05 Aug 2015

Members of Parliament say there is a need for a permanent solution to the current cash flow challenges facing Botswana Meat Commission (BMC).

Debating the supplementary budget estimates, which requested P300 million as an additional annual provision for BMC, Gaborone South MP, Mr Kagiso Molatlhegi said he did not know what depleted the commission’s funds.

Mr Molatlhegi wanted to know where BMC funds went to since the commission bought cattle from farmers at a lower price and sold them to the European market. 

Mr Molatlhegi said Batswana were poor because they sold their cattle to BMC at giveaway prices, and insisted that the commission should start buying at better prices.

Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa did not support the request by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, saying the country should use state funds wisely.

He noted that it was only in February that Parliament passed the national budget, adding for the Ministry of Agriculture to be requesting supplementary funds for BMC showed that something was wrong with managing the commission.

He said the request would not address the current problem at BMC, and suggested that the commission should present its turnaround strategy than keep on demanding supplementary funds.

Mr Nkaigwa said taxpayers’ money was being wasted by being channeled into an unsustainable enterprise.

On another issue, the Gaborone North MP said the fact that BMC was the only entity allowed to sell cattle outside the country was a disadvantage to local farmers.

He also said the finance and estimates committee, which agreed to the proposed supplementary estimates of expenditure from the consolidated and development funds, should comprise of competent people who would ensure proper usage of government funds.

Meanwhile, Serowe South MP, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi approved the request for supplementary funds, stating that fellow MPs should support the Minister of Finance and Development Planning as it was not a simple thing to present the request to Parliament.

Dr Venson-Moitoi said it was because of challenges at different ministries and government departments that Mr Matambo had to present the paper containing supplementary estimates of expenditure from both consolidated and development funds.

She was, however, also concerned about the money BMC made from cattle sales, asking where the funds were going.

Sefhare-Ramokgonami MP, and Minister of Health, Ms Dorcus Makgato supported the supplementary requests, saying that as the government they would not just sit back and let the challenges at BMC go unsolved, also adding that a permanent solution was required. Ends