08 Apr 2018

Mmember of Parliament for Palapye, Mr Moiseraela Goya has opposed a motion requesting government to encourage financially able senior citizens to waive their Old Age Pension Scheme allowances.

The motion tabled by Ghanzi North, MP Mr Noah Salakae, requested government ‘to consider encouraging willing financially able beneficiaries of the Old Age Pension Scheme to opt out if they feel they do not need it, to enable government to deal with the current social living expense.’

Debating the motion last Friday, Mr Goya said old age pension was a gesture of appreciation from government to senior citizens for their selfless service to the country.

The legislator therefore pointed that the old age pension should be enjoyed by every senior citizen regardless of financial standing.

He further told Parliament that beneficiaries in his constituency had since appreciated the initiative saying ‘they are proud and privileged to be recipients of the pension.’

“I don’t think it will be a good thing for government to ask some old age pensioners with other sources of money to volunteer to opt out of the pension while it was the same government which introduced the scheme,” said the Botswana Democratic Party legislator.

The motion was further opposed by Nata-Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga, who said it would be improper for government to ask some beneficiaries to forgo their allowances.

He said the fact that some old age pensioners had other sources of revenue should not be construed to mean that they did not need the old age pension.

However, the motion received support from Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, who said forfeiting of the pension by financially able beneficiaries would save a lot of money for the scheme.

“The money could then be used for other things or lead to reduction of eligibility age for the old age pension since there would be fewer beneficiaries,” said the Alliance for Progressives legislator.

Maun West MP, Mr Tawana Moremi also supported the motion saying some old age pensioners did not necessarily need the money.

Therefore, he said such pensioners should be encouraged to forgo their pension so that the money could be saved for other important things.

Debate on the motion will continue this Friday. Ends