Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697705043836.pdf (Botswana)
BOTSWANA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY O R D E R P A P E R (FRIDAY 2ND DECEMBER, 2022) QUESTIONS HRS/MINS 0900 - 0945 1.

MR. D. L. KEORAPETSE, MP.
(SELEBI PHIKWE WEST): To ask the Minister of Justice to update this Honourable House on the number of Batswana who have been put under civil imprisonment for failure to pay debts in Selebi Phikwe Prisons since 2016; he should further state and explain: (24) (i) (ii) the number of all Batswana who have been put under civil imprisonment since April 2018 across the country; if the numbers are going up or down and to explain this phenomenon; (iii) whether there is justice in imprisoning Batswana who cannot sincerely honour their financial obligations due to abrupt their circumstances beyond unemployment, poverty and/or sudden destitution; and control like (iv) if there is consideration of policy intervention to ameliorate the situation, for instance outlawing civil imprisonment for genuine failure to pay debts.
2.

MR. J. L. THIITE, MP.
(GHANZI NORTH): To ask the Minister of Agriculture to state: (42) (i) whether he is aware that arable farmers across the nation have decried that Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) buying prices for their products is very low as compared to the previous years; (ii) BAMB’s 2014/2015 and 2021/2022 marketing season producer prices for Tswana Cowpeas and Black Eyed Cowpeas; (iii) if in view of the rising production costs in arable farming his Ministry has any plans to review the prices; and 1 (iv) what other action his Ministry will take to counter the rise in production costs in arable farming, reduce the grain import bill and underutilisation of ploughing fields to create a thriving, inclusive, transformed and sustainable arable farming.
3.

MR. O. REGOENG, MP.
(MOLEPOLOLE NORTH): To ask the Minister for State President to state: (43) (i) whether it is not prudent to segment the country’s largest pension fund, Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF) into various employment categories to spread the risk and minimise the impact of any possible eventuality; (ii) if the Minister is alive to the possibility that any single major shock in the market may crash the entire fund in its current form and forever dent the integrity of the country’s pension system and thus making it difficult for Government to honour payment of pensions that are due; (iii) the BPOPF’s total assets and how much is invested locally; and (iv) if she is satisfied with BPOPF in its current form.
4.

MR. M. BALOPI, MP.
(GABORONE NORTH): To ask the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development whether all the people who own or occupy residential land within the jurisdiction of Gaborone City Council are liable to pay rates, and further state: (44) (i) how the City Council spends the said rates; and (ii) whether Gaborone North residents and in particular Gaborone North Farms residents are fulfilling this obligation and if so, what benefit they derive from their compliance, in view of the fact that they currently get very little services compared to some other areas of Gaborone in terms of refuse collection and road maintenance.
5.

MR. P. P. P. MOATLHODI, MP.

(TONOTA): To ask the Minister of Lands and Water Affairs if he is aware that Tonota Sub Land Board continues to refuse to register titles for most of Dikgotla tsa Tetlanyo and if so, to state: (52) (i) the reasons thereof; and (ii) what plans are in place to ensure that such Dikgotla are duly registered given that most of them have been in existence as far back as 1966.

2 6.

MR. W. B. MMOLOTSI, MP.


(FRANCISTOWN SOUTH): To ask the Minister of Lands and Water Affairs to give an update regarding the amendment of the Sectional Title Act to allow for the purchase of Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) flats units.

(63) NOTICE OF MOTIONS AND ORDERS OF THE DAY MOTIONS HRS/MINS 0945 – 1230 PROHIBITION OF OBTAINING TRADING LICENCES FOR BUSINESSES WITH THE SAME BENEFICIAL OWNERS 1.
“That this Honourable House resolves that in order to achieve a more inclusive economy in which Batswana truly share prosperity and participate in wealth creation, Government considers prohibiting businesses with the same beneficial owners from obtaining trading licenses within the same value chain.” (Mr. T. Letsholo, MP.

– Kanye North) (Resumed Debate) MORATORIUM ON ALL LICENSES FOR RIVER SAND MINING ALONG MAHALAPYE RIVER 2.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to put a moratorium on all licenses for river sand mining along Mahalapye River and all other smaller rivers in Mahalapye Sub District.” (Mr. D. Tshere, MP.

– Mahalapye West) GOVERNMENT TO UPGRADE McCARTHY’S RUST AND BOKSPITS BORDER POSTS TO COMMERCIAL BORDERS 3.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to upgrade McCarthy’s Rust and Bokspits border posts to commercial borders, to allow transportation of goods between Botswana and South Africa and to adjust working hours from 0800-1600hours to 0600-1800hours.” (Mr. S. J. Brooks, MP.

– Kgalagadi South) GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE A LIVING WAGE 4.

“That this Honourable House requests Government to introduce a living wage policy as opposed to minimum wage.” (Dr. N. Tshabang, MP.
– Nkange) 3 GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT STIPEND 5.

“That unemployment benefit stipend for the unemployed Batswana.” this Honourable House requests Government to consider (Mr. D. L. Keorapetse, MP.

– Selebi Phikwe West) GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER DEVELOPING AND OPTIMISING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF SEGODITSHANE RIVER CANAL 6.

“That this Honourable House requests Government to develop and optimise the economic value of Segoditshane River canal.” (Mr. T. Mangwegape-Healy, MP.
– Gaborone Central) DESIGNATING MAUN A SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE FOR TOURISM 7.

“That this Honourable House resolves to request Government that Maun be designated a Special Economic Zone for tourism.” (Mr. D. Saleshando, MP.

– Maun West) REVIEW OF THE POLICY ON ALLOCATION OF BOREHOLES IN COMMUNAL AREAS 8.

9.
9.

“That this Honourable House requests Government to consider reviewing the current policy concerning the allocation of boreholes in communal areas with a view to reduce the radius between boreholes from six (6) kilometres to four (4) kilometres in areas where the 6km radius is no longer feasible.” (Dr. K. Gobotswang, MP.
– Sefhare-Ramokgonami) GOVERNMENT TO HARMONISE ALL PROFESSIONAL BODIES ACTS “That this Honourable House resolves to request Government to harmonise all professional bodies’ Acts, such as Real Estate Botswana, Engineers Registration Botswana, Botswana Health Professional Council and any other with Botswana Qualifications Authority.” (Mr. O. Ramogapi, MP.

– Palapye) REGULATION OF INTERNATIONAL SELF DRIVE CUSTOMERS 10.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to regulate international self drive customers to utilise local companies in undertaking their game drives and related activities in local National Parks and Game Reserves in an effort to promote economic inclusion of locals in the tourism industry.” (Mr. G. Kekgonegile, MP.

– Maun East) 4 GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE FREE HOLD LAND AUDIT 11.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to conduct a comprehensive freehold land audit to determine the efficacy of such land title and evolve criteria as well as timelines within which some such land or parts of that land could be acquired for use by landless Batswana.” (Mr. T. B. Lucas, MP.

– Bobonong) UPGRADING OF STORM WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR THE CITY OF FRANCISTOWN 12.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to comprehensively upgrade the master storm water drainage system for the City of Francistown.” (Mr. M. I. Moswaane, MP.

– Francistown West) CREATION OF A CITY/TOWN IN THE NORTHWEST REGION 13.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to create a City/Town in the North West Region given that the North West Region is underdeveloped but it could be the hub of tourism with a city/town that fits a tourism hub status in terms of infrastructural development and services.

This is the Region which is home to Okavango River, Thamalakane River, Lake Ngami and a wide range of flora and fauna.
Creation of a tourism City in this Region would not only put the country in a better position to exploit the rich natural resources found in the Region and to create jobs, but also because the country is ready for an additional City to alleviate the crowding in the existing towns and cities.” (Mr. K. C. Hikuama, MP.

– Ngami) GOVERNMENT TO EXPEDITE ALLOCATION OF PLOTS 14.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to expedite the allocation of plots earmarked for Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) Project and businesses in Sowa Town.” (Mr. P. Majaga, MP.

– Nata-Gweta) EXEMPTION OF TAX ON SANITARY PRODUCTS 15.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to consider extending the same tax exemption applicable to certain staple food items to sanitary products in order to improve accessibility especially for low income households who cannot afford such.” (Mr. M. Balopi, MP.

– Gaborone North) 5 INCENTIVES FOR LONG SERVING CIVIL SERVANTS 16.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to introduce an incentives programme for long serving civil servants to incentivise them to take early retirement and make way for younger, more able bodied graduates with the right skill sets and qualifications so that they get an opportunity for employment in Government.” (Mr. B. Mathoothe, MP.

– Serowe North) OPENING UP COMMERCIAL RIVER SAND MINING 17.
“That this Honourable House resolves that Government considers opening up commercial river sand mining in the greater Gaborone area for 24 months as a transitionary period to the development of artificial river sand manufacturing.” (Mr. T. Letsholo, MP.

– Kanye North) ESTABLISHMENT OF TOURISM FOCUSED SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES 18.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to establish Tourism focused Special Economic Zones (SEZs) around tourism destinations like Kgalagadi South, Makgadikgadi Pans and Okavango Delta.” (Mr. S. J. Brooks, MP.

– Kgalagadi South) INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE COMMISSION 19.

“That this Honourable House resolves to have an independent Parliamentary Service Commission.” (Mr. D. L. Keorapetse, MP.

– Selebi Phikwe West) HANDOVER OF GABORONE GAME RESERVE TO GABORONE CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY 20.
“That this Honourable House resolves to direct the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to hand over Gaborone Game Reserve to the Gaborone Central Constituency for purposes of Community Based Natural Resource Management with a view to maximising its commercial potential.” Mr. T. Mangwegape-Healy, MP.

– Gaborone Central) ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE WATER UTILITIES CORPORATION 21.
“That this Honourable House resolves to request the setting up of a Parliament Select Committee in accordance with Standing Order 98 to investigate the billing system of Water Utilities Corporation.” (Mr. O. Ramogapi, MP.

– Palapye) 6 UPGRADING OF MINIMUM WAGE TO P2, 500.00 IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR 22.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to facilitate upgrading of minimum wage to P2, 500.00 in the private sector and Non-Governmental Organisations in line with minimum wage in the Public Sector.” (Mr. G. Kekgonegile, MP.

– Maun East) GOVERNMENT TO EVOLVE A COMPREHENSIVE RURAL INDUSTRIALISATION STRATEGY 23.
“That this Honourable House resolves to request Government to expeditiously evolve a comprehensive rural industrialisation strategy with clear resource outlays and timelines to address unemployment and poverty in the rural areas.” (Mr. T. B. Lucas, MP.

– Bobonong) INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL CITIZENSHIP QUOTA 24.
“That this Honourable House requests Government through Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs to introduce special citizenship quota for persons applying for citizenship, the qouta should be only for persons playing a meaningful role in the economy of Botswana i.e.

Investors, academics and experts.” (Mr. M. I. Moswaane, MP.

– Francistown West) INTRODUCTION OF A RURAL WATER SUPPLY SCHEME 25.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to introduce a Rural Water Supply Scheme in order to promote economic and social upliftment of the rural communities.” (Mr. K. C. Hikuama, MP.

– Ngami) GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE MINIMUM DISTANCES BETWEEN RANCHES AND SETTLEMENTS 26.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to reduce prescribed minimum distances between settlements and ranches and for reduction of ranches from 20km buffer zone to 10km for settlement of less than 10000 people accordince with the Statistics Botswana 2022 Report or to introduce livestock paddocks or small ranches, (6kmx3km) around allocated functional water points or boreholes in communal grazing areas, so as to expand existing ranches by way of small paddocks with a gradual decrease from 6kmx6km to either 6kmx3km or 4kmx4km.” (Mr. P. Majaga, MP.
– Nata-Gweta) 7 INTRODUCTION OF A POLICY THAT COMPELS SUPERMARKETS TO SUB CONTRACT THEIR IN-HOUSE BUTCHERIES AND BAKERIES 27.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to come up with a policy that compels supermarkets to sub-contract their in-house butcheries and bakeries to 100% citizen owned businesses in which the supermarket owners are not shareholders as a way of making up for mainstay businesses such as bakeries and general dealers which have generally closed down due to being outmuscled by supermarkets.” (Mr. M. Balopi, MP.
– Gaborone North) SPECIAL DISPENSATION TO ALLOCATE LAND TO PERSONS DISADVANTAGED BY THE OLD BOTSWANA LAND POLICY 28.

“That this Honourable House requests Government to consider establishing a special dispensation to allocate land to persons who were disadvantaged by the old Botswana Land Policy which did not allow allocation of land to the spouses of those who already had land.” (Mr. W. B. Mmolotsi, MP.

– Francistown South) 8