10 Aug 2017

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale has presented to Parliament the National Assembly salary and allowances amendment bill, which  seeks  for a four per cent salary adjust  of the members.  

Presenting the bill amendments to Parliament on August 8, Minister Molale indicated that the bill not only pursued to adjust MPs' salaries, but would also seek to adjust their constituency allowance by 40 per cent as well as align their salaries with public services salary structures with effect from  April 1.

When debating on the bill amendments, Vice President Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi supported the bill highlighting that MPs had been tolerant and considerate in accepting an inadequate amount of remuneration for their duties.  

He underscored the important principle of ensuring that people got rewarded to do the very job they had been sent to do by the electorate, adding that a bill that sought to make adjustments following many years of self-endorsed oppressions of income should be most welcomed.

MP for Boteti West, Mr Slumber Tsogwane supported the amendments, saying it had been Parliament practice that National Assembly salary amendments bills were tabled in Parliament whenever government decided to consider public service salaries increment, something he said promoted transparency as MPs' salary increments would be discussed in public domain.

Mr Tsogwane, also Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, highlighted that MPs were not paid lucratively as some people may suggest, but were paid far less that some of the public servants they were meant to supervise.

He said the cost of living had escalated and MPs were also expected to constantly visit their electorate to consult and keep in touch with issues at constituency level with some MPs having vast and difficult terrains in their constituencies, which he said was costly to maintain.

He said MPs and councillors needed to be applauded for dedicating their lives to serving the nation for years in the past with limited resources and therefore urged the minister to also consider adjusting councillors' salaries as well.

Mr Tsogwane suggested that politicians should be paid an attractive salary that would attract educated people to quit their jobs and join politics, something he said could have a positive impact on the country's economy.

Further, Francistown South MP,  Mr Wynter Mmolotsi also supported the bill, but called for Parliament to establish the parliamentary service commission to review the Parliament condition of service.

He said an independent body like the Parliament service commission might be better positioned to make MPs salary adjustments in good faith without fulfilling self-interests.

He admitted that MPs and councillors had not been accordingly remunerated as they at times ended up using their personal resources to serve the electorate. ENDS