21 Feb 2021

Nkange MP, Dr Never Tshabang has appealed to government to use levies for their intended purposes and not as additional sources of revenue to fund general government expenses.

Airing his views on the proposed 2021/22 budget last Wednesday, Dr Tshabang said the plastic levy should be used to address environmental challenges brought by the indiscriminate disposal of plastics and waste.

On plastics, he said some of them were bio-degradable and should not be taxed. Regarding the sugar levy, he said it should be channeled towards the health sector.

Dr Tshabang further said there had never been accountability over the use of the alcohol levy since its inception, saying it was time government used the levy to assist bar operators whose businesses had been shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He decried what he said was lack of accountability over COVID-19 funds, saying it had resulted in accusations of corruption levelled against the ruling party. He added that they had heard about 40 cases investigated by the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).

The country, he said, should be put under lockdown as positive cases were increasing at an alarming rate. He added that government’s plan to procure vaccines was not clear.

The Nkange legislator called on government to ensure that the local variant was compatible with the AstraZeneca vaccine as it had been proofed to be ineffective against the South African variant.

On other issues, MP Tshabang decried the poor state of schools in his constituency, saying they needed maintenance.

He requested for boarding facilities at Moses Mengwe and Nkange Junior schools, saying pupils travelled long distances from their villages. He also said Tutume Primary Hospital needed routine maintenance while clinics needed ambulances.

Dr Tshabang said it was high time the long promised Tutume police station be built, saying the current police station was built before independence.

The MP was also concerned about the number of years taken before Batswana could be allocated plots, and called upon the finance and economic development minister to adequately fund land boards across the country.

He further said the finance minister should explain to the nation how his government spent P12 billion in a period of 12 months. ENDS