22 Nov 2023

Unity and tolerance of political, religious and cultural differences is vital to achieve a peaceful nation. Member of Parliament for Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy said this when debating the SONA on November 21.

 He said political tolerance especially, was vital as it was a key principle of democracy and a basis for economic growth. “No foreign investor would want to set base here if there is no political stability,” said Mr Billy who is also the Assistant Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture. 

Mr Billy said he was concerned at what he said was the deteriorating political tolerance inside Parliament, which he said made sharing of ideas among members of different political parties difficult. 

He said such a division would therefore make it difficult for legislators to collectively work for the electorate. On other issues, he said Francistown internal roads needed reconstruction as most had reached their lifespan. 

Mr Billy said efforts were made to fix the roads through the constituency community projects funds, but the funds were not enough. 

He also called for the upgrading of Selepa junior school to a unified one to reduce long distance travel by pupils to Mater Spei College and Francistown senior school. 

Mr Billy applauded government for the recent acquisition of land from the Tati Company, and urged government to ensure that the land was redistributed to ordinary people and churches as they had long been on the waiting list. 

For his part, Serowe North legislator, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe decried the increment in application fees for harvesters and exporters’ permits for natural resources. He said the move was heavy for his constituents as most of them relied on the harvesting and exporting of phane to make a living.

“At the moment most constituents cannot even afford to buy school uniform for their children because the application fees for both permits are beyond their means,” he said. 

He therefore urged government to reconsider the fees. 

He also complained that most schools in his constituency were in dire need of maintenance. ENDS