'Heads Will Roll,' Saleshando Warns Domkrag

By Bame Piet
Staff Writer | Monday February 22, 2010 00:00

 

 Commenting on the budget speech last week, Saleshando said that the BDP had mortgaged the country to the mining company and was now serving its interests at the expense of Batswana.

He warned of a day when heads would roll after the BDP is voted out of power. 'Batho ba ga ba utlwe,' he said, prompting a burst of laughter from members.

He appealed to his fellow MPs to reject the government's plans to increase VAT to 12 percent and called for a salary adjustment for civil servants. The senior Saleshando said the government had failed to increase its tax base and was now punishing civil servants by raising VAT from 10 percent to 12 percent. 

Saleshando struck a pose and turned on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, saying Phandu Skelemani did not know how to control his temper and flew off the handle when he disagreed with any view.

This, Saleshando said, Skelemani did in both the local and international stage; he should be restrained, otherwise investors would not consider Botswana as a destination.

Meanwhile, the majority of MPs have called for a stop to the so-called Constituency League which they labelled a waste of national resources. The MP for Francistown West, Tshelang Masisi, said the funds could be better spent on equipping the youth with income-generating skills.

Masisi said he was surprised that the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DISS) enjoyed a huge share of the budget, while the Botswana Police continued to be stinted. This is having a negative effect on the morale of police officers, he said.

Masisi complained that there had not been any consultation before the government decided to take over clinics from local councils, saying it was 'embarrassing' that MPs should have had to learn about it from the electorate. However, he commended the government for introducing the small claims court, saying people were now resolving their debts without a hustle. He called on the judiciary to revive the family court.