12 Jul 2015

Despite majority of Members of Parliament supporting the idea of transforming Botswana College of Agriculture into a University, some members of the opposition are skeptical about the idea.

The issue of governance or improper management of local high level education institutions seemed to be worrying some MPs.

Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa said government should come up with proper governance structures or best practices of governance which he described as independent structures which would see the Botswana University of Agriculture progressing.

Mr Nkaigwa said the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Bill should be clear on whether it would condone politics at the University or not, as people who would be enrolled there some would be those that are interested in politics.

Member of Parliament for Okavango, Mr Bagalatia Arone also had problems with the way local universities were managed, noting that if the proposed University was going to be managed like the current system, he didn’t see it going anyway.

He said the university should be managed by a relevant team of professionals, and that it should have the qualified Vice Chancellor and the best members of the Council.
Mr Arone therefore did not support the idea of transforming the college into a university.

However, Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP, Mr Shawn Nthaile observed that it was surprising that government realised now after so many years that the country needed a University of such magnitude.

He said government has somehow for many years delayed to come up with such an idea that would have long benefited the Agriculture sector in Botswana.
Gaborone Central MP, Mr Phenyo Butale also noted that such a university would require autonomy to progress.

He suggested that instead the country could be planning on having a research university as opposed to a mainstream university.

Mr Butale said the research university would mean having various campuses across the country dealing with specific areas in the Agricultural field, citing an example of artificial insemination as an area that could be researched on.

However, he noted that research universities were expensive to maintain hence would mean proper funding by government.

Mr Butale said had government established a research university long ago, the country would currently not be struggling with the Foot and Mouth Disease, because research would have been done on that and a solution found.

Meanwhile, Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane supported the Bill, stating that the idea didn’t need any objection, instead embracement and pride as a nation.

He said there was no need to doubt the proposed university as it was clear in the Bill that the current college had adequate staff and infrastructure to transform into a university, while the infrastructure include 700 hectare farm, classrooms, laboratories, student facilities and staff offices at both Sebele and Lobatse campuses. Ends