Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697639850605.pdf (Botswana)
BOTSWANA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY O R D E R P A P E R (TUESDAY 21ST FEBRUARY, 2023) QUESTIONS HRS/MINS 1400 – 1445 (211) (213) 1.

2.

MR. M. I. MOSWAANE, MP.

(FRANCISTOWN WEST): To ask the Minister of Transport and Public Works how much Government is spending on office rentals in and outside of Gaborone per month; and annually.

MR. D. L. KEORAPETSE, MP.
(SELEBI PHIKWE WEST): To ask the Minister of Education and Skills Development to update this Honourable House on whether his Ministry considers free sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and comparable products as basic, unavoidable necessities for school going girls and young women and if these are provided in public primary, junior secondary, senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions; he should further state and explain: (i) whether there is a category of girls or young women who are provided with sanitary pads or related materials or the provision is to all who are in need; (ii) the amount used to procure sanitary pads and related materials in each category of schools in the last four (4) financial years; and (iii) whether Government is considering free provision of sanitary pads and related products to all Batswana females the same way condoms are provided to Batswana men.
3.

MR. O. RAMOGAPI, MP.
(PALAPYE): To ask the Minister of Health to explain the tender process of the maintenance of the Palapye Primary Hospital; stating the following: (218) (i) the stage of the tendering and when the final award will be made; (ii) job to be covered under maintenance; (iii) category of companies invited to tender; (iv) estimated duration of the work/completion date; 1 (v) what causes the peeling off of the ceiling paint and walls immediately or about twelve (12) months after painting; (vi) the remedy regarding the peeling off of paint as it occurs time and again; and (vii) retention period.
4.

MR. P. MAJAGA, MP.

(NATA-GWETA): To ask the Minister of Environment and Tourism to state: (221) (i) how much in Pula was benefitted from the Makgadikgadi Epic which was recently held at Sowa Town; (ii) how the community will benefit from these funds; and (iii) future plans (lodges/holiday homes) next to where the event is held.

to allocate for accommodation land 5.

DR. K. GOBOTSWANG, MP.


(SEFHARE-RAMOKGONAMI): To ask the Minister of Transport and Public Works to state: (216) (i) (ii) if he is aware of the state of the Pilikwe-Maape and Mokobeng-Seleka roads; and the Ministry’s short, medium to long term plans to improve the condition of these roads given that some sections are not easy to navigate especially during the rainy season.

6.

MR. T. B. LUCAS, MP.


(BOBONONG): To ask the Minister of Transport and Public Works to state: (194) (i) when the Moletemane road project was awarded and state the envisaged completion date for the project; (ii) if he is aware that there is little progress in the construction of the road and what are the causes of such; and (iii) what plans and targets are in place for the completion of the road.

7.

MR. M. REATILE, MP.
(JWANENG-MABUTSANE): To ask the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs to state: (205) (i) the number of certificates of variations or confirmation by the Commissioner of Labour and Social Security in terms of Section 7 (10) of the Trade Disputes Act of 2016 issued from 2018 to date in the Jwaneng-Mabutsane Constituency; 2 (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) the number of certificates of variations or confirmation by the Commissioner of Labour and Social Security in terms of Section 7 (10) of the Trade Disputes Act of 2016 enforced by default at the Industrial Court from 2018 to date; the number of certificates of variations or confirmation by Commissioner of Labour and Social Security in terms of Section 7 (10) of the Trade Disputes Act of 2016 enforced through arbitration at the Industrial Court from 2018 to date; the amount in Botswana Pula (BWP) awarded and paid to applicants by default; the amount in Pula awarded and paid to applicants through arbitration; the amount in Pula awarded and owed to applicants by default; and (vii) the strategies in place to improve employee/employer relations in the Jwaneng-Mabutsane Constituency.
8.

MR. W. B. MMOLOTSI, MP.

(FRANCISTOWN SOUTH): To ask the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to state: (206) (i) what consultations were made with Ipelegeng employees before their wages were paid through the Unayo facility; and (ii) the charges associated with this facility and how much is charged on the Ipelegeng wages.

9.

MR. T. LETSHOLO, MP.
(KANYE NORTH): To ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy to update this Honourable House on Botswana ‘s investment strategy as well as the associated beneficiation and value chains development in the mining and minerals sector in Botswana and in particular: (210) (i) the extent that Botswana’s competitive advantage is in mining across the board, not just diamonds, and why Government in mining alongside private investors; is not aggressively investing (ii) the role of Mineral Development Company Botswana (MDCB) in this regard; (iii) why Government is not taking its 15% “right of first refusal” for every mining venture in Botswana; (iv) the factors to be considered in making the decision; 3 (v) how many mines have we had the share option for over the last ten (10) years, that we have turned down, and how many are currently being evaluated; (vi) why did Government decline to take up to 15% of Lucara, Khoemacau and Sandfire Motheo; (vii) how much would Government have needed to invest as a shareholder and how much revenue would have accrued (actual or projected) to Government over the last three (3) years if we had taken up the stakes referred to above; (viii) why Government is not using some of our sovereign wealth funds to start up regional companies that will dominate mining across Africa, not just Botswana; (ix) why Government is not utilizing the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub and other research and development institutions to make Botswana a world beater in all things mining; and (x) if Government is amenable to the proposal to develop a fund or capital markets infrastructure for mining startups, one that allows skilled citizens to be able to explore and get a start in mining, just like we have funds for tech startups.
10.

MR. J. L. THIITE, MP.
(GHANZI NORTH): To ask the Minister of Education and Skills Development to apprise this Honourable House on the recruitment and placement of Technical and Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) trainers in Brigades and Technical Colleges; and to state: (222) (i) the number of TVET trainers without a Post Graduate Certificates or Diploma in Technical & Vocational Education in all Brigades and Technical Colleges under his Ministry; (ii) the number of TVET trainers who are employed on contract; and (iii) the number of expatriate TVET trainers; and (iv) whether the Department of Skills Development has a centralised Job Seekers Database of qualified TVET trainers.
11.

MR. O. REGOENG, MP.

(MOLEPOLOLE NORTH): To ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy to update this Honourable House on: (223) (i) how these minerals (diamond, coal, copper, nickel, iron and ore) each account for the country’s total export mineral revenue; 4 (ii) how much of this mineral export revenue is attributed to locally finished or beneficiated products (polished, cut, processed into high value products etc.)
before sale; (iii) how many of the beneficiated products are processed and transacted by Batswana or Batswana companies; and (iv) whether there is any business in Molepolole dealing in any of these minerals and how many people are employed.

12.

MR. M. BALOPI, MP.


(GABORONE NORTH): To ask the Minister of Finance about the average turnaround time for settling invoices in both Government and parastatal sectors: (224) (i) whether the Minister is aware; (a) of any formal or informal complaints of delayed invoice settlement for small businesses; (b) that payment delays cause cash flow problems which affect the viability of some small businesses; (ii) what will be done going forward to rectify the situation in both Government and parastatals.
TABLING OF A PAPER  Report of the Auditor General on the Accounts of the Botswana Government for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 2021.

NOTICE OF MOTIONS AND ORDERS OF THE DAY (Minister of Finance) SECOND READING  Appropriation (2023/2024) Bill, 2023 (Bill No.

4 of 2023) HRS/MINS 1445 – 1800 An Act to authorise the payment out of the Consolidated Fund and the Development Fund of sums of money for the year ending 31st March, 2024.
(Published on 25th January, 2023) (Minister of Finance) (Resumed Debate) 5