Bathobakae: in her own words
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday December 1, 2016 16:41
Bathobakae passed away suddenly on Monday in Tlokweng.
She will be remembered for her frequent contributions on gender and government’s failure to allocate plots to Batlokwa. Bathobakae (60) had a love for her constituency, which always radiated when she made her contributions in Parliament. Bathobakae was clearly admired and loved by many legislators across the political divide for her kind heart and calm. She enjoyed picking on certain ministers, in a friendly and humorous manner. Two of these were Local Government and Rural Development minister, Slumber Tsogwane and his Defence, Justice and Security counterpart, Shaw Kgathi.
Below are some of Bathobakae’s last words in the National Assembly, which she spoke last week in the NDP 11 debate on defence, justice and security.
On Electronic Voting Machines
“I thank you Madam Speaker, to have been accorded the opportunity to comment on the NDP 11 Chapter 8. I will start off with the issue of IEC (Independent Electoral Commission). I am doing so because when we talk about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), I have been hearing other Honourable Members from that side getting so worked up, I do not know why. A law has been passed on EVMs, and we are simply talking about the amendment that was put forward by Honourable (Wynter) Mmolotsi on paper trail. Now, I am surprised that when we talk about modification of these machines, Honourable Members like Tsogwane get so worked up as if they have been touched where they are not supposed to be touched. What is the problem?”
“I was shocked by Honourable Makgalemele when he said that an amendment has been made and therefore the paper trail shall be incorporated.
“We do not have proof that it will be done. What we are saying is that the law has been passed, but that amendment has not been included. We are saying that should be included so that it eliminates the fear that Batswana have (about EVMs). Batswana are surprised because even when you go to a bank machine, once you do a transaction, there is a mini-statement that comes with it to show the amount that has been withdrawn and the balance thereof.
“It is the wish of Batswana to have that paper trail to account for their voting. Now why do other Honourable Members not take kindly to this? Is it because they have intentions to cheat us? We are worried about that.”
“Now my request, Honourable Kgathi, is that the money that you have requested for, the sum of P288 million, that you will use to run elections, use it to incorporate that paper trail as well. This will give assurance to those who have voted. Stop telling us that it will happen when nothing has been done.”
On policing
“Moving on to the next issue, I would like to deliberate on the issue of police working conditions. In my constituency, we have a police station, but there is shortage of accommodation. Some officers stay in Gaborone.
“They also do not have transport. If you happen to report stocktheft, you are told that there is no transport. By the time they attend the reported crime, they do so on a first come, first serve basis, and you will find that they are late because the thieves will be long gone.
Batlokwa have lost a lot of their cattle due to lack of resources by the police. Therefore, Honourable Kgathi, when you do other considerations, include Tlokweng police because Batlokwa have long been complaining about stocktheft and I will talk about this issue for as long as I can.
“Their main concern is the border fence. Those who steal cattle take them to South Africa and they (cattle owners) are later made to pay a lot of money. You are not working. Are you telling me that you will construct the fence in three years? We are suffering, as Batlokwa, Bakgatla and Balete because of this fence. Be serious Minister Kgathi and do your job. You should heed the request of Batlokwa to hear them out because it has been years since they wanted you to address them in Tlokweng about this fence and you are refusing.
“I wish the Vice President was here. I could be telling him that, ‘VP, please help us, the Honourable Minister is failing to do his job. He is failing to come to Tlokweng to tell Batlokwa when he will construct this border fence because our cattle are crossing to South Africa and we are being cheated’.”
On romance within the BDF ranks
“It is high time that BDF laws are amended. There is a lot of oppression that is taking place in the BDF when it is said that soldiers of certain ranks cannot be romantically involved. Love knows no boundaries. Let us not prohibit soldiers from dating one another. These issues destroy our country. Recently, a case was at the High Court and we have lost money that we used to hire lawyers for this very instance of prohibiting love affairs in the BDF.
“This law was made at a time when there were no women in the BDF, but they are now there, so Honourable Kgathi the law should be amended to protect women.
Stop abusing women. It is high time that we amended the laws of Botswana to provide for them.
On employment in security companies
“We have problems with security companies. They hire everyone, regardless of whether they have been trained or their origin and these people should be protected. They do not pay them on time and they do not train them. These people are doing an important job as they take care of our properties. So Honourable Kgathi, open your eyes and ensure that Batswana are not cheated and they are protected.”