Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697710171335.pdf (Botswana)
BOTSWANA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY O R D E R P A P E R (FRIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY, 2023) MINISTERS’ QUESTION TIME HRS/MINS 0900 – 0945 1.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development THEME: GROWTH OF GABORONE CITY To ask the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to state: (i) if he is aware that Gaborone City has grown in population and land size and whether he does not deem the growth to be overwhelming to the City Council; and (ii) whether Government will not consider the creation of at least two (2) administrative authorities with one authority responsible for City administration and another for welfare of City residents in order to improve service delivery.
(Mr. M. Balopi, MP.

– Gaborone North) 2.
Minister of Environment and Tourism THEME: MANAGEMENT OF BOTSWANA’S ELEPHANTS To ask the Minister of Environment and Tourism to update this Honourable House on current and future management plans of Botswana elephants, to address their ever growing population vis-à-vis diminishing rangeland resources and further state: (i) (ii) the current estimate population of elephants against the Botswana’s holding capacity and elucidate whether this situation is healthy for Botswana’s range ecology; if she is aware that some recent wildlife management research studies show that the reintroduction of hunting has not helped in the management of the ever increasing human/elephants conflict; (iii) whether the Minister is in a position to update the nation whether she intends to improve the current compensation rates that are very low and not commensurate with damages caused by wildlife, especially elephants.
(Dr. N. Tshabang, MP.

– Nkange) 1 QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE  MR. D. SALESHANDO, MP.
(MAUN WEST): To ask the Minister of Entrepreneurship to state when the Bill on Economic Inclusion was assented to by His Excellency the President; he should further state the following: (209) (i) (ii) (iii) the date on which commenced; implementation of the Law if there are any Regulations that have been adopted as part of Subsidiary Legislation to assist with the implementation of the same Law; if any local companies have benefited from the implementation of the Law; if the answer is in the affirmative, the Minister should state companies that have so benefited; (iv) explain how companies that wish to benefit from the provisions of the Law should proceed and which Government office they should approach; and (v) in the absence of Regulations, the Minister should state who qualifies as “targeted Motswana”.
NOTICE OF MOTIONS AND ORDERS OF THE DAY HRS/MINS MOTIONS 0945 – 1230 GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER UPGRADING McCARTHY’S RUST AND BOKSPITS BORDER POSTS TO COMMERCIAL BORDERS 1.

“That this Honourable House requests Government to consider upgrading 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) (Resumed Debate) GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE A LIVING WAGE 2.

“That this Honourable House requests Government to introduce a living wage policy as opposed to minimum wage.” (Dr. N. Tshabang, MP.

– Nkange) 2 GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT STIPEND 3.

“That this Honourable House requests Government to consider unemployment benefit stipend for the unemployed Batswana.” (Mr. D. L. Keorapetse, MP.
– Selebi Phikwe West) GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER DEVELOPING AND OPTIMISING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF SEGODITSHANE RIVER CANAL 4.

“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 5.

“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 6.

7.

8.

“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 “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) 3 GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE FREE HOLD LAND AUDIT 9.
“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 10.
“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 11.
“That this Honourable House requests Government to create a City/Town in is the North West Region given that the North West Region 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 12.
“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 13.
“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) 4 INCENTIVES FOR LONG SERVING CIVIL SERVANTS 14.
“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 IN GREATER GABORONE 15.
“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) SPECIAL DISPENSATION TO ALLOCATE LAND TO PERSONS DISADVANTAGED BY THE OLD BOTSWANA LAND POLICY 16.
“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) BANNING THE USE OF NON-ESSENTIAL PLASTICS AS CARRY BAGS SOLD IN STORES 17.
“That this Honourable House resolves that in order to reduce plastic related pollution, Government be requested to ban the use of all non- essential plastic.” (Mr. K. Nkawana, MP.

– Selebi Phikwe East) 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 Parliamentary Service Commission.” independent (Mr. D. L. Keorapetse, MP.

– Selebi Phikwe West) 5 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) 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) 6 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 in accordance 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) 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) 7