BDP ambushes Opposition in Parley
MPs last chance is to comment during committee of supply
The Opposition in Parliament have been left trying to figure out their next move after the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) outsmarted them and closed debates on the 2015/2016 budget way ahead of schedule and before the opposition Members of Parliament could debate Minister Kenneth Matambo’s presentation.
Matambo told this publication that he is shocked at the poor quality of debate in Parliament in relation to the budget speech. However it is expected that the proposals contained in the line Ministry presentations will provide MPs with a further platform to debate and ultimately pass a final budget.
About P50 billion worth of public money is contained in this year’s budget and MPs are expected to ensure that it is distributed accordingly.
In a seemingly well planned numbers’ game, the BDP MPs would not debate the budget and the opposition feared that if they exhausted their arguments, the BDP would have the floor all to themselves in the following week and refuse to give them a chance to interject during proceedings.
“We were waiting for them to speak, they did not and the problem is the MPs of the BDP have started a new trend whereby they wait for the opposition to debate first and they attack us later when we have exhausted our numbers. It is now upon us as the opposition to decide on how we handle this issue going forward,” the Opposition Whip, Wynter Mmolotsi stated in an interview on Friday this week.
Mmolotsi of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) was the last MP to debate before the speaker called on Minister Matambo to respond and thus calling on the closure of the debate which was scheduled to continue until the 19th of this Month.
Six MPs in all had responded to Matambo’s speech and they include the leader of Opposition, Duma Boko and MP Tawana Moremi both of UDC and three BDP MPs, Guma Moyo, Liakat Kablay and Ignatius Moswaane.
There is no standard as to how the speaker balances the debate. MPs are called as they show their interest in debating by way of standing up as soon as the last speaker ends their debate. In the absence of such action, the speaker then calls on the Minister to respond so that the house can proceed to its next agenda.
However another opposition MP, Phenyo Butale also of the UDC faults the early closure of the budget debate on the Speaker whom he said should be seen to protect the integrity of Parliament. According to him the sudden closure of the debate was an ambush on opposition and the bigger loss is that “we are losing the quality of debate because some will have to speak when they are not prepared. It puts the very big question on the speakership. Why is he in haste to close the debate at every opportunity he gets as if it was a deliberate strategy? He nearly did the same with the State of the Nation Address.”
Minister Matambo who expressed disappointment at the quality of debate put on this year’s budget turned the tables on the opposition and says the lack of response shows that the government of the day has tabled such a good budget that the opposition failed to criticise it as it usually does.
“We, the government have submitted to the house and the nation. The speech belongs to the BDP and we cannot be the ones to speak first. The opposition had nothing to say about the economy of this country and the electorates have seen that. They have accepted the budget because we as the BDP government presented a well thought budget and distributed it fairly and that is why they had nothing to say to oppose it and I am happy.”
Although Matambo said he was happy, he admitted that when he was called to respond, he was not ready and he had to think on his feet.
“I am the one who was not ready. They cannot say they were not ready. They were given all the time until the 19th to express their views on the budget and come up with suggestions!” Matambo responded in a separate interview.
Nonetheless the opposition still have time to deliberate on the budget during the committee of supply session which is the next item on the agenda following the Minister’s response. According to Wynter Mmolotsi, who acts as Opposition Whip in Parliament, some MPs have not spoken because they could have wanted to zoom in at specific items during the committee of supply.
“This is unlike the state of the nation address where an Mp is given a single chance to debate. We still have time to debate at committee of supply stage. The BDP must really work on this issue and stop marking and frustrating the opposition. It happened in November (2014) during debates on the state of the nation address.
Each opportunity they got, they were ever keen to ask the Speaker to close the debate. That forced opposition MPs to debate before they were ready and the BDP had a field day afterwards, attacking us knowing very well that we have all used our slot,” Mmolotsi added.
Of the fifty-seven Parliament seats, twenty are held by opposition with UDC having seventeen and Botswana Congress Party three.
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Nigerians, Zimbabweans apply for Chema Chema Fund
Fronting activities, where locals are used as a front for foreign-owned businesses, have been a long-standing issue in Botswana. These activities not only undermine the government’s efforts to promote local businesses but also deprive Batswana of opportunities for economic empowerment, officials say. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has warned of heavy penalties for those involved in fronting activities especially in relation to the latest popular government initiative dubbed Chema Chema.
According to the Ministry, the Industrial Development Act of 2019 clearly outlines the consequences of engaging in fronting activities. The fines of up to P50,000 for first-time offenders and P20,000 plus a two-year jail term for repeat offenders send a strong message that the government is serious about cracking down on this illegal practice. These penalties are meant to deter individuals from participating in fronting activities and to protect the integrity of local industries.
“It is disheartening to hear reports of collaboration between foreigners and locals to exploit government initiatives such as the Chema Chema Fund. This fund, administered by CEDA and LEA, is meant to support informal traders and low-income earners in Botswana. However, when fronting activities come into play, the intended beneficiaries are sidelined, and the funds are misused for personal gain.” It has been discovered that foreign nationals predominantly of Zimbabwean and Nigerian origin use unsuspecting Batswana to attempt to access the Chema Chema Fund. It is understood that they approach these Batswana under the guise of drafting business plans for them or simply coming up with ‘bankable business ideas that qualify for Chema Chema.’
Observers say the Chema Chema Fund has the potential to uplift the lives of many Batswana who are struggling to make ends meet. They argue that it is crucial that these funds are used for their intended purpose and not siphoned off through illegal activities such as fronting. The Ministry says the warning it issued serves as a reminder to all stakeholders involved in the administration of these funds to ensure transparency and accountability in their disbursement.
One local commentator said it is important to highlight the impact of fronting activities on the local economy and the livelihoods of Batswana. He said by using locals as a front for foreign-owned businesses, opportunities for local entrepreneurs are stifled, and the economic empowerment of Batswana is hindered. The Ministry’s warning of heavy penalties is a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to eliminate fronting activities and promote a level playing field for local businesses.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s warning of heavy penalties for fronting activities is a necessary step to protect the integrity of local industries and promote economic empowerment for Batswana. “It is imperative that all stakeholders comply with regulations and work towards a transparent and accountable business environment. By upholding the law and cracking down on illegal activities, we can ensure a fair and prosperous future for all Batswana.”
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Merck Foundation and African First Ladies mark World Health Day 2024
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks “World Health Day” 2024 together with Africa’s First Ladies who are also Ambassadors of MerckFoundation “More Than a Mother” Campaign through their Scholarship and Capacity Building Program. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “At Merck Foundation, we mark World Health Day every single day of the year over the past 12 years, by building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care across Africa, Asia and beyond.
I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided over 1740 scholarships to aspiring young doctors from 52 countries, in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology & Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma & Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Cardiology, Stroke Medicine, Care of the Older Person, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obesity & Weight Management, Women’s Health, Biotechnology in ART and many more”.
As per the available data, Africa has only 34.6% of the required doctors, nurses, and midwives. It is projected that by 2030, Africa would need additional 6.1 million doctors, nurses, and midwives*. “For Example, before the start of the Merck Foundation programs in 2012; there was not a single Oncologist, Fertility or Reproductive care specialists, Diabetologist, Respiratory or ICU specialist in many countries such as The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Guinea, Burundi, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Namibia among others. We are certainly creating historic legacy in Africa, and also beyond. Together with our partners like Africa’s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Gender, Education and Communication, we are impacting the lives of people in the most disadvantaged communities in Africa and beyond.”, added Senator Dr. Kelej. Merck Foundation works closely with their Ambassadors, the African First Ladies and local partners such as; Ministries of Health, Education, Information & Communication, Gender, Academia, Research Institutions, Media and Art in building healthcare capacity and addressing health, social & economic challenges in developing countries and under-served communities. “I strongly believe that training healthcare providers and building professional healthcare capacity is the right strategy to improve access to equitable and quality at health care in Africa.
Therefore, I am happy to announce the Call for Applications for 2024 Scholarships for young doctors with special focus on female doctors for our online one-year diploma and two year master degree in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, which includes both Online Diploma programs and On-Site Fellowship and clinical training programs. The applications are invited through the Office of our Ambassadors and long-term partners, The First Ladies of Africa and Ministry of Health of each country.” shared Dr . Kelej. “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program”, concluded Senator Kelej.
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Interpol fugitive escapes from Botswana
John Isaak Ndovi, a Tanzanian national embroiled in controversy and pursued under a red notice by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), has mysteriously vanished, bypassing a scheduled bail hearing at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court in Gaborone. Previously apprehended by Botswana law enforcement at the Tlokweng border post several months earlier, his escape has ignited serious concerns.
Accused of pilfering assets worth in excess of P1 million, an amount translating to roughly 30,000 Omani Riyals, Ndovi has become a figure of paramount interest, especially to the authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, nestled in the far reaches of Asia.
The unsettling news of his disappearance surfaced following his failure to present himself at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court the preceding week. Speculation abounds that Ndovi may have sought refuge in South Africa in a bid to elude capture, prompting a widespread mobilization of law enforcement agencies to ascertain his current location.
In an official communiqué, Detective Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Selebatso Mokgosi of Interpol Gaborone disclosed Ndovi’s apprehension last September at the Tlokweng border, a capture made possible through the vigilant issuance of the Interpol red notice.
At 36, Ndovi is implicated in a case of alleged home invasion in Oman. Despite the non-existence of an extradition treaty between Botswana and Oman, Nomsa Moatswi, the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), emphasized that the lack of formal extradition agreements does not hinder her office’s ability to entertain extradition requests. She highlighted the adoption of international cooperation norms, advocating for collaboration through the lenses of international comity and reciprocity.
Moatswi disclosed the intensified effort by law enforcement to locate Ndovi following his no-show in court, and pointed to Botswana’s track record of extraditing two international fugitives from France and Zimbabwe in the previous year as evidence of the country’s relentless pursuit of legal integrity.
When probed about the potential implications of Ndovi’s case on Botswana’s forthcoming evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Moatswi reserved her speculations. She acknowledged the criticality of steering clear of blacklisting, suggesting that this singular case is unlikely to feature prominently in the FATF’s assessment criteria.