14 Feb 2021

Thamaga MP Mr Pelaelo Motaosane says instead of rightsizing the public sector, vacant posts should be filled through establishment of a sub-district in Thamaga.

Debating the 2021/22 budget proposals on Thursday, MP Motaosane said residents in Thamaga travelled long distances to access services and therefore a Rural Administration Centre (RAC) should be built and properly staffed.

He suggested that instead of retrenchments, personnel should be transferred to Thamaga.

MP Motaosane further called for the maintenance of the Thamaga-Molepolole road, adding it had been at the tendering stage for three years.

Other roads the MP asked for their construction are the Kubung-Moshaweng and Thamaga-Kubung roads, which he said were vital in the economy of the constituency.

MP Motaosane called for equitable distribution of mega developments projects, saying the budget should cover all the 57 constituencies in the country.

He said he was disheartened to learn that the National Development Plan 11 (NDP 11) did not have anything for his constituency while others had railway and major road infrastructure planned for them.

The Thamaga legislator said the time had arrived for the country to introduce toll gates, saying additional revenue would be vital for the economy.

Meanwhile, MP Motaosane suggested that the old Scottish Hospital in Molepolole should be refurbished and used as an isolation centre for COVID-19 patients.

He said the government spent a lot in hotels where patients received sub-standard care

There are a number of public officers’ houses which have been completed but have not yet been connected with electricity and MP Motaosane said this had resulted with a loss of revenue for government. He added that public officers were also faced with shortage of accommodation.

He said ministers should be held responsible for failure to utilise all funds allocated to their ministries.

MP Motaosane welcomed the National Employment Policy but raised concerned that the private sector the government wanted to help grow relied on government tenders which would in the long run drain government coffers.

He opined that projects could continue while matters over tenders were still in courts.

MP Motousane said the National Development Bank (NDB) might as well be privatised since it failed to assist Batswana with loans and was a cost to the government as it reported losses every year.

He further said he was disappointed by the government as it reduced the number of hectares ploughed through ISPAAD without informing the farmers on time.

MP Motaosane further expressed support of the increase  of Value Added Tax (VAT) but called for its postponement to allow Batswana to recover from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

He said plastic levy should be collected from the first day it was introduced. Ends