18 Dec 2017

 Parliament has adjourned bringing to an end six weeks of business mainly focused on President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s final State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA) before he steps down as President in March next year.

In their response to his address, several MPs hailed President Khama for the sound leadership he had rendered to Batswana.

Parliamentarians also praised President Khama for handing over  power to his vice and honouring one of his five ‘Ds’ of democracy. They also praised his support for the creative arts industry as well as his commitment to building decent shelter for the less privileged, and the eradication of abject poverty in all corners of the country.

Before adjournment, Parliament adopted an urgent motion that requested it to resolve that the Public Accounts Committee should meet as a matter of urgency to review the National Petroleum Fund with the assistance of the auditor general.

The motion was tabled by specially elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile. 

He said his reasons were that the auditor general’s report in the previous financial year had indicated that the Petroleum Fund did not submit its books of accounts for compilation to accountant general.

He said in those 2015/16 books, over P154 million was available in the fund then. He said it was important that the fund should appear before the PAC for update and verification of what was available in the fund. 

Mr Reatile noted that out of 33 funds, only the National Petroleum Fund was not audited. He added that it was crucial to audit the fund because it was important in cushioning the country’s economy.

Mr Reatile further argued that the fund was the primary determinant in the control of fuel prices.

 “The fund managers who were engaged to manage the day-to-day business of the fund on behalf of the accounting officer have not submitted statements for the financial year that ended March 31, 2016, and therefore the investments as at that date have not been verified,” he said. 

Supporting the motion, leader of the house and Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said the motion was straight forward.

He said reasons for supporting the motion were born out of the track record of the country and the government’s public accountability to vindicate adherence to the principle.

“We look forward to doing this. Do not doubt our commitment to make it right. That which we owe to Batswana will be done,” he said. Ends