21 Feb 2016

Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele has accused Leader of Opposition, Mr Duma Boko, fof plagiarising the land policy.

Mr Maele, also Member of Parliament for Lerala-Maunatlala, said this during his debate of the budget speech on February 18. He argued that the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leader had copied the land policy when he debated.

The minister said the land policy indicated that “it is desirable that all land be serviced to ensure delivery of serviced land. Government will continue to encourage and expand private sector participation in land servicing and delivery in all areas of the country. He just took this from the land policy and made it part of his speech. This is plagiarism,” Mr Maele said.

Argument ensued on what the word 'plagiarism' meant which in turn disrupted Parliament proceedings.  Some fuming members of the opposition wanted to stand on various points of order, clarification and procedure to rebuff the minister's claims.

That ended up with Okavango MP, Mr Bagalatia Aron switching off the minister's microphone while he was still on the floor and Mr Arone was consequently sent out of the house for misconduct.

Standing on a point of procedure, MP for Gaborone-Bonnington South, Mr Gaolathe Ndaba said it was an insult to suggest that somebody had plagiarised.

“I had been part of the team that actually prepared the speech and I can confirm to you that people who inserted that passage had not even aware that there was that part in the land policy. So to suggest that its plagiarism is a great insult. ” he said. Ends