03 Jul 2021

The third meeting of the second session of the 12^th Parliament starts Monday (July 5).

Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Phandu Skelemani, said in a press briefing recently that the meeting, which would be held virtually, was expected to run until August 13.

Mr Skelemani stated that the meeting, to be aired on Botswana Television and other media platforms, would focus more on bills and committee reports.

He added that the winter Parliament was expected to consider 14 Bills while 343 questions, some of which were a carryover from the previous meetting, had been noticed.

The Speaker also said five policy documents had been noticed with the meeting further expected to hear private members bills and so far three had been noticed.

Among the gazetted bills is the Ombudsman Bill of 2021 expected to tabled by  Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Kabo Morwaeng.

The object of the Bill is to repeal and re-enact with amendments, the Ombudsman Act, to among other things, expand the functions and powers of the Ombudsman in the protection and promotion of human rights.

Some clauses of the Bill introduce new provisions dealing with the functions and powers of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Other clauses of the Bill provide for the continuation of the office of the Ombudsman and appointment, oath to be taken as well as disqualification, tenure and vacation of office by the Ombudsman.

Meanwhile, the Bill further seeks for miscellaneous provisions such as protection from liability of the Ombudsman staff, offences, regulations and savings and transitional provisions.

Among policies to be presented to Parliament, is The Integrated Waste Management Policy by Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism.

The policy will serve to guide sustainable waste management processes countrywide.

The policy will also address the impacts of ineffective waste management practices as a result of structural weaknesses, resources, lack of information to inform planning and decision-making processes in the waste sector.

It is also geared towards creating a platform for integrated sustainable waste management through adequate planning and resourcing, improving waste regulation and governance besides increased shared responsibility among stakeholders for the protection of public health and the environment. Ends