26 Feb 2017

Botswana Television will start broadcasting live proceedings of Parliament during the 2017/18 financial year.
Presenting the budget proposals for Parliament, Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale said this therefore has been budgeted for at P3.7 million, getting the largest share out of the P5 640 000 total development budget.
Minister Molale said P1 880 million is required to carry out security upgrades at the National Assembly.
The minister further requested P130 million as recurrent budget for 2017/18 financial year.
He said the amount represented an increase of P12.9 million or 11 per cent over the 2016/17 financial year’s budget due to the overtime allowances, salary and allowance adjustments for MPs.
The major share of the proposed budget, P121 588 620 or 93 per cent is allocated to National Assembly while the remaining share of P8 575 230 or seven per cent is allocated to Ntlo Ya Dikgosi.
Responding to the proposals, the Vice President, who is also MP for Moshupa-Manyana, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi urged MPs to respect one another when the live broadcasting of Parliament proceedings starts.
He pleaded with MPs to learn to disagree in a peaceful manner and respect, which Batswana are known for. As some of his colleagues called for changes in Parliament, Mr Masisi noted that some of them would require Constitutional review such as the need for Chief Justice to table budget proposals for the Judiciary.
He said there was need to review the welfare of MPs, Parliament staff as well as constituency officers whose tenure is tied to the MPs time in office.
The MP for Gaborone South, Mr Kagiso Molatlhegi called for an independent Parliament, saying it should be either the Speaker or an MP presenting a budget instead of the Executive through the minister.
He said Parliament’s role was to make laws, provide oversight and represent the electorate and should be independent in executing its mandate as is one of the three arms of government.
MP Molatlhegi said Parliament should be staffed with experts in law, who could assist MPs in drafting Private Member’s Bills.
Research experts in other fields such as economics, finance and environmental science could also help MPs with relevant information, which could help them when they debate issues in parliament.
He said the Parliamentary Portfolio Committees failed to undertake their duties because of budgetary constraints, hence they could not carry out their function of providing oversight.
MP Molatlhegi further called for the review of the per diem, saying it was insufficient and at times MPs had to dig into their own pockets to finance their external trips while on official duty outside the country.
He said the local MPs were the least paid in Africa, yet they come from a ‘wealthy country’. The Gaborone South MP further said the parliamentary staff structure needed to be reviewed, adding that  some of the officers have been at C1 scale since 2009 and there was no way they could be promoted unless a senior officer dies or resigns.
He said the Parliamentary Staff Allowance should be re-introduced.
MP for Gaborone-Bonnington North, Mr Duma Boko echoed the sentiments, saying Parliament had been relegated, suggesting that it should be at par with other Arms of Government.
He said Parliament acted not as a poodle of the Executive, but as an independent body. MP Boko said this had even created disparities between the Chief Justice, who heads the Judiciary and the Speaker, who heads Parliament, adding that once Parliament had been elevated to its rightful place, everything would fall into place. The Leader of the Opposition said it was a Constitutional anomaly for the minister to present the budget, adding that Parliament must have its own legislative offices together with the capacity to employ and supervise its own staff.
MP for Mahalapye East, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said Botswana lagged behind in increasing the number of women in Parliament.
She further said there was need for a Parliamentary Commission as MPs could not address their welfare issues.
MP for Mochudi West, Mr Gilbert Mangole said times have changed and therefore MPs should not be housed at the Parliamentary Village due to security issues.
Nata-Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga did not support the budget proposals as presented by Minister Molale, saying the P130 million recurrent budget should be increased to P300 million for Parliament to carry out its duties.
Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane also called for the independence of parliament. He said MPs were struggling as they do not have resources such as constituency vehicles.
MP Moswaane called for dikgosi to be given additional powers since Ntlo ya Dikgosi played an advisory role. ENDS