11 Mar 2015

Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane, has moved an urgent motion in Parliament calling for an investigation into the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC).

After the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Gladys Kokorwe, evoked standing order 58.3 to allow four members to show support for MP Moswaane’s motion that was deferred recently, the Francistown West legislator had an opportunity to present his motion.

Mr Moswaane requested government to set up a task force to investigate reports of corruption and maladministration at the BNYC. Mr Moswaane said it was the mandate of government to root out corruption by any possible means.

He said BNYC was set up by government to coordinate government’s interests and youth’s needs. In that respect, MP Moswaane said it was at the interest of government to be concerned by the welfare of an association it had set up to look into young people’s issues.

He cited amongst others the restructuring process which he said was not done in good faith as conditions of service for some employees were not considered. The process of restructuring was to look into amongst others into BNYC’s relevance, mandate, operational functions and the organisational structure to maximize its efficiency and effectiveness.

In comments, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Thapelo Olopeng said they called the execute committee when the storm at the organisation began to gather. The minister said they identified the main challenge being BNYC not being in sync with the ministry and they explained to the committee that it was not autonomous but part of the organisation.

He told Parliament that they were undertaking an external and internal audit to make checks and balances and the report was not ready. He said should the report identify any wrong doings relevant authorities like the DCEC would be engaged.

Mr Olopeng refuted allegations that there were some employees whose contracts of service were terminated but rather they were told the contracts which were nearing expiry would not be renewed. A total of 33 employees contracts had not been renewed out of a staff complement of 46 employees. 

Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa, said Mr Moswaane’s plea was an honorable request. He said the root causes of corruption shall soon be exposed in the country. He said best practices of good governance were vital for organisations such as the youth council.

Mahalapye East MP, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, supported the motion, saying the mover was a visionary and youthful leader. Ms Tshireletso however warned MPs that sometimes debates were ruined by bordering along party lines.  Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, said his party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change detested corruption in all its forms. 

He said they will embrace unequivocally any motion advocating for any form of investigations against corrupt practices. He said the problem would lie in government investigating but it should have been Parliament investigating. He pleaded with the minister to lift suspensions on some employees until investigations were completed. ENDS