Mixed reactions to Geoscience Bill
Lerato Maleke | Wednesday July 30, 2014 11:03
The objective of the Geoscience Bill is to provide for the establishment of the Botswana Geoscience Institute for the purpose of undertaking research in the field of geosciences and provide specialised geoscience services, empower the institute to be the custodian of geoscience information; promoting the search and exploration of minerals in Botswana, to act as an advisory body in respect of geohazards and for matters incidental thereto.
Clause 6, Sub section 3 of the Bill states that the Board will consist of eight members, appointed by the Minister from amongst persons whom the minister considers qualified by reason of their experience or expertise in the areas relevant to the functions of the Institution.
Another cry from opposition MPs are clauses 4 which states that the Chief Executive Officer heading the institution shall be an ex-officio member of the Board and clause 5 which states that the minister shall appoint the chairperson of the Institution.
When debating the Bill the MP for Ngwaketse South, Kentse Rammidi, said that he is worried about the escalation of entities with escalation of overheads, citing Chief Executives Officers, adding that next would be vehicles. He said that in his constituency there is an old open mine shaft which proves a risk to residents’ lives.
He also raised concern that Moshana residents were allowed to build their houses over the shaft although the Department of Geological Survey has advised that it is risky. He said Moshana residents live in fear as they wonder if their houses are safe from the underground water.
Rammidi said this course of action shows that no research was conducted on the soil especially in Lobatse, and around Mmasekou and Sethugetsane settlements, where it has been reported that some people’s houses are cracking. Rammidi argued that government’s backyard projects should have been taken to those areas since there is a lot of underground water.
Member of Parliament for Lobatse Nehemiah Modubule pleaded that the Department of Geological Survey should not be moved to Gaborone, as has been the case with the High Court.
He also asked if the minister would keep the same staff in the department, adding that people should be trained for their jobs and paid generously or be given a decent retainer. Modubule also asked the Minister to elaborate on Clauses 7 and 8 on them.
South East South MP Odirile Motlhale decried the shortage of staff in the department.
He also complained about underground water at Monganaokodu in Ramotswa where he said people who had built houses there were evicted but later asked to return.
He charged that this was indication that the Department lacks staff with appropriate skills and knowledge.
Motlhale said several there should be service improvement since technology has changed citing that unlike before Geological Survey staff had to physically dig but nowadays there are machines which can detect underground minerals.
When presenting the Bill Mokaila said that Part I contains preliminary provisions while Part II provides for the establishment and functions of the Institute. The part further provides for the Board of the Institute, which shall be the governing body of the Institute, membership of the Board, tenure of office, filling of vacancies and renumeration and allowances of members of committees.
Moreover, Part III of the Bill provides for the meetings and proceedings of the Board and Part IV provides for appointment of employees of the institute, while Part V deals with financial provisions relating to funds, accounts, audit and annual reports of the Institute. Part VI of the Bill deals with miscellaneous matters.
Mokaila said that the Institute shall advance the geoscience knowledge of Botswana through geothematic survey, long term monitoring, effective data management and high quality applied research through geoscience information updates including digitization and web delivery enabling of data.
It will also conduct rapid map revisions to geological mapping based on satellite imagery, interpretation of airborne geophysics, geochronology and anomally ground truthing field base surveys and systematic geochemical survey for mineral exploitation and environment baseline purposes.