08 Jul 2014

Legislators on Monday (July 7) supported the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Bill, 2014 (No. 12 of 2014).

The Bill seeks to provide for the prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer and use of chemical weapons and other related matters.


Debating the motion, the MP for Mahalapye East Ms Botlogile Tshireletso called for the Bill to include public education on the dangers of chemical weapons, saying most Batswana are naïve when it comes to such issues, something which she said can put their lives in danger especially in this era of globalization where terrorist activities may not be far from Botswana.


The MP for Kanye North, Mr Kentse Rammidi also supported the Bill, saying there is no way Botswana can ignore the dangers of chemical weapon.

Mr Rammidi was however, skeptical about the composition of the Board of Authority saying it is worrying that it only consists of civil servants and Botswana Institute of Technology, Research and Innovation, which he said is as good as the civil service.


Mr Rammidi said such composition makes the board susceptible to manipulation if government wants to contravene the Bill or conceal any carelessness of its part.

In this light he called for the inclusion of the civil society and academics from the highest institutions of learning such as the University of Botswana to sit on the board.
He said this will ensure that interests of a wide range of stakeholders are catered for.

The MP for Kweneng East, Maj.Gen. Moeng Pheto also supported Mr Rammidi and called for a re-look at the composition of the board beyond the civil service, but called for the minister to revisit the clauses about punishable offences under the Bill.


He said that charges such as P25 million stated in Clause 13 may appear hefty enough to deter any offence, but cautioned that terrorisms is a money spinning activity and that such an amount maybe easy to pay.


Maj Gen Pheto therefore pleaded with the minister to include punishment such as life sentences and capital punishment rather than monetary charges.

The MP for Palapye, Mr Moiseraela Goya also supported the Bill and appreciated the effort by the minister for being quick to implement the recommendations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which is under the aegis of the United Nations.


Mr Goya however, said the Board of Authority should include the Ministry of Education and Skills Development as students use chemicals across schools in the country. Mr Goya also called for the Board of Authority to be chaired by a chemical expert rather than a permanent secretary.

He was also concerned that the Bill calls for a person to notify the Director of the Authority when they want to transfer any chemical weapons, saying the Bill should instead state that such a person asks for permission.


The MP for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Gilson Saleshando called the minister to tighten any loopholes to ensure that even long term effects that may be caused by such chemicals as the sulphur emitted at the Selebi Phikwe mine are included.

Responding to the comments, the Minister of Defense, Justice and Security, Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse explained that the Bill only seeks to control chemicals that can be used as weapons of war, saying other chemicals such as sulphur are the responsibility of the Radiation and Protection Unit.


He said public education has been provide for in the Bill, and assured the house that he will re-look the composition of the Board of Authority and include the civil society and other stakeholders outside government.

He however, said the Permanent Secretary is the most senior government representative and cannot be excluded from chairing the board. He said in the most unfortunate event that the government can want to contravene the Bill, even a chairperson who is not a civil servant can be manipulated.


He also promised to reconcile the monetary charges and prison terms that the house complained are not commensurate, and said the expected Proceeds and Instruments of Crime Bill will cover the punishment for proceeds from such crimes.


In conclusion, Mr Seretse said notification means that the authority will assess and issues a permit.
 ENDS