Tawana had questioned why Moatlhodi granted vice-president Mompati Merafhe an opportunity to raise a point of procedure when another MP was on the floor. Immediately after Moatlhodi's warning, he picked up his papers and walked out. Merafhe, who is also Leader of the House had stood up to raise a complaint that MPs holding the floor should communicate with their colleagues who make interjections. The walk out comes two days after Tawana complained that he should be referred to as 'Kgosi' (chief) just like other MPs who are referred to with their former titles like Lieutenant-General or Captain.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi pleaded with Parliament to support her efforts to mould school children. She said the children are getting out of control. She stated that currently there are two junior secondary school students who are in police custody facing murder charges. She said that drug abuse is rampant in schools and warned that if no action is taken now, the country is heading for disaster.
She defended the Ipelegeng programme saying it has brought hope to the beneficiaries.She was responding to a comment by Lobatse MP Nehemiah Modubule on Monday that the wage paid to the beneficiaries is far below government minimum pay - even less than MPs sitting allowance in a day. Venson-Moitoi argued that the beneficiaries are able to buy food and other things for their families with the money they get from the programme.
Although she appreciated contribution of opposition parties in Botswana, she cautioned them to desist from encouraging tribalism. She said that ahead of the 2009 general elections, some opposition candidates used tribalism as a campaign tool. She said that this should not be allowed to continue as it could destroy the nation.
The MP for Ngamiland, Taolo Habano lamented lack of developments in his sparsely-populated constituency. He said the roads in the constituency are in a bad state and some places inside the delta are inaccessible. He said that poverty is the norm among his people. He appealed to government to review the education curriculum to include education with production, to wean people from heavy reliance on government handouts.
