Dikgosi decry snub by ministers
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday June 14, 2022 06:00
During the last day of their meeting, dikgosi posted 34 questions, of which only two were answered. According to the deputy chairperson of the House, Kgosi Tshipe Tshipe, they were not happy that 32 questions were deferred due to the unavailability of ministers.
Despite the house seating for only five days, Cabinet members found it hard to make time to answer questions from dikgosi.
Only Assistant Minister for State President, Dumezweni Mthimkhulu was present to answer two questions on behalf of Minister for Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi and Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Beauty Manake.
Even the ministry overlooking dikgosi, the Local Government and Rural Development Minister and three assistant ministers were not available to field questions and no explanation was given.
Closing the business that started May 30, Tshipe said their business went well and bemoaned the non-commitment by ministers.
“I am happy that Moroka Moreri and his team prepared well for a successful meeting. We had a virtual meeting which went well from the technical perspective. Only a few hiccups were experienced. Thank you for voting us into leadership again. As we promised, we will continue serving you working with you,” he said.
Tshipe said they started off with setting up a committee to make representation for Presidential commission constitutional review.
He said they had briefings from six organisations, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Lands Water Affairs, Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), Ministry of Agriculture, and Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), to brief the House in the first week.
“In the second week, we had 101 questions and 10 motions of which all questions were noticed, 69 were answered while 32 were deferred. This is worrisome and we should see to it that ministers try their best to come answer questions. If they do not, it looks like the House is not working. As you heard, many of you are complaining that most questions were not answered. Ministers know they should answer your questions,” he said.
Tshipe said they had debated eight motions which they all passed. He said two were withdrawn while one deferred.
Meanwhile, dikgosi called for more time to be able to get answers from ministers rather than having to wait long for the next session. The tribal leaders will convene again in October.