Makgalemele defends Goodhope campaign

Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday February 9, 2016 18:00

 

Makgalemele said that the aircraft was used by President Ian Khama and Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi. However, he denied that government fuel was used by his boss, Eric Molale.

Makgalemele was responding to a question from Francistown South legislator, Wynter Mmolotsi who wanted to know the amount that was spent on fuel for aircraft used by the President and his Vice during the by-election.

Mmolotsi also wanted to know the amount of government fuel that was used by Molale during his campaign.

He also wanted to know the number of kgotla meetings addressed by ministers at the constituency between July and August 2015 and the same period in 2014.

“There was no government fuel that was used by the minister during his campaign for Goodhope/Mabule constituency as ministers use their private vehicles during political campaigns,” he said.

However, Mmolotsi refuted Makgalemele’s statement saying Molale used government vehicles and even took with him the mobile clinic to the constituency as part of his campaign.

Makgalemele added that even though Molale was campaigning, he also had ministerial duties to perform, which he said was the only time he used government vehicles, but not for campaigns.

On kgotla meetings addressed by ministers, Makgalemele said 11 of them (meetings) were held from July to August 2015, while none were held in the same period in 2014.  He would not give reasons as to why there were 11 meetings last year, while there were none the year before.  He referred Mmolotsi to individual ministries, as there was no universal answer.

Outside Parliament Mmolotsi still insisted that Molale benefitted from state resources.

“I wanted to demonstrate that even though we are told there is no political party funding, others get it. A lot of state resources were used in Molale’s campaign.  They used kgotla meetings and he used government vehicles,” he said.