12 Feb 2023

Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane, will miss this week’s Parliament sitting following his suspension on February 10.

Acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Pono Moatlhodi, suspended MP Moswaane via Standing Orders 60.2 and 60.5 which allowed the Speaker to ‘order a member whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the chambers for the remainder of the day’s sitting and may direct such steps to be taken as are required to ensure compliance with this order.’

The suspension followed an altercation between the Speaker and the Francistown West legislator after the latter had insisted that Parliament suspend the day’s order paper and discuss shortage of diabetes medicines.

Meanwhile, on other issues, Parliament deferred a motion by Mahalapye West MP, Mr David Tshere that requested government to put a moratorium on all licenses for river sand mining along Mahalapye River and small rivers.

In his debate, MP for Nata/Gweta, Mr Polson Majaga suggested that the motion be redirected to parliamentary committee on wildlife, tourism and climate change.

Mr Majaga, who is also the committee’s chairperson, argued that it would be important for the committee to consider the merits of the motion before it could be brought before the National Assembly.

“Sand mining causes degradation of the river systems and damages the surrounding environment not in the Mahalapye region but around the entire country. Therefore it is important for the relevant parliamentary committee to further brainstorm on the motion,” he said.

Mr Majaga said illegal sand mining was a common occurrence countrywide that called for prompt action.

Tabling the motion during the previous Parliament sitting, Mr Tshere had raised concerns regarding the depletion of the river sand along the Mahalapye river basin.  He had expressed concern that big trucks along the Mahalapye River systems harmed the environment, something he said was costly to government.

He had also pleaded with government to review licenses issued to those currently mining and decried the negative degradation of the river and oil spillage that was contaminating grazing land. Ends