Kedikilwe’s grand Parley entrance
Pini Bothoko | Monday July 17, 2023 06:00
The Serowe West constituency will after many years enjoy the benefits of holding its Member of Parliament (MP) accountable, as it was not easy to hold their chiefs-cum-legislators accountable even when their delivery was below par. Being led by their Dikgosi since 1998, it was hard for constituents to hold them accountable as their leaders in Parliament as they were forced to respect them as Dikgosi.
Kedikilwe is now forced to show his mettle to the people of Serowe West constituency as he is not a chief. Former president Ian Khama was recruited into politics by former president Festus Mogae who chose to appoint Roy Blackbeard to Foreign Service to pave way for the then vice president. Kedikilwe last weekend won the by-election by 2,933 votes followed by the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) that was represented by Moemedi Dijeng with 1,267 votes while Sibusiso Ngwenya of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) got a paltry 103 votes, and Kefilwe Koboto who stood as an independent amassed just 82 votes. Knowing what is expected of him, after assuming his role as an MP, Kedikilwe could not waste time in Parliament in his maiden debate. He showed his capabilities and bravery to lead his constituents by debating the Botswana Meat Industry Regulatory Authority Bill of 2022 that was presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Fidelis Molao.
This is the man who is bringing life to the people of Serowe West constituency as they will be now paying attention to his deliberations in Parliament and makes him accountable. Kedikilwe received accolades across social media platforms as people commented stating that he is a man who is aware of what is expected of him. He could not waste time in showing his enthusiasm to represent the people who voted for him within a short period of time after being sworn in this week in Parliament.
Commenting on the Bill, Kedikilwe started by thanking the people of Serowe West constituency for their support in having trust in him and electing him as their leader. On the imposition of levies in respect of livestock or meat products, Kedikilwe pleaded with the Minister to consider excluding levy charges for farmers owning few livestock as it will be their only source of income.
He gave an example of someone who would have raised his only cow for three years and when selling it would be charged the levy on his only source of income as compared to commercial farmers or those owning large heads of livestock. Kedikilwe went on to plead with the Minister to encourage farmers especially those who own big farms to consider using their land rather than using a small portion of the land.
He said he has since established that most of those farmers need farm management lessons something that the government could provide free through agricultural demonstrators. “We have agricultural demonstrators who could tour these farms and sensitise those farmers on proper management of their land and how they can use it effectively. Some of them even own more than two boreholes but they are failing to plough, rear small stock, cattle in that large area not even to increase their stock. My wish is for those farmers to be taught to use their land effectively and productively so that they can be able to contribute to the country’s economy,” Kedikilwe said.
Moreover, Kedikilwe pleaded with the Minister to consider increasing pigs and poultry abattoirs stating that people in Central District travel long distance to access an abattoir for pigs in Gaborone or as far as Sebina. Responding to his remarks, Minister Molao applauded Kedikilwe for his suggestion for the ministry to consider sensitising farmers with big farms to utilise their land and use it productively and efficiently.
Molao assured Kedikilwe that the objective of the Bill is to strengthen the regulatory framework for the livestock and the meat industry by establishing a regulatory authority intended to create a conducive business environment in the beef sector, regulate and protect the interests of both farmers and consumers, while attracting foreign direct investment in the meat industry.