13 Aug 2013

National Assembly librarian, Mr Keorileng Moatswi says the Botswana Speaks pilot project will benefit from eParliament schemes that had been successfully implemented in some parts of the world.

Speaking at the implementation of the project in Sowa, Mr Moatswi said Botswana Speaks Platform aimed at improving parliamentary efficiency, as it facilitated communication between the Members of Parliament (MP) and the citizenry.

Mr Moatswi said it would also increase policy responsiveness and expand good governance through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative provided a user friendly, innovative, open online communication and SMS platform through which MPs could view citizens` messages and treat them as meaningful policy preference that would lead to actions with wider societal impact, he said.

Mr Moatswi said citizens could send messages directly via on line portal, adding that negotiations were still on going to facilitate sending voice messages to a toll free number.

He said the project was being piloted in four constituencies of Nata/Gweta, Maun West, Boteti North and South East South, adding that the pilot phase was established in April 2012 and would be concluded in December this year.

In addition, he said citizens would have the opportunity to join the debate on Botswana Speaks Platform on bills and specific issues that would be discussed in parliament.

He said the citizens from the four constituencies share opinions, ask questions and request an action from the elective representatives in Parliament via the Botswana Speaks Platform.

Mr Moatswi said MPs from those areas would have clear direct views of their constituents concerns and therefore would be able to address them.

“MPs will take citizens voice into account in order to have an informed debate during Parliamentary sessions and committee meetings,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Bond Mabalane said it was difficult for the residents to attend meetings, and explained that the project was launched in Sowa on February 2013.

He said government has introduced e-government to update its services, but that they still encounter some challenges because of slow network.

Kgosi Mabalane said the introduction of the initiative does not mean that the public should stop the traditional way of communicating with their MPs. However, he encouraged them to use the Botswana Speaks Platform at www.botswanaspeaks. Ends