01 Mar 2015

Mogoditshane MP, Mr Sedirwa Kgoroba, has called on Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to facilitate venturing into business abroad by way of creating easy links where local entrepreneurs can establish businesses abroad.

Debating Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 2015/2016 budget proposal submitted by Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Mr Kgoroba said foreign missions should play a role in identifying and coming up with opportunities available in countries where Botswana has missions and encourage Batswana entrepreneurs to establish businesses offshore.

He said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has resulted in many foreigners business, “It’s time the ministry comes up with ways of assisting Batswana set up businesses abroad,” he said.

Mr Kgoroba further called for increased presence or visibility of the state president in international forums such as the United Nations, African Unions and other related events where he said critical decisions that require designation of the state head are taken. 

He said when Botswana is absent it may disadvantage the country when decisions are made at that level. 

He added that he acknowledged that the president can delegate a minister but he said that was not enough since there are forums which are closed to ministers when decisions are made but require the presence of the state president. He also suggested that some Botswana ambassadors abroad have diligently served their time and that they should give other Batswana chance to serve abroad and make a difference. 

Further he called for Botswana’s Democratic mantle to be improved upon adding that the world is increasingly changing and that certain reforms must be instituted to rebuild its strength.

Gaborone Central MP, Mr Phenyo Butale said “Countries that have gained independence long after us like South Africa and Namibia have surpassed us in democracy, they have built democratic institutions that are a marvel to watch,” adding that Botswana must take a leaf from them in order to progressively move.

Mr Butale reiterated his position on state media saying government must take the direction of public media which will not be under complete control of the state adding that this will facilitate free flow of information to the public. 

Sharing Mr Kgoroba’s viewpoint Mr Butale also called for prioritisation of key international events that require presence of the head of state, “The voice of Botswana is missing in the world he said,” he said.

Legislator for Sefhare/Ramokgonami and Minister of Health Ms Dorcas Makgatho rebutting most of opposition legislators comments that Botswana’s democracy was declining, said, “Ours is a strong standing democracy, Botswana has actively participated in growing some of the democracies in the region and some continue to come to us and learn democracy,” adding that it was evidence enough to show that democracy still stands in the country contrary to some opposition legislators comments.

Ms Makgato stated that Botswana has been named a middle income economy which some say had disadvantaged some institutions which no longer receive donor funding on that account. 

She said when compared to some countries in the middle income bracket, some have completely gone dry in donor funding, Botswana continued to receive some grants, “the fact that we still receive the grants while others do not it’s because when we are funded we use our funds well and account,” she said. 

She recommended that Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation should devise ways of treating the issue of regional integration which had been a long standing challenge in the ministry adding that strides made will go a long way in easing work at Ministry of Trade and Industry for the reason that it has a dove tailing effect in contributing to economic growth.

Gaborone Bonnington North MP and Leader of Opposition Mr Duma Boko called on the ruling Botswana Democratic Party to work harder to improve the country’s democracy in the manner in which it approaches governance. He said if democracy is weak it may lead to acts of terrorism. 

He decried lack of a rational political field adding that the ruling party uses government resources for campaigning which was unfair to democracy. “Ours is a depreciating democracy…terrorism is in fact developed by this kind of behavior, people get fed up by this and at a certain point resort to other means, work harder to improve our democracy, opposition will soon lose its temper,” he said. 

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leader also called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to work on making it easier for Batswana to access European countries without having to obtain a VISA. 

Selibe Phikwe West MP Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse like other opposition legislators called for representation of the state president in international forums. He said in cases where the Presidents signs deportation of an illegal immigrant, reasons for such deportation must be disclosed.

He also said when Botswana ratifies protocols with other nations, it must fully implement them, “we sign protocols and not fully implement…and sometimes we do not sign. these are discrepancies on our foreign policy standards,” he said.

Further he said Botswana’s Foreign Policy on Swaziland was not in the right standing adding that the Swazi Monarch foreign policy is not anchored on Democratic principles and therefore action must be taken. Mr Keorapetse further called for the ruling party to desist from appointing failed primary elections candidates as commissioners in foreign missions adding that better candidates must be sought to represent Botswana outside, he said. ENDS