09 Apr 2018

Parliamentarians have expressed mixed views towards a motion that requests 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 on April 6, MP for Boteti West, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said it was unnecessary to bring such a motion before Parliament, saying it was up to the financially able pensioners to opt out if they felt they did not need it.

He said pensioners wishing not to get the allowance may do so willingly without any policy coercing them.

“Instead as legislatures we may encourage those willing pensioners to voluntarily do so instead of making a policy that will be difficult to implement,” he said.
Kanye North MP, Mr Patrick Ralotsia said pensioners were free to do whatever they wished with their money, adding that it was not for Parliament to force people to opt out of the pension because it was the same

Parliament that had passed a law for old age pension allowance.

“It would mean that we set the parametres for those that we think should opt out of the pension fund,” he said.

The MP for Mahalapye East, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso argued that the motion was similar to the one previously brought before the house by Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse who had wanted Parliament to review the old age pension allowance. She said during that time, Parliament passed the motion.

She said the motion brought by MP Salakae was redundant because Parliament had made a law for old age allowance and further pointed out that the old age pension should be enjoyed by every senior citizen regardless of their financial standing.

She said beneficiaries in her constituency have said they were proud and privileged to be recipients of the pension.

The MP for Mochudi West, Mr Gilbert Mangole said the motion was meant to encourage willing pensioners to forgo their pension so that the money could be saved for equally deserving government needs, adding that pronouncement to opt out would help a great deal.

He said there should be a policy encouraging some pensioners to opt out.

Specially elected MP, Mr Eric Molale concurred with other ruling party MPs that the motion was redundant, and that the mover of the motion had failed to convince Parliament about the impact that would be brought about by opting out of pension.

Mr Molale said there was no analysis to guide the house about how the possibility of opting out would assist government.

“In any case who does not value old age pension? Who has never shown no use for money?” he asked.

He further said people had choices on how they wished to use their pension, noting that some were already doing that without any motion or policy in place.

The MP for Sefhare/Ramokgonami, Ms Dorcas Makgato said the motion was mischievous and that it was nicely timed. She said ordinary people who had worked hard would be deprived of their pension under the misconception of their financial standing.

Ms Makgato further said it was up to the mover of the motion to encourage people in his constituency to opt out of pension.

The MP for Gaborone North, Mr Haskings Nkaigwa said he supported the motion because it was encouraging willing beneficiaries to opt out.
Parliament will resolve on April 13, whether it approves the motion or rejects it. Ends