13 Dec 2016

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Maun East, Mr Markus Kostantinos says government decision to shut down BCL mine was not meant to punish anyone, but to save government from spending billions on rescuing the mine.

Therefore Mr Kostantinos said it was wrong for people to think that government was punishing BCL workers by closing the mine, which he said did not reflect well on government.

Debating the State-of-the Nation address, Mr Kostantinos expressed his joy over President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama report that BOSETU mine would open in 2017 adding that the mine was a big part of the Ngamiland and Chobe communities.

Like other MP’s, he said unemployment was worrying more so that it affected the youth who spent many years at universities studying.

He also agreed with other legislators that it was important for Parliament proceedings to be aired live on television, which he said would allow the voters to view if their representatives were keeping their promises and speaking on their behalf.

MP for Molepolole South, Dr Tlamelo Mmatli said there was need for a thorough audit  at BOT50 so that the P130 million awarded for the celebrations could be accounted for.

He concurred that the unemployment rate was one of the worrying issues in Botswana as graduates with special skills continue to roam the streets which meant that their skills are going in to waste.

He highlighted that the water crisis in Molepolole keeps getting worse adding that his constituents were feeling the pinch because they had to resort to buying bottled water. The MP said government should invest in sports especially

at grassroots level so that Botswana could have world class athletes.ENDS