26 Jul 2016

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi says there are no registered private investigation companies, security companies and other companies providing private investigation services since no legislation provides for for private investigation.

However, when answering a question in Parliament, Mr Kgathi said the new private Security Services Act of 2014, which has not yet come into effect provided for private investigation services, adding  that this would commence once the drafting of the regulations was completed and the private security services board established.

He said the new act did not provide companies with access to wiretapping equipment.The Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, had asked the minister if there was any registered private investigation companies, security companies providing private investigation services.

He also wanted the minister to state the law that gave  authority of the practice and if those companies had access to wiretapping.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse said he was not aware that the agricultural industry had declined drastically since independence.

Mr Autlwetse was responding to a question from the Member of Parliament for Nata-Gweta, Mr Polson Majaha. On the contrary, Mr Autlwetse said, the agricultural sector had grown significantly since independence.

“There were no commercial arable farmers in 1966, today, there are 90 commercial arable farmers producing an average of three tons per hectare of cereal, subsistence farmers produce 500 per hectare compared to less than 200kg per hectare at independence. There were no horticultural producers in 1966,” he said.

He said to date, the country was 55 per cent self- sufficient in horticultural produce, adding that Botswana produces 10 per cent of the national demand for honey, while there was no honey production in 1966.

“The livestock sector has also shown significant growth in the last fifty years: the livestock population stands at 2.5 million and 1.8 million for cattle and small stock respectively, cattle mortality is 12 per cent, offtake stands at 8.4 per cent and the average cold dress mass is 200kg,” he said.Mr Autlwetse further said, at independence agriculture contributed 40 per cent to the GDP and not 80 per cent.

“Currently the contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDP is two per cent. This apparent decline is caused by growth of other sectors in the economy that have come into picture as government promoted economic diversification,” he said.

He explained that some of the sectors that had grown at a faster rate than agriculture were, mining, tourism, manufacturing, trade, construction, business services and transport & communication.

“My ministry has put in place several programmes and projects to improve agricultural productivity. These include but are not limited to the National Agricultural Master Plan for Arable Agriculture & Dairy

Development (NAMPAADD), Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD), Livestock Management & Infrastructure Development (LIMID), Young Farmers Fund (YFF) and Artificial Insemination (AI),” he said.

The Nata- Gweta legislator, Mr Majaha had wanted to know if the minister was aware that the agricultural industry had declined drastically.

He also asked what might have caused the problem in the country since the industry used to contribute 80 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product and if there were measures in place to improve the situation. Ends