The National Assembly on Thursday voted against a motion tabled by Chobe Member of Parliament (MP) Mr Simasiku Mapulanga,  to reduce the penalty fee for the loss of a national passport and the exemption of such fees for those affected by natural disasters.

After a debate by legislators, with those from the governing Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) largely voicing opinions against, and those on the opposition isle mostly debating in favour, the majority of MPs voted against Mr Mapulanga’s motion..

The motion sought approval for Parliament to “request government to consider reducing the penalty fee on lost passport to P600 and to also exempt all that are affected by disasters such as flooding and accidents from paying a penalty fee when replacing their passports.”

Motivating for his motion, Mr Mapulanga said those who lose their passport should not be charged up to P1,000 as most of them did not lose their official documents due to negligence, but they needed to use them for travel and identity.

He said paying the amount currently charged was expensive for most of citizens who may be unemployed or struggling to make ends meet, whereas a lower penalty fee on lost passports to P600 and completely reducing any fee for those who were affected by natural disasters would be reasonable.

Buttressing this argument, Okavango West legislator, Mr Kenny Kapinga said he had experience particularly in his prior work in the Botswana Police Service (BPS) where he made representation on behalf of colleagues who had sufficient proof that they lost their passport accidentally, but they were still charged a large sum.

MP Kapinga said there was sufficient proof that many lost their official documents through accident or misadventure without any personal negligence, and the state should not be obstinate in amending existing charges. He also said the authority of the approval of the passport should be transferred to senior civil servants instead of the minister as was currently the case, to remove perceptions of political patronage.

Thamaga/Kumakwane MP, Mr Palelo Motaosane said apart from a few cases of people who may be involved in criminal activity, the vast majority of people lose their passports not out of their own volition, and he thus supported the motion.

He said many lost their passports when they got robbed or their property was affected by incidents beyond their control such as fires, and they should not be penalised by having to pay large sums for their passport renewal.

But the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Gabane-Mmankgodi MP, Major General Pius Mokgware said if a loss of passport occured as a result of  accidents, disasters or robbery and one produced a police affidavit as proof of the nature of their loss they were given passport without a fee.

He said this was also extended to Omang, and as such there was no need for the motion to be passed by Parliament. Maj. Gen. Mokgware said there were currently about 1,000 passports which were awaiting collection as replacements.

He also said Parliament should consider that these passport were produced at a cost to government and a measure of cost recovery was necessary. He also said it would be cumbersome and invite financial costs to rest the administrative decision on the replacement of passports to immigration committees.

Minister of Environment and Tourism, Francistown South legislator, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said it was not the discretion of the minister to assist passport holders, as they could not refuse the application of any citizen if they needed to replace their passports.

He added that there were criminal elements who might seek to use Botswana’s passports for law-breaking transgressions and as such a blanket relaxation of passport replacement fees could reduce administrative checks and balances.

With those who produce affidavits to prove they had genuinely been affected by crime or disasters offered passports without a fee, Mr Mmolotsi said the motion was redundant. Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse put the matter to a vote and the majority voted to negate the motion. ENDS