11 Feb 2024

Tonota Member of Parliament, Mr Pono Moatlhodi has appealed to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to consider supplementary registration for this year’s general election.

Responding to the 2024 budget speech recently, Mr Moatlhodi  noted that  the 1.3 million  voters target had not been met at the close of registration on February 3.

He therefore called for a supplementary registration to ensure that the intended voter registration target was achieved.

“As the IEC goes about its reconciliation process and budgets permitting, let there be supplementary registration as I believe that given a second chance, Batswana would register in large numbers and ultimately reach the intended target set by the IEC,” he said.

Concerning political party funding, the legislator said the fund was a welcome idea given the harsh economic climate the country was experiencing.

“But a lot still remains to be done, Minister Serame, go and come back with a bill that shall guide us on which party and under which conditions can find its way to the said fund,” he said.

He further commended the  Chema Chema fund, aimed at supporting the informal sector. 

“I encourage members of the informal sector to take advantage of the proposal,” he said, noting  its potential to transform the lives of Batswana.

On food security, Mr Moatlhodi said some Batswana were happy with the Temo  Letlotlo initiative and President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s support for the agriculture sector. 

“I therefore thank our President for his participative leadership in ensuring that the Temo Letlotlo initiative is realised,” he said.

On education, he said he was concerned about the poor grades at both Junior Certificate and Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education levels 

“I appeal to the minister to investigate this matter as well as to probe on the dilapidated state of government schools,” he said.

Mr Moatlhodi said the strides that Minister Serame and her team had made in addressing budget deficits over the years, especially given the fiscal consolidation challenges the country continued to face, was admirable. 

“Our deficits were reaching P11.10 billion and P16.40 billion respectively, and with the proper reconciliation that you and your staff handled, we ended up at P127.89 million,” he said. Ends