UDC just being childish � Mokaila
Bame Piet | Friday September 4, 2015 14:50
Responding to questions from journalists yesterday, Mokaila said that he was appalled at the demonstration especially that the ministry has tried to explain the current water and energy challenges.
“I made a presentation to Members of Parliament, but majority of UDC MPs did not show up. Also, there is the Public Accounts Committee, where officers from Water Utilities Corporation and Botswana Power Corporation were grilled about the situation, but explained everything,” he said.
He added that the UDC was childish to prefer to go to the streets, instead of sitting down with the ministry to discuss the problems and share ideas.
“I think it is irresponsible, amateurish, and they are politicising a very important subject that could be discussed between all stakeholders. I’m not interested in politicking, I want to make sure that Batswana are provided with water and do everything in my power to do that”.
He said though he appreciates the anger and the frustrations that water shortage brings to the lives of people, including the demonstrators, he does not see any reason to join it, and would not under any circumstances join them.
Mokaila stated that his priorities today would be to commission the Masama well fields between Dibete and Artesia.
Two months after the minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi led a delegation to China, to discuss the disgraced Morupule B project, Mokaila hinted that there is positive progress. He said that in return, the mother company to CNEEC sent a 20-man delegation to Botswana recently, who went to inspect the power station.
“They have promised to come back, but haven’t yet,” said an official from Botswana Power Corporation.
He said that they were continuing to operate with the Chinese on-site contractor under the guidance of the contract.As usual, the minister promised that all the four units at Morupule B would be operational by end of this month, saying two of them are already functioning.
The UDC parliamentary spokesperson and MP for Gaborone Central Phenyo Butale, confirmed last night that they have secured the permit from Mogoditshane Police Station, but were warned to change their initial route, which included passing through the Government Enclave. The Office of the President and Government Enclave are high security areas, the demonstrators were warned. “Yes, we will be marching along the Molepolole-Gaborone Road, into Nelson Mandela Highway, then Khama Crescent at Orapa House, then into Kaunda Road to Notwane Grounds. That is where the President’s representative will come to receive the petition on his behalf,” he said.
Butale described as arrogance Mokaila’s remarks that the UDC was acting childish in demonstrating against the water and electricity shortage whilst the same UDC has refused to sit down and discuss the problems with the government.
Butale said that the UDC has consistently complained about the problem, but the minister was not interested in holding discussions with them. In the meantime, the situation worsened, daily.
“He is disingenuous. He has repeatedly refused to hold discussions with us and his remarks clearly show his arrogance. It is disappointing.
This problem has been going on for a long time and the UDC has been very patient with him,” Butale said.