16 Feb 2022

Members of Parliament have been requested to forgo their sitting allowance in a bid to save funds for national developments.

Debating the 2022/23 budget proposals on Tuesday, MP for Mogoditshane Mr Tumiso Rakgare said government paid parliamentarians P141 750 per week as sitting allowances.

He said given the already tight budget and the need for developments across the country, it was time for MPs to consider surviving with their salaries only.

Mr Rakgare, who is also the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, applauded the Finance and Economic Development minister for the P24 million funds, which would be used for sporting activities in schools.

He further said Botswana was doing everything to ensure the country hosts the African Nations Cup (AFCON) in 2027, adding this would benefit the economy.

MP Rakgare was also pleased with the role the private sector was playing in the development of sports, citing sponsorships from Debswana and Lucara.

He further called for transparency in the procurement processes during implementation of the constituency development projects.

MP for Kgalagadi South, Mr Sam Brooks called for restructuring of the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), saying it had failed to meet the needs of beef producers.

He was happy with the setting up of a solar power plant in Tsabong, adding this would alleviate electricity shortages in the area as they had been relying on South Africa and Namibia.

Meanwhile, Mr Brooks said only people from Kgalagadi area should be given tenders for projects undertaken in the area.

He further said district commissioners should be placed under the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

Mr Brooks was happy that Banyana Farm had been allocated P5.7 million for its development and added that this would benefit Bray. He was, however, concerned that the ban on imported vegetables could be detrimental if South Africa also retaliated and blocked trading on live cattle.

For his part, MP for Serowe North, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe called for maintenance of Sekgoma Memorial Hospital and construction of clinics at Dinokwane and other wards, saying the people walked long distances to access health services. He further said community development projects would create employment opportunities in the constituencies.

MP Mathoothe said people in Paje had been waiting for water reticulation project, which had taken long to be completed.

He also said they had been waiting for completion of a milk processing plant, and also raised a concern that government had bought a second hand refurbished equipment, which was going to prove costly due to frequent maintenance. ENDs