15 Aug 2019

Francistown South MP, Mr Winter Mmolotsi says based on his track record and performance during the just ended Parliament session, it was now up to constituents to use their vote to ensure that he goes back to Parliament to continue where he left of.

Mr Mmolotsi said this during a kgotla meeting in Francistown on Wednesday. He said throughout his tenure as a Member of Parliament, he had tabled a number of motions, some of which were debated and adopted by Parliament.

One such motion, he said, advocated for married couples to be separately issued with plots. He said the bill was now waiting for the President to sign into law.

Mr Mmolotsi added that once signed into law, the legislation would come handy especially when couples went their separate ways. He noted that in the past people were left stranded and without homes following divorce.

The Francistown lawmaker expressed happiness that one of the bills pertaining to optimal use of land would allow Batswana to use half of their ploughing fields productively by engaging in any other business besides farming.

He stated that it would be done without land owners having to ask for permission from the land board.

Mr Mmolotsi also informed residents about the Botswana Meat Commission Transition Bill, which he said was intended to end the parastatal’s monopoly and liberalise the beef market.

Ward Development Committee (WDC) chairperson, Ms Elizabeth Morebodi complained about poor attendance by residents, especially some WDC members. She urged residents to vote for people who would be proactive in pushing for developments in their area.

She also complained about crime in the area, especially the stealing of car batteries by thieves at night, saying it was on the rise in Francistown and the surrounding areas.

Kgosi Pogisego Mosarwe was also not pleased with the low turn-out of people who attended the meeting. He said it did not augur well with the principle of consultation that had glued together the people of Botswana. He urged residents to go in large numbers and exercise their right to vote during elections due this year.

Commenting, residents commended their MP for having done well as a law maker since 2014.

Some, however, were not happy that the City of Francistown had been neglected following the closure of the mines.

Responding, Mr Mmolotsi said he also observed that Francistown was ignored. He said he even asked the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security about government’s intentions as far as the re-opening of the mines.

“The minister responsible has told me that once a position has been taken on the matter, the public will be appraised,” he said. ENDS