who have fathered children, have to take responsibility; not HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order Madam that all the time the Government should be burdened; Chairperson. encouraging men to dump women with children because the Government would take care of them. The MR RANTUANA: …say it like I did that in October…. Government would then fail to do so and she would be MADAM CHAIRPERSON: No, she wants to rise on under attack for that. Now for him to literally put words a point of order. in my mouth, imputing that I am a bad person, and that I do not have the best interests of women at heart, is HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Inaudible)… improper.

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HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Inaudible)… HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order.

MADAM CHAIRPERSON: No! Look, order! MR RANTUANA: … things that were meant to divide us… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Inaudible)… HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order. MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Order! What are your MR RANTUANA: … that are not going to unite us in fingers doing? any way. I do not thing a barbed wire should be observed to such an extent that… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Inaudible)… MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Rantuana! MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Order! … (Laughter!)… When it is said point of order, you have to sit down, do Order! Order! No, talk to each other politely. Honourable you understand? Rantuana, I believe it is an issue that we had already addressed. Proceed Honourable Members, and please ASSISTANT MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT stop pointing your fingers at one another. (MS TSHIRELETSO): Point of order. Oh! This MR RANTUANA: Thank you Madam Chairperson. “Makgorwane” (affluent man) never listens to anyone. My point has already been put across, it does not matter Madam Chairperson, I was saying we should not be how much she cries… discriminatory. When we talk about dual citizenship, we are not talking about Africans only. he is now talking HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Inaudible)… the Zimbabwean fence and so forth. We are saying if someone is from England or Switzerland, having MR RANTUANA: … no matter what, it has been fallen in love with a Motswana, they can have a dual put across. Madam Chairperson now I will go back to citizenship. This one is talking African; he has gone the Citizen Act. There is a law on Section 15 that says back to the olden days. We are in a global world. when an individual is 21 and has two parents, one being Motswana and the other is not they should denounce. If MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Rantuana, they are not aware they get into serious trouble and they leave the fences alone and talk about dual citizenship in have to run helter skelter. Minister, consider Section an appropriate manner. 15 of the Citizen Act, it should be amended because MR RANTUANA: Thank you Madam Chairperson. I it is giving us a problem. Last time some people had was actually talking about… their Omang cards and passports confiscated, because it was said they should denounce that they are no longer HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order. South Africans or Zimbabweans. This person would have no clue who their relatives are in Zimbabwe, only MR RANTUANA: … I still stand by my words that knowing those who stay in Gaborone or Ramotswa. this fence does not help us and in any way. I did not The Citizenship Act should be tuned into a law. When talk about a Zimbabwean fence, I said it belongs to the Honourable Makgato was still Minister she came with whites… a certain document saying she is making things easier. HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order. we do not want you to simplify things; this was in 2017 when she said she was making things simpler so that a MR RANTUANA: … which is separating us. person could renounce. We do not want it to be simple, MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Oh! The problem is when rather we want it to be a law. Dual citizenship should you talk about the “little fence.” If you said boundaries… also be allowed; it should not be a privilege for a few, it should be for everybody. We know that a barbed MR RANTUANA: The ears of an elderly person, now wire was created by white men, it should not separate it seems we cannot hear each other properly… us. We have Balete in Moshaneng, Ramotswa, Gabane MR KGOROBA: Point of order. Madam Chairperson, and Namibia. We should not give this fence a priority I have observed that you entertained a clarification by such that you would confiscate someone’s Omang and Honourable Tshireletso. That was not a point of order, it passport and ask them to denounce just because they are was a clarification. You are setting a precedence which afraid of a barbed wire… in future…

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MADAM CHAIRPERSON: Well, we have heard your amounts of money and then you can see and assure us point, please sit down. You will also become a Speaker that there will be equitable distribution of resources.” one day. Those that are not necessarily interested in the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are saying HONOURABLE MEMBERS: … (Inaudible)… probably also consider whether you can empower MR RANTUANA: Thank you Madam Chairperson. even big businesses run by women who can create Those are the two points that I wanted to talk about employment, so that it can sustain itself. Honourable Minister. They were troubling me so much. They are also saying let it be a revolving budget. Let There are some women who are bothering me from them borrow part of the money and pay back part of the South Africa; they are married there. They renewed money, so that you can take out those who are not serious, their Omang cards four times; when they went to who are just there to receive money and disappear, renew for the fifth time, they were told that they were hoping that those that brings part of the money back, not Batswana, and that they should go and collect old that money can be used as a revolving fund to facilitate birth certificates. There are some Balete of Zezuru other women. Primarily is four things; have it as part descendants; these ones are also facing challenges. As payment and part grant; have an equitable distribution we speak, they do not have Omang cards. I do not know by making it a constituency based, probably consider who is going to vote for me when Omang cards are still that. They are also saying do not just concentrate on stuck at your offices. the SMMEs, concentrate on medium to large scale as well because if a woman is empowered and is running a HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. sustainable successful business and creates employment for women, you still achieve exactly the same objective. MR RANTUANA: Thank you Madam Chairperson. I want to move onto an area that I am very passionate MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND about. I hope you would either, if you do not already COMMUNICATIONS (MS MAKGATO): Thank you have the information on your desk, you will consider very much Madam Chairperson, thank you very much an intense study. We have people or children that are to the Minister responsible for Nationality, Immigration registered at birth and are apportioned sexuality on the and Gender Affairs, a ministry that I still have a soft spot basis of what the doctor or the medical practitioner for. I am here standing to support you wholeheartedly, sees at the time. We know that with science, hindsight, and I do that from a position of comfort because we socialisation and puberty at some point in time during the are always working together. Minister, when we give lives of these kids, there is no connection between what you this budget, there is a few things that Batswana they were presented as in terms of the apportionment of women clearly are hungry for, anxious for and very their sexuality at the time of birth vis-à-vis what they are much worried about. One of them is their empowerment going through at the time of puberty. My problem here through the women empowerment programme. I think Minister, where I think you must find money, time and we understand Minister that you had to go back to the invest in it, their ability through medical intervention to drawing board, come up with guidelines to ensure that be able to change their status should not be availed to the those that used to take this money and not use it for the public court because it is none of anybody’s business. right reasons, you bring them to book. You also want to I do not think they should go to court for them to be make sure that you have equitable distribution of those able to correct what perhaps was not available at the resources. When I talked to women across this country, time in terms of science. Matters whereby it is indicated they wanted a few things in terms of your programme at birth that a child being born is a girl child and later that I am putting across to you now, for you to consider. on there is a realisation that she is rather having male body developments and or she comes saying “as you The first one, when they talk about equitable distribution can see, I am a lady but I am not developing breasts they say, “it seems the recipients that have benefitted but instead I am developing beards. Can you please fix before are largely in towns’’ we are very far at rural my certificates” should not be matters for the courts. We villages and by the time we arrive, those who live in all know that they are ridiculed and so forth. It must be towns would have already benefited from the funds. something that can be done medically, privately without Therefore, consider whether this could be constituency- that person having to be ridiculed by the society. These based programme, so that you can apportion certain are the living cases which we see every day.

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Honourable Colleague, I also want you to look at the now. It will manifest itself in GBV that we have. It societies. Hey! There are challenges at the societies. goes on to domestic violence. Yes, let us talk about the I think our people need a lot of education and strengthening of the laws and the review of the laws that empowerment in terms of the societies. Even today, we have, but let us talk about structured empowerment when I was sitting here listening to the questions that programmes that creates a balance between the were posed to you, clearly something needs to be done. empowerment of a girl child as well as the perceived or If I recall to the best of my ability, when I was in that real disempowerment of a boy child. ministry, officials spent a lot of time sitting down trying to arbitrate. When you get to the bottom of why there Madam Chairperson, I cannot finish my debate without is need for that arbitration or why there are challenges, talking about the Citizenship Act. We did try even you will go down to what was agreed upon in the first though some people who do not understand how things instance. The ministry will be inundated with the job are done, people like Rantuana; we facilitated at the time that they should not be doing, but could be done by the because there was a backlog and stateless people. I need societies themselves. I think you need to strengthen that to congratulate you Minister because that backlog of loophole. Certainly, if you are looking for more money, stateless people is no longer as it was. That is a statement I will be there to facilitate you. of fact because of the facilitation of the simplification of the processes of what the law was. You cannot wake up Look at your Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). one morning Honourable Rantuana, if you are still there I know there was a question this afternoon that talked saying, “I am from Balete tribe therefore I do not like about empowerment of NGOs. Yes, NGOs can assist that fence because Balete are on the other side of it” Government on certain areas where Government cannot That is not how the law works. You need to change the go to. It has to be sanctioned and it has to be something law in the first instance. Therefore, whatever is provided that NGOs are held accountable for. Do not allow them in the law must be followed until such time that you to be running trades that are not held accountable for the change the law. resources that are given to them with an expectation that they will do what they set out to do. If you were a serious Member of Parliament, who knows the needs of those people you could have proposed that I want to end my debate and support you on Gender the law be amended but since you are incompetent you Based Violence (GBV). To say on this area, I do not are talking about the fence. Be serious. know Minister what you are going to, but something needs to be done. I know that currently there is “Hear Me From the words which you have said to me, I hope Too.” We are working with the United Nations (UN) and that people at your Constituency heard you saying other partners, but I certainly believe when you listen to that men should not support their children because the the women out there you will realise that we need help. government will make a plan to assist them knowing What kind of help, we do not know. So you need to sit that it is not sustainable. You were saying that people down with your officials and say, when we look at all should not vote for me because I debate in favour of the interventions that we have done, we increased the women. I wish that Balete were listening to you so that sentencing of rape perpetrators, we have been saying they vote you out and replace you with serious people that we want to strengthen the laws but I think it goes who will be able to come and address serious issues and beyond just that. When we deal with empowerment of draw the line between laws and freedom square. We are women; let us revisit the empowerment of a boy child. not in a freedom square, we are in parliament hence we The empowerment of a boy child is equally critical. talk about serious issues. With that being said, I thank If you can have an empowered girl child standing or you Mr Chairperson. sitting next to a disempowered boy child, whether MR KESUPILE (KANYE SOUTH): Thank you Mr perceived or real, it is a dangerous situation to be at. Chairperson. I want to start by telling the Minister that As we talk about gender empowerment, it has to be she has abandoned her office at Kanye because the empowerment of a girl child as well as empowerment officers there work from an old caravan which isat of a boy child. If we over-empower a girl child and the back of the council. During busy days of dealing throw them to the society of a disempowered boy child with people who come with different problems they are or a society full of disempowered boy children, we will forced to go outside time and again because of the heat probably be contributing towards what we are seeing in the office. The Caravan is very old and so small that

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their heads easily touch the roof; it is not safe to work MR KESUPILE: That is true Honourable Member in. I wish that you could find them better ones and then since they are not free, they come at a fee. Minister, we again think about buildings that are suitable for that job like your ministry but you are off track. You are off track because, Honourable Makgato-Malesu… by agreeing to not focus on women only but gender. It HONOURABLE MEMBER: Correct my name. has off set you to a point of not recognising that women are suffering; they are abused, they are behind and now MR KESUPILE: …left without attending to the you attend to everybody because of ‘gender’. This buildings and accommodation of workers though she makes you not to have relevant programmes for women amended the policies. that can elevate them because now you are spread thin. Even when you are supposed to assist five women, Secondly Minister, the issue of Re a Nyalana. Re a you are forced to balance with a man or two to a group Nyalana to some people looks good but I think it will negatively affect women because one will stay for years of women who are trying to make it on their own. I with a man hoping that he will marry her. Only to be want you to have a programme that focuses solely on married through Re a Nyalana many years later. The women. The inclusion of gender seems like we are not man is not even remorseful that he wasted that woman’s being honest with ourselves. That is why you have now years and the District Commissioner accepts that. neglected the so called street kids and relegated their There is need to question the relationship before the responsibility to the police. The women who are poor marriage is solemnised. These marriages are not based are now the responsibility of social workers. Now you on traditional counsels, the counsels are given by young have relegated the responsibility of people you are people who are not even married; they are just one fat supposed to care for, to others. Right now if we want joke. Review this programme and give it dignity, respect a stern law against women abusers, you will not get and status that can capture our attention. involved since you are focusing on gender in general yet women are suffering in this country. Recently when MR KGOROBA: Elucidation. Are you saying that the 16 days of non-violence against gender was declared by not so experienced people are the ones giving advice at Honourable Tshireletso, later in the evening two women Re a Nyalana? in Mokwena were killed. You have not found your MR KESUPILE: Thank you Honourable Kgoroba. I voice yet concerning these 16 days of activism. Rise up think there is no seriousness in that programme, it is just and become the advocate of women (rabasadi) in this a strategy to escalate the numbers of people registered country … as married without having given it much thought. HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!) … Zimbabweans are in trouble; you pounce on them anytime and take them across the border to Zimbabwe. MR KESUPILE: Be the advocate of women and come Do you not think the time has come to give Zimbabweans up with a stern law that will deal severely with these Botswana work permits; nine, 12 or 18 months before perpetrators and we will acknowledge that you are they go back home? It is useless to deport them because doing something. Including gender in your portfolio is in no time, they come following you and you give them a lift back to Botswana. It is as if we are wasting funds. not helping, in my view, it is derailing you from your No, let us be serious and make…those that we did not mandate … like in South Africa, they had a Section 12 document, do you remember it, the one that stipulated the duration MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND you are to take working there and thereafter you return COMMUNICATIONS (MS MAKGATO): Point of home. Let us also make an arrangement where people order. Mr Chairperson, sometimes when we say things come here to work and go back home to enjoy their in Setswana, in English they become different. I do benefits because they will be of great help in what we not believe the Minister wants to be called rabasadi want. (womaniser), so it is not an equivalent of the Minister The last point I want to conclude with … responsible for Gender. I will leave it to you that are we saying the Minister of Gender in Botswana should be MR SEGOKGO: Point of clarification. Thank you Mr called rabasadisadi, rabasadisadi; what are we going Chairperson. My colleague, the permits that you have to say to the… mentioned, will they not bring in some income to our country? HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)…

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MS MAKGATO: He said it! No, your time has been MR CHAIRPERSON: No, let us stop here; five stopped. Wait. He said he should be referred to as minutes. rabasadisadi, he said that; is that okay? PROCEEDINGS BRIEFLY SUSPENDED FOR MR CHAIRPERSON: No, Honourable Makgato, I FIVE MINUTES understood him to say a law should be made by him as “an activist for the rights of women,” there is nothing MR CHAIRPERSON: This means I should find that is out of order. another way to give you a break because this one is not working. MR KESUPILE: Mr Chairperson, I believe that Honourable Makgato has heard you because I am not MR OLOPENG: Thank you very much Mr a provocative person; I do not speak without thinking Chairperson. I am glad that Members of Parliament are first, and there is nothing unpleasant in what Ihave back in the House. Mr Chairperson, I was still saying said because I am serious in what I am saying, the I support the Minister’s presentation. I commend him similar instance is where we referred to Ms Nasha as for having reacted on the issue of Omang by taking the (mmabana) which means the mother of children We services to the people in the villages. Funds permitting, called her that because she was busy advocating for the I urge him to increase the Omang Mobile Units because rights of children. I am saying that in the same vein that in remote areas more especially the cattle posts, you will find that we have elders who have never had Omang. we need to take the situation of women seriously in this This is a challenge as these people are unable to benefit country. We should be concerned about their safety, and from government programmes. be serious about programmes and arrangements which focuses on their lives. Thank you Mr Chairperson. Mr Chairman, I would like to encourage the Minister to check Information and Communication Technology HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order… (ICT) at the borders. Most of the times the system will MINISTER OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, be down. Also it seems like it is faster when working RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY manually as compared to when using the automation or (MR OLOPENG): I thank you… computers. I do not understand how that system works really, but he should attend to it; is it not scanning or HONOURABLE MEMBER: On a point of order, Mr how is it recording, I do not know. That is what I am Chairperson. suggesting that he should check.

MR CHAIRPERSON: Yes, point of order Honourable I would also like to encourage your officials who work at Kgoroba. the borders to do Public relations (PR) courses because they are the face of the nation at the entry points. They MR KGOROBA: Point of order. Mr Chairperson, time are expected to provide good reception to the visitors or and time again I always remind that in this Parliament tourists and when they do, the customers should react we are 63. So right now you and Madam Speaker have by saying wow! this is the country that I read about and this is a country that has great democratic credentials been relieving each other, so how about us? Should we see how its people smile. Do not shy away Honourable just remain seated as if we are slaves just because we do Member from requesting for overtime for them so that not have an understudy Mr Chair? I always complain they continue being happy. Your officials work in a very about this, so right now I want to tell you that it is now difficult environment and I know that its difficulty is time for me to take my break, I am going for a break. caused by working overtime. You will find that their unhappiness is caused by the fact that they are given day MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Makgato, we have offs as opposed to overtime; in lieu of overtime and so lost quorum. If you go out it will collapse. You have on. But since they are the face of Botswana, they should already heard Honourable Kgoroba saying he is going be given special dispensation, atleast they should be out regardless. given overtime so that they could have a never fading smile. MR OLOPENG: I thank you Mr Chairman. Let us just proceed because we have changed the Standing Order Honourable Member, I will talk about our neighbours for quorum; if we are one member short, those who are just like Honourable Kesupile did. I would like to recording will hear. request that we accept ourselves. We have a challenge

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as a nation. We want to grow agriculture and we are I have a community in Tonota called Bazezuru, a very certain that our people do not want to work in the farms. unique community, so special and they are very close There is this mentality that we have, that when you work to my heart. I request your officials to visit them time at the farms even if you have a degree from Botswana and time again because it seems like it normally takes University of Agriculture and Natural Resources them long to access your services considering that they (BUAN), working as a manager, getting a salary of P10 are originally from Zimbabwe. It takes them long to be 000, Hilux and a cottage at the farm; at the back of your given passports even though they are Batswana. The mind you still feel that you are a herdboy. When infact I culture of Bazezuru allows them to marry five wives and want the person to be a farm manager. The person would we have accepted their culture. This is why we are such rather go and enrol on an internship programme and get a great country with high credentials all over the world. P1 200 allowance a month. We appreciate every culture, so I ask that your officials keep checking on them, I will invite them as well. HONOURABLE MEMBER: On a point of clarification, Mr Chairperson. On issues of gender Honourable Minister, I ask that you work with the Minister of Local Government and MR OLOPENG: Do not waste my time. Do not debate. Rural Development and see how you could come up MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Molebatsi, with a stringent policy that could be used against some clarification. men. I have a problem with a man who would refuse to allow his woman permission to take their child to MR MOLEBATSI: Point of clarification Would he not the hospital in South Africa solely because they had be a herdboy since he will be taking care of your things? a misunderstanding. The man would refuse to write How does a farm manager differ from a herdboy? I an affidavit. That is abuse of children and it should thank you. be against the Children’s Act which resides from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. MR OLOPENG: Thank you very much Mr Chair. That is why I am suggesting that you work together. Honourable Member, I will educate you later during Men should make an effort to form organisations which break because I only have 10 minutes to – what is the will encourage us to treat women as part of us. We difference between a farm manager and a herdboy. We should be Christians and know that if we marry them, cannot grow agriculture until we manage our farms they become our rib and not tools that we could use to properly. Currently, most of us here who own farms we practise boxing with. have fenced cattle posts. We do not have farms because Some of us, I remember, just giving an example. My we run them like cattle posts. The only difference is that father when he was still alive would say to me, my child those cattle posts are fenced but the problem is that we have this mind-set; we think that our children do not there is no mistake that a woman could do that would want these jobs because they think they will be assumed justify you beating her. He was basically implying that to be herdboys as opposed to farm managers. even if you can find your wife with another man, that does not give you the justification to beat her. Because That is why we need to accept ourselves Mr Chairperson. of that, I am a gentleman. I can never beat a woman. Honourable Minister, may you look at this matter and I will support you in Parliament. Can you give our HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… neighbours special dispensation more especially the MR OLOPENG: Do you hear me? Are you listening Zimbabweans because currently their permits are the ones that are very expensive? If I still remember well gentlemen? Stand up, do not beat women, just talk because I have to renew for my worker very soon, it is things out. It should start with us here in Parliament. something like P3,500 when you apply for a permit. MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Olopeng, I wanted HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… to remind you that we are recording here, do not forget. Proceed. MR OLOPENG: Yes, Sir P3,000 and that is a lot of money and due to this price, some will start keeping MR OLOPENG: Mr Chairperson, you are not supposed them in their farms, cattle posts and lands illegally to beat a woman with fists, nor with a stick that you because they are hardworking. hold with your hand, for the benefit of recording. I am

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now speaking Setswana; Honourable Members you database with theirs, it could reveal the names of the must listen. We are legislators so let us stand up and people who did not register for the elections. It was also support women. Can we lead by example, we can do so going to be easy as we were going to go around asking by hosting seminars with the male youth, we can play people to go and register or maybe flag people just like sports with them; with a theme mobilisation against they do when you have not paid for vehicle licencing. If done, this would really help as nowadays almost gender violence by men. everyone owns a cell phone, we were going to use it to I want you to consider these issues Honourable Member remind and encourage people to go and register for the more especially cases where children are used in fights elections. between men and women, I hate that one so much. I really My constituents want to thank you, together with do not know what we could do Honourable Minister those who used to be in that Ministry more especially whether we should take them to prison or we could drive Honourable Batshu. He would tour the whole country them in the old police vans. I do not understand this, taking the ministry to the people. I always say, if you are up until now, why is the child used? The poor woman a Minister, in the five years, you are supposed to atleast would want to take the child for medical checkups and visit some areas. The reason why I sometimes come up just because they had a misunderstanding…that is part with some motions is that I do so out of frustration. of abuse of women in our country. It will be accepted They made sure that we have offices in Sowa and Nata, I that he refused just like that. Honourable Minister, since would therefore like to say, you too Honourable Member you are the Minister responsible for marriage and so on, should keep up the good work. If you do that, people are can you work on issues of adoption of children by their going to like you appreciating that you are a minister of step fathers. Men have started… the people not for Parliament. We are thankful for the MR CHAIRPERSON: Time up! Honourable Majaga. offices. They helped a lot of people in my Constituency because that constituency has got a lot of people. This MR MAJAGA (NATA-GWETA): I thank you Mr is why the other day I was suggesting that you should Chairperson. I stand to support Honourable Minister go to Dukwi or Nata. We stay in cattleposts, in the Ngaka Ngaka in his request for his Ministry. pans and we also have a refugee camp in Dukwi. We MR CHAIRPERSON: Keep your phones away from have provided citizenship for the people of Angola the microphone. and Zimbabwe and this causes issues of renounce and others. We receive reports at the office of the Member MR MAJAGA: I also want to indicate that Honourable of Parliament. Right now we have Zimbabweans, some Ngaka Ngaka... of them are border jumpers or illegal immigrants. In one MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Majaga, remove village next to that place, there are close to 100 children those phones from there. who are fathered by these people and that is where we need your assistance. We also have Caprivis who have MR MAJAGA: It is not me, mine are far. been in the camp for 20 years. So when it comes to issues of Omang that is when you should intervene…we MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Majaga, Use the are human beings Honourable member, it is only that we microphone next to you, the one for Honourable Molefe. have been divided by the border, but we are all Africans. MR MAJAGA: I was still saying I commend and We have people staying by the border, in Sepako also support my friend Minister Ngaka Ngaka in his Budget we have those in Dukwi, they too need your ministry. request for his Ministry. Just the other day, he was a Their cases need people who are selfless who can assist minister at another large ministry and now he has been people with a lot of kindness. In your ministry, there are moved to another one which deals with the society. If people who would be helping people and wishing that you do not have an Omang in Botswana and even in the whatever they would be helping them with should fail neighbouring countries, if you are without an Omang, and those that really love their job. We are thankful for you are a nobody. Even as we will be going for the such. elections in October, we need Omang. I will then move on to page three, I am thankful for the Your Ministry Honourable Minister is very important Marriage Act. We are Africans, we are Batswana. If it can assist departments such as Independent Electoral you can go to Swaziland, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu- Commission (IEC) because if you were to connect your Natal…The reason why we have high cases of divorce

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is because we have always copied English lifestyle and I normally tell people that, maybe if we can change the neglected our culture. There is nothing wrong with name of our cattle posts and give them English names the Setswana marriage, it is similar to the Zezuru one. and do the same to our farms, many people will respond They are not afraid of death. We too should not be a to those advertisements. We really prioritise English lost nation that keeps copying from the western and but it is outdated, it is a language just like Setswana forgetting ourselves in the process. We end up forgetting and Shona. Maybe that is when those people can get our culture completely. Marrying two or three women permits. Do not advertise if you know that you hired in the Setswana culture should be normalised. Just look someone lawfully, you only have to renew it for P500 at at the number of marriage and divorce cases. In the the Kgotla, so that people can work, let us allow them to Setswana culture, you would never beat a woman, we come here. You will later see people leaving Ipelegeng. only knew that the only person who could be beaten is a I once suggested that the Government through Ipelegeng man if it happens that he commits adultery. must have mini labour offices in our Dikgotla. If I need a worker, I will have to add P500 to the Ipelegeng salary HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Laughter!)… so that a person can get P1200 and leave Ipelegeng. They MR MAJAGA: Beating a woman is forbidden but will have to go for training in specified areas. That is people are now doing it, in the past it was a taboo. I what we can negotiate with companies. Women through therefore feel that there is need to preserve our culture. Gender, can stay and work in cooperatives because in the past, men were the ones who let them collapse. I hope you will do well on that review because recently I was in Swaziland and used to visit Zulu land, they do MR CHAIRPERSON: Time up! Honourable marry as many as they can and they submit. Former Molebatsi, wear your glasses properly. President Zuma last time when he arrived in Goodwill and Nxamalala, he would greet Magosi first not because MR MOLEBATSI (MOCHUDI EAST): Thank you he is a President, he was following protocol. So we Madam Chairperson. Minister Ngaka Ngaka, we thank should copy that. you. You really have to stand up for your Ministry, you have to out-do yourself. In Kgatleng, Bakgatla are No, this country was different and I want to thank your divided by a fence. When you look at Kgatleng East, ministry for what it has done. I was really touched finding you should have increased operating time for Sikwane places where mere Chinese sell clothes and we are told boarder. You should have permitted agricultural goods “for security reasons…Directorate of Intelligence and and other goods to cross there. Bakgatla who are in Security (DISS),” I felt it was an indication that DIS South Africa and those who are in Botswana belong to has lost direction. A situation whereby if a Chinese the same group. If you go to Ramotlabaki, we desire man gives students from Dukwi Primary some shoes, to have another border which enables Bakgatla to cross he will stay there until he becomes a Motswana, they over to South Africa lawfully. We are now having tell you that it is for security reasons while he continues challenges because Bakgatla usually cross unlawfully helping. I thank you for relaxing entry restrictions for a country that has less population to others, which wishes and they do so in order to assist South Africans to to become a middle income country. We would have produce food. That could really profit us economically hindered them through VISA restrictions and these if it was done lawfully. other things, it would be a problem because we do not know who is against it or what the problem is. You did Sir, I also applaud the organisation that is led by that by increasing entry points which shows that there Kgosikgolo Mosadi which deals with gender issues. It is growth. does not deal with issues that affect women and girls only because the situation was bad. If you can look I would be wrong if I fail to agree with Honourable back, at other organisations, we used to have Emang Members who say that when you go to Maitengwe Basadi and Metlha e Tsile. These organisations incited and you are Semangaliso Moyo, you can make your gender issues in such a way that it led men to be cruel permit at the Kgotla. You submit your documents so towards women or girls. Minister, this step that you took that if you committed a crime, you can be traced to in addressing gender issues, I will fight against gender Zimbabwe. These elections have people scared. Our issues, I am grateful that you are targeting women, fellow Batswana since we have money, are working girls, men and boys without discriminating. That at Ipelegeng. These people want to work in our farms, discrimination causes men and boys to develop a spirit fields and cattle posts. that we do not like.

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Looking at issues of violence sir, we advise your ministry painful. This lady used to say that, “what will you say to work hand in hand with the police. The police fail to during my funeral? That man is really going to kill carry out their duties on issues that relate to violence. me.” The next day, that culprit came to kill that lady You will find that a girl was beaten, her hair pulled out in the open while people were watching. While still on and you will think that the police will take action by that, as Government Honourable Members, we are not catching that rascal culprit. But when the police come saying that people should take the law into their own with that culprit, they will ask the girl to talk to him. hands, but we must all agree in unison that if people are present, they are not supposed to let anyone kill the I am saying this Minister because it happened in other. Then they tell us that, we saw him doing this and my constituency. I lost a lady towards Christmas in that. Where is our humanity? In our Setswana culture, Ramonaka village where that culprit could have been you cannot just walk in and kill a person in our full arrested in the beginning. He managed to commit view of onlookers. We should stand firm against that, that crime, that is not all because he came back in the the Government should not shy away from allowing evening that same day and killed that lady while people the public to carry out mob justice on the culprit more were watching at Molepolole. especially if he is dangerous and it should be made clear MR KEORAPETSE: On a point of clarification. that if they harm him and unfortunately gets killed in the Honourable, how far with the process of your culture process, so be it. Otherwise these culprits will continue “go feela motse ka sekoti” (bringing the villagers to killing people knowing that others will act as spectators order through capital punishment) how far with it? out of fear. Minister I agree that your budget should be approved but you should consider… MR MOLEBATSI: Thank you our political whip; Chief Whip, Honourable Keorapetse. Sir, whipping MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND people could assist with putting people in order, as they COMMUNICATIONS (MS MAKGATO): could develop a sense of fear. We are still restrained Clarification. Thank you very much for yielding. You by people who are pursuing the western way of doing do not have time, but I want to ask if you hear what you things; those who are against capital punishment. You are saying, you are saying that people should be killed? might have realised that some tribes with different What are you implying, do you mean that people should beliefs, can give a person 100 whips. I do not know if be killed? Honourable Kablay is here. If you are a trouble maker, 100 whips are enough for you or 200 whips so that you MR MOLEBATSI: Hey! I wasted my time Mr can become afraid and know that some people have to Chairperson. I thought she would make a valid point as be respected. I appreciate … I know that she is intelligent.

MINISTER OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, Minister Ngaka Ngaka we support you, we are watching RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MR you. Our interest is on the issuance of dual citizenship OLOPENG): On a point of clarification. Honourable, because this citizenship benefits us to a certain extent. have you ever talked to your fellow tribesmen about We educate people but we end up losing them to other these issues during a Kgotla meeting, so that you can countries such as Ireland and America. We could be find out how they feel about them? extending that option of dual citizenship so that they can continue being Batswana and Irish at the same MR MOLEBATSI: Thank you Minister of Tertiary education. When I address issues in Parliament, I do so time, we should also not delay implementing such. We because people who have elected me, sent me. Right should look into this dual citizenship and perhaps offer now, I went to Dikwididi in the morning, they sent me. I Zimbabweans such even if the issuance could be done am not only saying that because I know everything as I by Dikgotla and Immigration so that they can come here am a Member of Parliament, I was sent here Honourable. to work and develop our country.

Minister, the abuse that we see has signs that there is South Africa delayed the process, almost all Southern an intention to kill. When we look at all the murder African countries worked there and we managed cases which were committed on women, there was to support our families. Let us support our fellow always sings that the life of a woman will be taken. If Zimbabweans, issue them with work permits so that you listen to what transpired in Molepolole, it is really they can come and work here.

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Minister ensure that your ministry takes action to issue Minister Ngaka Ngaka, sometimes you make all Batswana with Omang and one should not only be tremendous efforts to address Immigration issues accompanied by parents, neighbours can also help in the regarding foreigners who get in Botswana through application process of Omang. ungazetted points and you transport them back to their countries, some to Zimbabwe and so on. I suspect that MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION (MR your efforts will be futile in most cases because if you ARONE): Thank you Mr Chairperson. I will be very do not liaise with Honourable Kgathi’s ministry, I do not brief, just to support the Honourable Member’s request think there will be progress. Because you will find that to be approved. from Tlokweng to Ramotswa, the fence is down. The First, I want you and Ministry of Finance and Economic Assistant Minister responded recently when a question Development to pay attention to the border at Mohembo, was asked in Parliament that, “there is a fence”, but that that will assist my communities there to be able to get is not true, there is no fence. This means it becomes every product that they want from Namibia and other easier for foreigners to illegally enter and this also brings related goods that we get from Namibia, as we are trying another ill of drugs being smuggled in to our country. to promote trade between our countries. Dual citizenship; I cannot say anything much because The second point I want your ministry to pay attention it directly affects me as I have close relatives who are to is the citizenship issues in Etsha 6. Popularly known staying at other countries, some even got the Green as Nyambeni Kwatere. Card and so on. They have families there so it becomes difficult to refer to them as Batswana, they are staying HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… there because there is no option for them to obtain MR ARONE: Am I not clear? My second point I citizenship of Botswana and of the other country. was saying, Honourable Minister, pay attention to the There is an issue, as much as I agree with registration citizenship issues in Etsha 6. The former Minister tried of deaths, it is important to keep the records including her level best to try and address them, but there are still cause of death. This statistic is significant, Minister challenges regarding that if an Omang card expired I however wonder if it is necessary to write cause of when they are supposed to renew, they are expected to death in the death certificate because sometimes it is bring all sorts of documents. I know there are changes HIV and related illnesses. The relative of the deceased is that you have implemented, they are happy about them, but there are a number of issues that need to be dealt going to submit that certificate seeking assistance from with so that everything is clear. various institutions so those assessing those pleas since there is a lot of stigma, it is not good because people My last point is, for your ministry to consider; I do will be looking at that certificate. Those people might not know what you call the small borders in the north be Insurance providers so they can either access records of the delta at Okavango, because on the north of the or ask them directly from the ministry so that they can delta we are near Namibia, we can access Namibia via process an application but cause of death should not be Kwando or Seshokora, via Tobera, but every member of included in the certificate. our community on the other side of the river is forced to go all the way to Mohembo for them to be able to I do not have plenty of time so I will talk about Gender access Namibia, when the distance would be shorter if Based Violence; you have just confirmed that the we were to use areas like Kwando for example, to get statistics shows that we have 6717 cases of gender into Kongola, into Namibia. I thank you. violence which is a huge number. This is a concern. It happened two days ago at Tlokweng. Someone killed MR SEGOKGO (TLOKWENG): Thank you Mr his partner and he is currently under police custody. It Chairperson. Let me start by thanking and applauding seems like the culprit is not from Tlokweng just like officers more especially those at Tlokweng Omang in other cases we have seen. This is a major concern office who are doing an excellent job. You will find to people who live in Tlokweng because it seems like that in cases where their customers are elderly and most passion killing take place there. We love Tlokweng are unable to walk to the offices, officers go outside to very much so people and or murders should not go to provide services whilst they are in their vehicles. This Tlokweng when they feel like killing someone. You are shows exceptional public service. cursing our area.

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HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)…

MR SEGOKGO: No, they should not kill but it has MR CHAIRPERSON: Order! Honourable Mokgware, now became a regular thing at Tlokweng even though order! these killings are not done by people who live in Tlokweng. We want people to know that Tlokweng is MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: Which we should stress not a slaughterhouse. out is the one which talks about… The poverty which women in Botswana are living in has MR CHAIRPERSON: Order! Honourable Mokgware. to be addressed because it makes them to end up being trafficked easily after being promised impressive things Let me break that choir over there. Their choir master is abroad. They always leave the country hoping for a standing up. better life abroad. Honourable Minister, I do not know if HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… you have statistics of women who were found stranded abroad even though they were promised better things. MR CHAIRPERSON: Proceed, Honourable When things do not go according to their expectations, Mokgware. they find themselves stranded without having any means of returning back home. Is there any plan you can make MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: Thank you Mr to ensure that these people are assisted? Chairperson. This ministry is our mirror and its employees are the face of our country. When everyone MR CHAIRPERSON: Time up. Honourable enters... Mokgware will be the last one. MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE (GABANE- DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MR MMANKGODI): Thank you Mr Chairperson. RALOTSIA): Clarification. Honourable Mokgware, homes are being protected here and that is why we are MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Mokgware, six where we are now, do you know that there is a Setswana minutes. adage which says (ngwana o itsiwe sereto ke mmaagwe) MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: I will comment on meaning that only the mother knows who the father the important issue as I have been sent by Gabane- of her child is. What is it that you are searching for in marriages which you are doubting Honourable Mmankgodi constituents. When you look at this Mokgware? ministry, its name Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affair is talking about who a Motswana is… MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: No, I do not agree with Honourable Ralotsia, what is he hiding by not wanting HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… us to know who his children are? We should know. MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: Are you giving me five Everyone has a right to know who his biological parents minutes? are. DNA tests should be done so that things can be clear. The unavailability of DNA tests is the reason why HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… we have so many Bogosi cases as well as inheritance MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: Through this ministry, we cases. Let us not fear anything and have DNA tests done are supposed to know who a Motswana is as well as just like in other countries. As a progressive country, we to conserve our Botswana. Since I have not been given should do that. We should not reject that Honourable enough time, I believe that it is time for DNA tests to be Ralotsia. We should have every person’s DNA. done at child birth. They should be part and parcel of I wanted to point out that we have to try and amend the their birth certificate and we will also have a database. conditions of service for people who work in this ministry. We are already facing challenges whereby the father of Last time we raised an issue that people are being owed the child is not known due to not having DNA tests done a lot of overtime and that should not be happening. We at birth. It is also for health sake, is it not time for DNA should see that these people have accommodation and tests to be done on our children so at to be able to assist that they work within the stipulated time. A person who them health wise? has been working for 18 hours cannot be alert enough Another issue which we should… to inspect people entering Botswana as well as filling

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forms properly. Honourable Minister, I am aware that constraints, we could have expanded this budget to cover there are challenges surrounding the overtime issue. Try all aspects raised here. There were too many issues; the and create posts so that you can increase the staff. It is dual citizenship and Gender Based Violence (GBV). important for the staff to be alert at all times so as to be These were the main ones. Maybe I should explain that able to inspect and fill the forms of immigrants properly. the dual citizenship; the Bill was once brought here in It is not right for them to work long hours. Parliament, and of course, it did not go through because it touched some other legal instruments; 34 of them Gender violence; we are currently making noise of which forced like maybe the Constitution or some regarding the same instance which is happening at South other legal instruments to be modified or amended in Africa even though it happens regularly in our country order to accommodate the dual citizenship. Anyway, it as indicated by the statistics. We should not be having 6 is something we are still handling as the ministry. I am 700 cases of gender violence. This is one of the issues not saying we have set them aside and forgot about them which needs our attention. totally, it is something that we are working on now. Most Empowerment of women; what are we saying about importantly Mr Chairperson … women? Women in our country are living under extreme HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… poverty and in most cases you will find that one woman is taking care of two children. If you can go around all MR NGAKA: Should I continue? these shops, you will find a child besides every lady who is selling airtime and sweets. The government should HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… attend to this matter because it is not right. MR NGAKA: Okay! The first respondent was HONOURABLE MEMBER: The father having Honourable Tshireletso, she really appreciated the deserted them. marriage review which is ongoing in the ministry now. I thank her for supporting me. She was talking about MAJ. GEN. MOKGWARE: Yes, the father having child marriages that in the review, we should consider deserted them. Honourable Minister, let us stand up Section 15 which talks about it; we should retract it and protect women and children. I support the idea to and come up with another law which is against child give single mothers who are working hard to fend for marriage. I believe that … their children an allowance because they are the pillar of our nation. They are the reason why those children MR KEORAPETSE: Clarification. Thank you who always accompany them might become the future Honourable Minister. Are you aware that there is a Bill tabled, which was read a first time; Marriage leaders of our country. Out of the programmes we have, Amendment Bill in line with other Southern African let us ensure that hardworking single mothers who are Development Community - Parliamentary Forum raising children within harsh situations are given an (SADC-PF) Modern Law on Child Marriages, with the allowance. Let us start somewhere, the little that we can specific intention to prevent child marriages? offer will be fine. Even 300 is acceptable because she can use it to buy those children something at the end MR NGAKA: Thank you Honourable, thank you Mr of the month. The social workers program is not doing Chairperson. Yes, you interrupted me. I was saying well. The number of single mothers at my Constituency Honourable Tshireletso is saying we should retract is very high. Minister, propose this Motion and I will Section 15 which talks about child marriage. She is support you. At least you can say that single mothers saying we should come up with a law … should be given a P550 allowance a month, so that we can try and take care of their children. Thank you. HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)…

MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Minister, please MR NGAKA: Do not interrupt me honourable. She says reply to the debate. we should pass a law which is against child marriage. Since as a ministry are working on this one to withdraw MINISTER OF NATIONALITY, IMMIGRATION the Section; we are ready to submit the draft to Attorney AND GENDER AFFAIRS (MR NGAKA): Thank General (AG). There is another Bill which was brought you Mr Chairperson. Firstly, I would like to start by in Parliament by one of the Honourable Members, appreciating the positive responses from Honourable Honourable Keorapetse. I do not know whether it is Members and also appreciate that, if it was not for budget coming in, but it talks about all these. One of the issues

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there is child marriage, which would be in discussion. the responsibility he should take growing up into a man. She covered a number of them Mr Chairperson, she was We have already met with Men Sector; we have started more into gender equality. She wishes that politically on this initiative which was mentioned by Honourable as we are in Parliament now, we should have a sizable Makgato on the boy child. If at all we are to go that way, number of women. Truth be told, our figures do not then we turn around and say, you men, there is nothing reach the intended 30 per cent, they are still very low. wrong if you abandon your children, Government will As a ministry, we talk to women in a bid to encourage take care of them, pay women … them. You should also encourage them in the political space and your parties so that they run for elections. We HONOURABLE MEMBER: Clarification. are not saying it is encouraging those who have interest MR NGAKA: … in other words, we are not… in running for elections so that when they win they can come to Parliament. The ministry should not bear this MR RANTUANA: Clarification. Minister, currently, responsibility of encouraging women alone. Honourable this is the situation on the ground; some parents abandon Rantuana… their children. Should the Government also abandon them? Men are not the only perpetrators, there are some MR NTLHAILE: Clarification. You are debating well women who abandon their children and run off with my colleague. Do you not think the time has come to some random men (boradikatara). Should this man not encourage gender equality like you are saying and give be assisted? women the honour and dignity to feel free to be able to serve women properly? That is, we should have a HONOURABLE MEMBER: Point of order. full-fledged ministry of women and children. I want to MR NGAKA: I have got a lot to cover here… know if you do not consider that as something that can be scrutinised and implemented? MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS (MS MAKGATO): Point of MR NGAKA: Thank you honourable. That is one of order. Honourable Chairperson, there is a reason why I the ideas which came up in the debate today, to say can like orderliness. When talking about women, we like to we not have a ministry for women. It came up and I ridicule them. Is that appropriate for this House for you believe as the Minister, we will look into it and see what to say women run off with some random men, but you we can do. do not say the same thing about men? Honourable Rantuana was talking about birth HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs).... registration from 1968 to date which is 1.7 million. I do not know how to address this one that our population is MS MAKGATO: Hey! Friday is Women’s International small. Yes, the population is small Honourable Member Day, you must respect and address us politely. You have and it worries us. This is not the ministry’s concern abandoned children and thereafter you are saying we only; I believe that as legislators, we are also worried. run off with some random men. Certainly that is not HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Laughter!) … appropriate language for this House.

MR NGAKA: The allowance given to single women MR CHAIRPERSON: No Honourable Makgato, such with children; that is Honourable Rantuana’s idea. words like boradikatara and Tinto are normally used to He was saying that single mothers should be given refer to irresponsible men. Let us leave it. an allowance. He even gave an example that in some countries they are even given deposits for seven-seater HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… cars. I am not particularly sure about this one honourable MR CHAIRPERSON: Oh, you again? because I am not encouraging men to relegate the responsibility of taking care of their children. It will MR NGAKA: For the sake of time, I should not yield seem as if we are now saying there is no problem when a anymore. Honourable Makgato, thank you for your man does not take care of his children. As a ministry, we support and suggestions Honourable Minister, more are talking about the girl child, we have even gone to an especially when it comes to equitable distribution in extent of talking about the boy child. We are addressing the economic empowerment programme. The rural the upbringing of a boy child in a home full of girls and areas are complaining that we are concentrating mostly

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in the urban areas. I believe that that is under review. MR KESUPILE: Question Honourable Member. The Economic Women Empowerment Programme is Are you saying an officer working in the office of the under review now. We are working on it, it is one of the District Commissioner can counsel the marrying couple points that we will look at in our review and see how about issues of marriage? If he/she is not married, how we could work on them more especially when it comes will he know what happens in the marriage institution? to Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) or even to fund or support big businesses that are owned MR NGAKA: I want to believe that for you to by women. You were taking notes on issues that when understand marriage, you do not necessarily have to be the time comes for us to review, we shall look at and see married. There are so many things that you can be taught what we could do going forward. I can only say… regarding the marriage Act that you can share with the marrying couple. It does not necessarily mean we should MR NTLHAILE: On a point of clarification not take what they are saying seriously because they are Mr Chairperson. You are handling the economic not married. If we do that, in other words it seems like empowerment of women issue well Honourable we undermine what they are doing. Member. We are aware that your ministry is the one which is working on the Employment Act, can you The requirements for the Re a Nyalana programme is the speed up the amendment of the increase of maternity time that you have spent with your woman, you cannot allowance for women. Section 115 is giving them 25 per meet a woman today and decide to go and register cent, so it is high time the allowance is increased from with the programme saying you want to marry. It has 25 per cent to 75 per cent. procedures that have to be followed, certain aspects are considered and a solution is sought as to whether the MR NGAKA: Thank you Mr Chairperson. I was couple is suitable for that programme. If people stayed still commending the Minister for supporting the for years together, with children what more do they need presentation. I was still explaining that this programme to get married? It is a registered society; so we do not of Women Economic Empowerment was suspended undermine it. because of how it was done. Some people were given Thank you Honourable Olopeng for commending that money and ended up using it unwisely. As I have the Omang office, it is clear that you have welcomed already stated that it is still under review, I trust that we them to your constituency office. What is happening is will conclude in the near future and we will take care of that, when it comes to the border control systems, of all of this, what you have just said now. course, all these other borders we have… not all of them though, just a small number is not computerised. Most If it comes to going to court to change ones ‘gender, of them are computerised considering the traffic of the I would like to request that you allow us to go and travellers. The challenge we are having now with some discuss it with the officials at the ministry and relevant of these borders is that, the bandwidth of connection to stakeholders and see how we can resolve it. the border systems or to the border itself that we are given by Telecoms is the one that has a problem. Mostly Honourable Kesupile, I would like to respond by saying you will find that it is small causing the system to be we are planning to connect air conditioners at the Kanye slow. I cannot say how many megs because it differs Omang offices. In the meantime, we are looking for per border. offices to lease, atleast bigger than the size that you were suggesting Honourable Member. That is the effort that We have procured new computers and scanners; and we are making and it is not like we have not been doing we are expecting them by May. We are going to start replacing all these operating systems, even the hardware anything in that regard. Re a nyalana is a programme at the borders to try to speed up the service. That is all that encourages people to marry. I want us to refrain I want to say to you Honourabe Member. It is advisable from thinking that the officials who work in the office to be using the system because it is integrated with some of the District Commissioner are young, they have other systems which check people coming in and the qualifications and experience for their posts. If we treat identity card. We are even upgrading the system itself. them like they are young, then it becomes very difficult We are going to integrate the system such that all these for us to accept and appreciate them. Re a nyalana Mr Government systems become one thing. If you arrive at Chairperson… the border, or applying for Omang, passport or checking

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Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), I do not recall the Honourable Majaga was talking about Independent Honourable Member who talked about DNA, you can Electoral Commission (IEC); that is the integration even go to the system and route to where it is called the system I am talking about. IEC would also be there to Integrated Patients Management System (IPMS) and it an extent that it will even cover a lot of systems even details everything about your health. That is where we if it is Livestock Management System they say it is are headed and trust that we will be there soon. Livestock Identification and Trace-Back System (LITS) by Honourable Ralotsia, these are systems which are I want to thank you for suggesting that we should visit going to be covered in this integration. Let me thank the Basezuru community in Tonota. You also implied you Honourable because what you said … that my office sometimes do visit them. I appreciate that and I would also like to encourage them to visit you. We MR SEGOKGO: Point of order. Thank you Mr should visit each other to find out the type of help we Chairperson. I take it that the House will be out of order could offer them. if he does not tell us the truth about the issue of DNA finger printing because it is not done, we do not have MR SEGOKGO: On a point of clarification Mr Integrated Patient Management System (IPMS). If we Chairperson. I thank you Mr Chairperson. Thank you leave it because we assume that everything is in there, Minister. You were saying how do you integrate with that will be wrong. IPMS, that system that is used at the hospitals? MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Ngaka, I do not MR NGAKA: Thank you Honourable Member. I was have a clue about DNA you are referring to, and the saying we are going to upgrade the system such that IPMS; I do not know what you are talking about. Please we end up having an integration of all Government clarify your debate. systems, in a way that if a person wants to know or if MR NGAKA: You upgrade the system in stages… the medical practitioners need information about you, they are going to save all the data there. Someone was HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… talking about data, I do not know who that Honourable member was… MR NGAKA: No, if we integrate the systems themselves… HONOURABLE MEMBER: Honourable Majaga. HONOURABLE MEMBER: …(Inaudible)… MR NGAKA: Yes, it was Honourable Majaga. We are going to have all the data there and people will be able MR NGAKA: No, it is not a system, DNA…let me to access it depending on what they are looking for. proceed Mr Chairperson, this is a debate for another day. I will see you outside Honourable so that I can explain MR LELATISITSWE: Point of clarification. what is happening. Let me thank Honourable Majaga… Regarding data integration, does it mean that you HONOURABLE MEMBERS: …(Murmurs)… catered for what Honourable Mokgware said, that you should include DNA in it? MR NGAKA: DNA is not a system…

MR NGAKA: Thank you Mr Chairperson. That is what HONOURABLE MEMBER: Order Mr Chairperson… I said that if you go to the Patient Management System in that integration system, it will identify your blood MR NGAKA: But those… group, it may also identify your DNA and all others MR MOREMI: Point of order. Mr Chairperson, related to health, the hospital or doctors or anybody else Honourable Segokgo asked for point of order, we want can access it in the system. to hear from you about the ruling that DNA is included, you were soliciting from the Minister if it is there but I Honourable Arone, you asked us to take note of some did not hear your decision on that point of order. villages in your constituency, because if residents are to go to Namibia, they are required to go via Mohembo, MR CHAIRPERSON: I dealt with it a long time ago. but I can assure you Honourable that I am about to take a I said that I do not know what they are talking about, journey to some if not all borders to find out how we can Honourable Minister can explain it better, as for me, I improve the service that we are giving people. I went to do not know anything about DNA or IPMS. So he can Mamuno and met with them to find out how they are so explain it better because Honourable Segokgo does not that we can find ways to improve that service. agree with what he is saying.

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MR NGAKA: Thank you Mr Chairperson. I was Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology addressing what Honourable Majaga said about Visa, he and Energy Security. Honourable Members, we have applauded our efforts or how our Visa is being issued, I allocated two hours 15 minutes to this Organisation. I thank him for that. shall call upon the Honourable Minister to reply to the debate tomorrow at 1620 hours and put the question at Lastly, this morning we had the Societies meeting at 1650 hours tomorrow. Honourable Molale, you have 20 Maharaja, it was the first meeting that we held. We minutes to present your Budget proposal. called societies which are registered to talk to them about constitutions and their processes so that they can MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES, GREEN follow them, even to comply where they have to bring TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY SECURITY (MR MOLALE): Thank you Mr Chairperson. I need to returns and others. Those are the efforts that we achieved preface what I am going to say by reminding Honourable and have started. The intentions of the ministry are such Ntlhaile that this ministry made him what he is. Let him that after having that meeting, we will travel around the not think that he is … country and teach about it, we will do what is called public education and awareness, we will inform people HONOURABLE MEMBER: On a point of order, Mr even those who go to church; when we talk of societies, Chairperson. they are included, so that they can know about their MR MOLALE: Mr Chairperson, I am pleased to present churches in relation to the constitutions, so that they can to this Honourable House my ministry’s Recurrent and comply to the Societies Act. Those are the efforts which Development Budgets for the year 2019/2020, but we started today, as I speak. before I do that, I would like to cover some thematic policy issues across the ministry and the sectors that fall The other thing is that we will be having International under its mandate. Women’s Day on Friday at Jwaneng, we will assemble there together with women as well as address them, we Mr Chairperson, in line with both Government’s efforts will make sure that as a ministry, we cover everything to create employment and the National Employment that concerns them there. Policy for Botswana, a number of ongoing energy projects that my ministry is implementing through Lastly Mr Chairperson, I would now like to move, I Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) have created therefore request that the sum of Three Hundred and a total of 5,146 jobs. I need to quickly mention Mr Eighty-Six Million, Five Hundred and Twenty-Seven Chairperson, that there is a typo in the previously Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Pula (P386,527,540) circulated booklet where we said 546. It is 5,146. On under the Recurrent Budget for Organisation 0400 the other hand, Tshele Hill Petroleum Storage Project be approved and stand part of the Schedule of the being implemented by my ministry, employs as of now, Appropriation 2019/20 Bill and that the sum of One 20 Batswana with employment levels expected to reach Hundred and Seventeen Million, Three Hundred and up to 500 at the peak of the tank farm production. The Minergy Project at Medie currently employs 203 people, Eighty-Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirty-Two and employment will ramp up to 450 people by mid- Pula (P117, 382, 632) for the Development Budget for 2020. Another mining project, Khoemacau, in the North Organisation 0400 be approved and stand part of those West of the country, currently employs 503 people not estimates for financial year 2019/20. I move accordingly. 64, I need to correct that as well, and will ramp up to Thank you. 1,200 by the first quarter of 2020.

Question put and agreed to. Mr Chairperson, out of the 5,146 jobs created through ORGANISATION 1000: MINISTRY BPC, a total of 2,935 are permanent while the OF MINERAL RESOURCES, GREEN remaining 2,211 are project related. In addition, the TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY Corporation continues to outsource all distribution SECURITY network development projects to citizen contractors and consultants, benefiting about 44 contractors and MR CHAIRPERSON: Order! Order! Honourable 11 engineering consultants. Jwaneng Cut 9 contract Members, the next Organisation is Organisation 1000, negotiations were completed in December of 2018 Mr

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Chairperson. Cut 9 is projected to employ 729 people power for themselves, and sell excess into the immediately on signing the contract. The project is also grid through renewal feeding tariffs. This will be expected to ramp up to employ about 1,153 directly complemented by the smart interactive metres I during implementation. The contract will further provide talked about earlier on. for the following which should create additional jobs: Methane gas as an additional source of power; the (i) The establishment of a Mining Component procurement of two gas prospecting companies to start Rebuild Centre, together with the associated generating power from coal methane is underway. training centre; The two companies have been offered to generate a (ii) Training and development of citizen employees, combined total of 100 megawatts. At a household level, including seconded opportunities to grow in- production of methane gases using raw material such as country skills and capabilities; cow dung is also being ramped up in order to mitigate amongst others, deforestation. (iii) Harnessing collaboration opportunities between Debswana and the contractor to develop citizen The rural electrification programme is ongoing. So far, suppliers in key areas of the mining value chain. 402 out of the total 492 gazetted villages have been Mr Chairperson, my ministry is currently considering electrified. During the current financial year, my ministry a portfolio of projects with a potential for growing completed the electrification of 15 new villages as well and diversifying the economy, as well as creating as network extensions to 45. We have since started the employment. These include the following: electrification of 43 new villages Honourable Molao, including Jamataka, as well as network extensions in (i) The manufacture locally of interactive smart 72 villages. It is anticipated that successful completion metres that are meant to replace existing electricity of this project will result in household electricity access metres totalling more than 400,000 with more units to be manufactured going forward as new rising from the current 58 to 65 per cent. connections are made, and exports opportunities Mr Chairperson, my ministry continues to monitor will also be pursued; the petroleum markets, including prices. The crude (ii) The manufacture of concrete poles in the oil price this week is around USD67 per barrel, a 21 reticulation of power using abundant fly ash in per cent reduction from a peak of USD85 per barrel. Morupule to replace the current wooden poles. The ministry owes the petroleum industry about P915 In the short term, there will be a need for more million, a 24 per cent reduction from the debt as at than 20,000 poles and in the long term, more than December, 2018, as a result of recent over recoveries by 50,000. I must hasten to say that production will the industry. We are in the process of sourcing funds to diversify into other sectors such as poles for agric address this challenge. fencing and related matters; Given the time Mr Chairperson, I will skip some (iii) Repair and manufacture of distribution power paragraphs and try to focus on those that I believe are transformers as this would entail the establishment important. of a factory for the local manufacture and repair of distribution of power transformers. In the short Mr Chairperson, safety, health and environment are term, we need 530 units, 2,200 units in the medium important in our sector. My ministry, through the term and 4,000 units in the long term. There will Department of Mines, carries out periodic inspections of also be the need to pursue potential for exports. mining, quarrying, and prospecting operations to ensure that the safety laws and standards in these operations are (iv) Small-scale solar photovoltaic generation on rooftops. There are opportunities here for job enforced and adhered to. In 2018, a total of 22 accidents, creation resulting from the establishment of including three fatalities were reported by the industry small to medium scale companies for installation, compared to 20, including two fatalities in 2017. My operation, and maintenance. Legislation is being ministry’s target is to make sure that we achieve an reviewed to allow for consumers to generate accident-free mining environment.

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Citizen Safety We train people from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, including 42 participants, My ministry will continue to use its seismic stations and seven of these are Batswana. I have engaged to monitor earthquakes around the country. This will JOGMEC to upgrade the Remote Sensing Centre to help to detect and locate earthquakes in Botswana and become a centre of excellence. surrounding areas in order to understand the causes therefrom. This will contribute in public seismic safety Mr Chairperson, Botswana imports 100 per cent of its goal of minimising loss of human life, property damage, cement from neighbouring countries after the closure of social and economic disruptions, Selebi Phikwe Matsiloje cement plant. Collaborative efforts between the included. Botswana Geoscience Institute and Botswana Institute for Technology, Research and Innovation (BITRI) Environmental Protection to evaluate limestone deposits sufficient to reduce We are also embarking on safety and protection of the cement imports started last year and it is expected to be environment as my ministry has embarked on a project completed this year. The project areas are in Letlhakeng, to rehabilitate 58 shafts of old mine workings in the Tsokung, Serorome valley and Nakalaphala. This should Matsiloje and Patayamatebele areas. in a way support the manufacturing of concrete products alluded to earlier. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES The investigation on mineral potential for Rare Earth Citizen Economic Empowerment Elements (REE) that are mainly used in high-tech products such as cell phones, battery metals, such as Botswana Oil has paid in excess P100 million to lithium, cobalt and tantalum are in high demand. The Batswana citizens’ owned companies for services that investigation started in May 2018. Further investigations they provide. The company has also sold in excess of are also being made to evaluate industrial minerals such P11 million litres for onward distribution, translating as granites and ornamental stones. into P80 million in revenue for citizen owned companies. Botswana Oil has made deliberate decision to procure BUDGET ESTIMATES products and services from local companies to build their capacity. Mr Chairperson, my ministry’s total budget estimates amount to Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Seven From April to December 2018, dry goods and services Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, were procured at a total of Twenty-One Million, Two Seven Hundred and Twenty Pula (P2,707,826,720). Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand (P21,258,000), The figure represents a decrease of Eight Hundred and of which P20 million or 96 per cent were from local Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Eighteen Thousand, citizens. Six Hundred and Forty-Nine Pula (P813,918,649) or 23 per cent from the current year’s allocation of Three Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) has Billion, Five Hundred and Twenty-One Million, Seven made a number of purchases. Out of these, 73 were Hundred and Forty-Five Thousand, Three Hundred and citizen owned companies for the period of November Sixty-Nine Pula (P3,521,745,369). 2018 to January 2019. It is projected that more will be done through Economic Diversification Drive Recurrent Revenue and Budget Estimates (EDD) and citizen economic empowerment. BERA has approved 41 licenses out of 84 that were submitted in Mr Chairperson, allow me to go briefly into the specifics the reporting period. of these budgetary estimates. The projected total revenue for 2019/2020 financial year amounts to 13.6 billion VALUE ADDITION from this sector. The budget is expected to decrease by P547.6 million as compared to the current revised Mr Chairperson, regarding intellectual property and budget of P14.2 billion for the financial year 2018/2019. innovation, we are currently in a partnership with the The bulk of the decrease is expected from the mineral Japan Oil, Gas and Metals Corporation (JOGMEC), royalties and dividends. who have established a Remote Sensing Centre in Lobatse. The centre is engaged in projects such as Mr Chairperson, as stated above, the total Recurrent Geological Revision Mapping of South East, Botswana. Budget estimates for the financial year 2019/2020

34 Hansard No 193 Tuesday 5th March 2019 ORGANISATION 1000: MINISTRY OF MINERAL RESOURCES, GREEN TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY SECURITY Committee of Supply

is Seven Hundred and Thirty-Three Million, Sixty- Twenty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty Pula One Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy Pula (P2,707,826,720) in the Consolidated Fund be approved (P733,061,670). This represents an increase of Three and stand part of the Schedule of the Appropriation Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million, One Hundred (2019/20) Bill 2019. The sum of Seven Hundred and and Twenty-Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Ten Thirty-Three Million, Sixty-One Thousand, Six Hundred Pula (P327,127,210) or 81 per cent from this year’s and Seventy Pula (P733,061,670) in the Recurrent allocation of Four Hundred and Five Million, Nine Estimates, and that the sum of One Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Four Thousand, Four Hundred Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, Seven Hundred and and Sixty Pula (P405,934,460) Significant increase is Sixty-Five Thousand and Fifty Pula (P1,974,765,050) mainly due to BCL funding for care and maintenance. Out of this budget, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Three in the Development Fund… Million, Sixty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy MR CHAIRPERSON: Honourable Molale, read out Pula (P733,061,670) goes to the ministry headquarters. those figures again. The remaining 6.4 per cent or Forty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred MR MOLALE: I was saying, in the Recurrent and Sixty Pula (P46,977,560) is distributed amongst the Estimates, the sum of One Billion, Nine Hundred and departments as follows; (i) Mines being P25,504,160 and Seventy-Four Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty- (ii) Department of Energy with a share of P21,473,400. Five Thousand and Fifty Pula (P1, 974, 765, 050) be The Development Budget Estimates approved and stand part of the estimates in accordance with the amendments made on the Estimates Book. I Mr Chairperson, I request One Billion, Nine Hundred thank you Mr Chairperson. and Seventy-Four Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty- Five Thousand and Fifty Pula (P1,974,765,050) under MR CHAIRPERSON: I will just let you be but there is the Development Budget. This represents a decrease of no thousand million figure. The floor is open. 35.1 per cent from the current year’s budget. ASSISTANT MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL The largest share of my ministry’s Development Budget, DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY (MR which is Nine Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million and MARKUS): Thank you Mr Chairperson. I rise in Fifty Pula (P927,000,050) representing 46.9 per cent support of the Minister’s budget proposal. I support you is allocated to Botswana Power Corporation (BPC). sir. Honourable Members, let me point out that I am Major projects to benefit from this are the North-West Transmission Grid Connector, as well as Mochudi and grateful for the mines like Khoemacau which are going Tlokweng substations. to be opened at Toteng in the North West Constituency. It already has over 500 people. On top of that, we Mr Chairperson, the second largest share is P600 are hoping that it will employ 1 200 workers. We are million that goes to the tariff support programme, non- grateful for it because most people had already moved cost reflective tariffs, that is the subsidy. to Toteng but the closing down of the mine for the past The National Oil Security Programme is allocated two years has brought poverty to Batswana. Most of the P250 million for Tshele. Rural electrification has been people who were there had left their jobs where they allocated P160 million, and Thirty-Seven Million, Seven were working with the hope that they will find greener Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand Pula (P37,765,000) pastures at that mine. Thank you. for my ministry’s development is shared between Mineral Resource Exploration and Green Technology Most people have currently submitted their applications Programmes for my ministry. there but let us give first priority to those we affected by the retrenchment. They still have obligations which they CONCLUSION were left with. They should be given an opportunity to Mr Chairperson, my presentation of the 2019/20 go back and work in the mines so that they can sustain Recurrent and Development Budgets concludes here. their families which they deserted when they were poor. I request to move that the sum of Two Billion, Seven North West people have been eagerly waiting for this Hundred and Seven Million, Eight Hundred and mine.

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We are grateful for the electricity connection at North West constituency and or Maun East which I am representing. It seems like we will have electricity at Sankoyo and Mababe. Sankoyo and Mababe communities are grateful, for you have ensured that they have electricity at such remote areas. Sankoyo and Mababe villages are very far and they do not have amenities at all. It is a big achievement for them to have services like electricity in their area. They are very grateful.

MOTION

ADJOURNMENT

LEADER OF THE HOUSE (MR TSOGWANE): Mr Speaker, it is time for the Honourable Members to go and rest, they have headaches. Thank you

Question put and agreed to.

The Assembly accordingly adjourned at 6:00 p.m. until Wednesday 6th March, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

36 Hansard No 193 HANSARD RECORDERS Mr. T. Gaodumelwe, Mr T. Monakwe, Ms T. Kebonang HANSARD REPORTERS Ms T. Rantsebele, 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 EDITORS Ms K. Nyanga, Ms C. Chonga, Mr K. Goeme, Ms G. Phatedi, Ms B. Malokwane, Mr A. Mokopakgosi, Ms O. Nkatswe, Ms G. Lekopanye Ms T. Mokhure, Ms B. Ratshipa

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

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

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