STAND UP AND BE COUNTED! MPS prepare for July sitting
ALTHOUGH government is yet to release the dates for the July Parliament sitting, there is a strong feeling from within the government enclave that it will be called in two weeks time.
With the nation still under State of Public Emergency and following the Covid-19 regulations, it will be interesting to see how the sitting will convene.
Since the recent introduction of live broadcasting of the house proceedings, there has been great interest from the public in following the events as they play out. People can now see for themselves exactly how their representatives are performing, unlike in the past where they were solely reliant on media reports. For the Members of Parliament, there is nowhere to hide!
The Voice staffer, DANIEL CHIDA, caught up with a number of MPS to get an idea of what to expect in the coming sitting.
WYNTER MMOLOTSI - MP FOR FRANCISTOWN SOUTH
The July parliament is normally for making and amending laws. This year it comes at a time when the world and country are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This calls for us to originate laws and policies that will be relevant to the current situation. Covid-19 has exposed Botswana’s vulnerability and because of that we need to address those vulnerabilities especially those related to dependence on other countries for almost everything. We need to promultransformation. Government must move on its commitment to rural development and fight poverty especially provision of portable water to rural communities.
There is need to kick-start the constitutional review process which is long overdue and we keep being told it is on the table. And, lastly, I also hope to understand how far the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development is on the Botswana Meat Commission’s turnaround process as well as the establishment of the meat regulator in the country, among other things.
MOLEBATSI MOLEBATSI - MP FOR MMADINARE