11 Dec 2014

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi
 Masisi, says he will in due course cease to be  Minister of Education and Skills Development.

“I have told my colleagues about these impending changes and the fact that the President needs assistance as he currently has too much in his hands,” he said when addressing a kgotla meeting in Moshupa on December 11.

The Moshupa/Manyana constituency MP was appointed minister after the October 24 general elections  but continued on the post upon his appointment to the vice presidency.

On other issues, Mr Masisi explained that the challenge on the parliamentary procedure of electing the Speaker of the National  Assembly and the deputy Speaker, as well as endorsement of the Vice President after the elections was to close any legal loophole in as far as the constitutionality of the process was concerned.

He said some people, including legal brains, had cast aspersions on the legality of the process hence the court challenge. The Vice President added that it was at that point that a consensus was reached to take the matter to the courts of law for 
interpretation and finality.

“The move to take the matter to the High Court and subsequently the highest court in the land had settled the matter beyond any doubt and government business is ongoing.”

Mr Masisi also used the opportunity to thank the electorate, stating that civil servants and the youth were important constituents whose voices could not be ignored. He promised to do his best and engage all to ensure improved quality of life for Batswana.

In their comments, the residents commended Mr Masisi on his appointment to the vice presidency and wished him well. One of the residents, Mr Koone Matshidiso assured Mr Masisi of the residents’ support and called on him to fully discharge his duties  as MP. He decried the lack of  a hospital in Moshupa.

For his part, Southern District commissioner, Mr Moses Gaealafswe encouraged the residents to attend the District Development Plan consultative meetings to air their views on development plans for their area.

He said the forum offers them a platform to decide on the projects they would like to have in their area. “It is during such platforms that you will prioritise projects depending on their importance as seen by you,” he said.

 Southern District Council chairperson, Mr Mephato Reatile explained that landboards across the
country were doing their best to allocate residential plots, but shortage of water to develop the land remained a challenge. He therefore, requested  that provision of funds to acquire water pipes be given priority. ENDS