Chronicle of a new dawn (Part 2)
| Friday November 19, 2010 00:00
Directorate of Intelligence Services1. We note with acute concern that in its two years of existence, the DIS has sharply divided public opinion in our country. On the one hand are those who like His Excellency credit the institution for securing national security and all manner of fighting crime.
On the other hand is a growing body of citizens who dismiss DIS as an instrument of harassment and violation of rights, which considers itself a law unto itself. An institution that ought to enjoy the goodwill equal to, or better than the BDF and the Botswana Police Service is now the black sheep of our security community, embattled and mired in a public relations quagmire. Many are the complaints cited against operatives of the DIS and their highhandedness in carrying out their duties.
These are compounded by allegations of extravagance and wasteful expenditure. The public relations problem surrounding the DIS is not only a reflection of the depth to which the agency has plunged, but must also be a source of low morale for the men and women in the service. The question parliament now faces, as the body to which DIS owes its establishment, is, is it too late to save the intelligence service? We pose this question because there are those who say the DIS should be disbanded forthwith. Others say DIS should be reorganised in order to regain public credibility. Having cast a pall of fear and anxiety over the populace , there is no doubt DIS needs to engage in thorough self evaluation because if nothing is done, then more Batswana will adopt the view we are better off without it.
2. To begin with, by way of self rehabilitation the Director General, Mr Isaac Kgosi should desist from making any statements about politicians because all civil servants, without exception are prohibited from such conduct. If there are issues the Director General wishes to raise about politicians, he has a political principal who interacts with us.
The remarks attributed to Mr Isaac Kgosi in the media about opposition politicians being cowards are unacceptable and we demand a retraction from the Director General. Another structure associated with the DIS that is equally controversial is the Intelligence Tribunal. This body was discredited right from inception on account of its composition and is little more than a ruling party sub committee from which no reasonable person can expect impartiality . It does not surprise us that Batswana who have issues with DIS don't even bother reporting to the tribunal and as various news reports indicate, prefer to file their complaints elsewhere, or with the Botswana Police.
3. To illustrate this point, I recently received reports of a smear campaign against my person allegedly peddled by DIS operatives. In addressing the matter, filing a complaint with the Intelligence Tribunal was not an option at all because its integrity is questionable. I resorted to calling the Director General who distanced the DIS from any involvement.
My attorneys subsequently wrote to the Director General placing our complaint on record. But how many Batswana are able to call the Director General and get lawyers to follow up on such matters? With respect to our colleagues serving on the Intelligence and Security Oversight Committee, we keenly await their report on DIS to be tabled before parliament. Legislators serving on the committee must be mindful they serve not in their personal capacity, but by virtue of being representatives of the legislature and their respective political parties.
They have a duty to parliament in terms of the relevant statute. By way of recommendation Madame Speaker Madame Speaker, we call on DIS to introspect and put its house in order, before it suffers further damage to what remains of its credibility .Associated with that , in light of public disquiet, we as the opposition collective are considering legislative action about whether the DIS has not overstepped its mandate in the execution of its duties. A final recommendation on this subject is for the dissolution of the Intelligence Tribunal so that it is reconstituted with impartial and non partisan members.
Hate Speech and Political Intolerance4. In the past few months since the split in the ruling party we have caught a sneak preview of what a government under threat can do to hang onto power. It is a disturbing scenario and would be remiss of us not to alert Batswana because this could create a precedent and with time be accepted as the norm. We will mark out three events. At a rally in Tsamaya attended by the top leadership of the country, a senior member of cabinet, Hon Phandu Sekelemani uttered statements that amounted to hate speech which remarks were broadcast over state media. The cause of statement was the fact that the area legislator, Samson Moyo Guma had decamped to another party, an action permitted under the laws of this country which the ruling party has previously profited from ,and which Hon Skelemani has sworn to defend and uphold.
Up till now no one in authority, least of all the minister himself has repudiated those utterances.
This means the government in which he serves is supportive of xenophobia and hate speech. We cannot stand aside and let the issue go unchallenged. Should we brace ourselves for Rre Skelemani telling Indian-Batswana to go back as well? Will he tell Zambian-Batswana to take the ferry across the Zambezi when some within their community displease him? For redress to the nation and to all individuals who are Batswana of foreign extraction, we call on Skelamani to retract his utterances and make a commitment never to take such a despicable low road again. At the same infamous rally, His Excellency President Khama was reported as saying some people in this country want civil war. The statement caused much shock and consternation.
5. We had expected His Excellency to use the occasion of his address, a day ago to appraise the nation on the war he was referring to. Batswana need to know if they are under threat from any foreign nation or any individuals from within. In the failure to substantiate his remarks, we likewise call on His Excellency to retract his remarks in order to put Batswana at ease. We raise these issues in parliament because our failure to do so would amount to complicity in undermining the values that Botswana has cultivated over the years of political tolerance and peaceful co existence between our citizens of diverse origins.
In another attack on our founding values, and abuse of the kgotla system, reports were carried in the media of a kgotla meeting in Matsitama at the height of the Tonota North by-election that was transformed into a political rally complete with dignitaries seated at the high table in BDP regalia. All the instances I have cited are alien to Botswana's political culture of tolerance. In our 44 years of existence we have never seen anything like it.
The behavior and utterances under reference lack prudence and diminish both our country and its leaders. The question that every Motswana must ponder is; is this the kind of country we want where partisan political expediency takes precedence over national values and a life long tradition of conducting our affairs.
Observations on the Economy6. Given the tumultuous period from which we are emerging, the nation deserves an honest appraisal of the state of the economy. For the poor the recession meant sharp reductions in welfare cover which the President did not address. We agree the economy is on a path to recovery, with projections suggesting a growth rate of more than 8% in 2010, but despite this rosy outlook there are serious problems that we should be transparent about and deal with;
* the growth projected is essentially about a return to pre crisis(2008-09) levels. We are recovering instead of surging ahead and expert opinion suggests this is a fragile recovery. On this basis the external risks to the economy remain a challenge.
* the growth figures reflect, in particular recovery in mining where output contraction was sharpest in 2009 due to a worldwide slump in commodity prices. This is a sector most vulnerable to global economic shocks and the medium through which the effects of the global recession were transmitted to Botswana.
7. Unemployment and poverty remain at unacceptable levels. About a quarter of the employable population is actively seeking jobs without success, a regression from 17.6 % a few years ealier. In fiscal year 2002/2003, almost 1 in 3 Batswana lived below the poverty line. The intensity of both the food price crises of 2007 and the 2008/09 recession suggest the number of people living in poverty probably has increased significantly. On this premise we take the view that the address denied the nation an honest assessment of how these crises have affected household incomes and vulnerability to poverty.
8. More fundamentally, we should be outlining and committing to an alternative growth path(and not just in rhetorical terms) This has not been done. We contend that the rhetoric of a Botswana Excellence Strategy and the Economic Diversification Drive are poor substitutes for a coherent economic strategy that appreciates that managing an economy is about creating appropriate incentives and indentifying the policy levers through which the desired incentives will be created. In this regard how does it happen that a Botswana Excellence Strategy exists independent of the Economic Diversification Drive?
Economic Governance9. The political leadership, in particular the president himself, is yet to make the link between the country's socio economic development and approach to governance. As a country we have made the strategic decision to pursue private sector growth in which the government's priority is to create and nurture a conducive environment for investment and enterprise. In this context the first order of business is assuring investors of the security of their persons and their investments and indeed of minimising political risks to doing business. This imperative demands an end to;
* Deportation of expatriate business people without trial: We have no way of knowing how much investment, actual and potential Botswana has lost on account of these violations of the rights of foreign business people. We must guarantee those who invest in our country due process if we are aggrieved by their conduct.
* Deporting foreigners without trial flies in the face of the rule of law we espouse. Often it is our citizens who are left jobless and without any remedy because their employers have been deported overnight. To this end, the collective opposition intends to seek a repeal or amendment of Section 22 of the Immigration Act which permits the deportation of foreigners, outside due process. For issues concerning national security, we contend such cases can be heard in camera.
Corruption and Predatory Behaviour10. Whilst we appreciate accolades from Transparency International about Botswana's low levels of corruption, we wonder if their perceptions of corruption are similar to those of many Batswana that are disturbed by the rise in elite corruption and economic crime. We now have a growing scenario where occupation of public office is used as a vehicle for personal enrichment. We want to emphasise that not all individuals holding public office are compromised. We have upright and ethical individuals serving in the executive. Though they are without blemish they know as well as we do that amongst them are those on whom the charges of impropriety stick.
The identity of those who use public office for personal and financial interest is an open secret in the small society in which we live. Increasingly we are witnessing a shocking development where major projects in this country are undertaken by foreign companies associated with certain people holding high public office or their close associates and relatives. Some of the companies deliver shoddy workmanship and treat workers with utter disdain because they feel protected by their political connections.
11. It cannot be correct for large scale procurement of good and services for government to be the exclusive benefit of close friends and relatives of those holding certain offices. Today sectors such as tourism, construction, procurement and even mineral concessions are fertile, and exclusive territory for certain cliques.
Corruption in any form is prejudicial to the advancement of ordinary hardworking citizens who are denied economic opportunities because they lack political connections in offices of state.
The situation has reached such alarming proportions that to secure business in this country, entrepreuners, local and foreign, have to curry favour with a select group of gatekeepers who dole out deals in return for shareholding or a slice of the pie.
Let us put on notice all those tempted to succumb to corrupt practices by virtue of public office that they will never escape culpability. When people are in power they suffer illusions of infallibility, little knowing that power changes hands, and some day they and their protectors will have to account. As politicians we have enough examples from around the world to know that corruption always catches up with its perpetrators, or those they leave behind. Afterall was it not Henrik Ibsen, the Norwegian dramatist who warned humanity that 'the sins of the fathers are visited on the children?
12. In his address the President talks tough on corruption but we remain unconvinced by the soaring rhetoric.
There must be more resolve on tackling this growing problem. More than strengthening the DCEC as an institution, Botswana needs strong anti corruption legislation. We propose the following as some of the basic measures the Botswana economy needs if it is to fight corruption effectively;
* effective legislation on declaration of assets by the executive, legislature and all public officers whose positions allow them to influence tender processes. These include accounting officers in both central and local government and their equivalent in public enterprises/parastatals, and all personnel managing the tender process.
*criminalisation of business relationship between public servants and their close relatives, business partners and friends on the one hand and the government on the other
* an autonomous anti corruption body
* legislative protection for whistle blowers13. It is common cause that that a bill on declaration of assets and liabilities has been tabled for this current session. We hereby register our disappointment at this draft and signal our intention to reconstruct the bill into a law that would address concerns and allay perceptions of impropriety by those holding public office.
We shall convince our colleagues on the ruling benches on the merits of working together to produce the most effective legislation to combat graft and corruption.
We believe even BDP legislators are sensitive enough to appreciate that anything less than a comprehensive law is unacceptable to the nation. Fourteen years after parliament adopted Hon Phumapahi's motion, we surely can do better than the watered down, ineffectual draft bill tabled before us. Without preempting debate on the bill, we remind government to note the advise of Transparency International chairperson Huguette Labelle that 'governments commitments to anti corruption, transparency, accountability must speak through their actions'. This bill falls far short of expectations and requires a complete makeover.
Fiscal Recklessness14. The message communicated by the President is one of fiscal responsibility. However there is a disconnection because the message he communicates through the actions of his government is one of fiscal recklessness.
Here are the examples;* government is continuing to expand, especially from OP from whence new initiatives are announced in rapid succession. In fact in terms of governing style our country is now consistent with an imperial presidency which has relegated other structures of government to the sidelines. For instance the commitment of 2 days a year to Community Service is long on symbolism but very short on economic logic.
* Wasteful expenditure at OP contradicts the President's call for belt tightening. We have seen cuts in essential services and expansion in the array of levies which affect mainly the less privileged. For instance how do we explain that a country with our problems can still keep two presidential jet, two VIP helicopters, as well as build ministerial houses at a cost that has shot up to P7 milllion per residence when there are so many pressing social needs?
15. We urge the Presidency and government to lead by example in the austerity drive, and recommend the following immediate measures;
* for one of the presidential jets to be sold forthwith* for one of the two VIP helicopters to be sold forthwith* for the furniture and household appliances budget for members of the executive to be slashed from P300,000* for the disposal of the VIP caravan which seems to be underutilised; unless the contrary is proven.
16. As we know, members of parliament have had austerity measures imposed on them in the form of downgrading air travel status from first class to business class. In addition the provision for spousal accompaniment on official trips has been cancelled. The measures we call for are not unreasonable under the circumstances. We call on the presidency and the executive to walk the talk on the subject of belt tightening.
Poverty Eradication17. The president's determination to eradicate extreme poverty and ensure a life of dignity for all Batswana is commendable. It is worthy of the support of all of us because human dignity is a matter of freedom and human rights; and poverty sits in discord with both. Regrettably, and once more there is yawning gap between His Excellency's rhetoric and what his government does on one hand, and the demands of the anti poverty agenda on the other. We just witnessed the launch of a poverty eradication initiative, without adequate design, without a budget and shockingly without parliamentary approval. There is a mindset within this government that it can achieve everything without the participation of key stakeholders such as the opposition. We are then expected to rally behind ill conceived programmes which in real and practical terms don't say how the average Motswana will be lifted out of poverty.
18. We wish to make the following observations;*where we expect organised policy and programme action from the government, we witness only fragmented policy responses, not knit together by any coherent macro level strategy or grounded in solid analysis and design. What, we ask, is the organising framework for the many initiatives that have been started by the president?
*where we expect the creative mobilisation and affirmation of the capacity of poor people to liberate themselves from poverty, we witness righteous appeals for 'sacrifice, selflessness and consideration for others less fortunate'. These appeals are not only at variance with government's soft stance on corruption and the extensive use of public office for personal enrichment for incumbents and their associates, but they also perpetuate the destructive myth that poverty eradication is largely an issue of compassion. We would be better served by an admission that the economy is not, even in the basis of the frugal levels of sustenance suggested by the Poverty Datum Line, working for nearly one in three Batswana.
*where one expects real engagement with the nation on poverty, we witness the sale of prepackaged solutions, many of them na•ve in their lack of appreciation for what is already happening in the economy and the many constraints faced by the poor. If backyard gardens have extensive relevance, they could have been introduced as an improvement to a programme such as LIMID or ISPAAD. The less said about the other micro projects sold at the Mahalapye Pitso, ie) bakery projects, tents for hire etc, the better. Haven't Batswana been doing these for ages?
*precisely because this government sees poverty as a matter of compassion, we invest resources in wasteful public relations stunts such as the commitment of 12 days per annum by all government departments to community services and the mobilisation of the business community to address poverty as a matter of charity, of course in the name of the president. When the entire public service takes 12 days off work to engage in community service projects, the associated cost to society cannot be justified by whatever they do, unless they use idle time.
*associated with poverty reduction is the neglect of local government. The State of the Nation address is disappointing for its failure to recognize that the nation's socio economic development requires a new dispensation regarding the relationship between the central government and local government. The latter has been growing in capacity but government seems not to have noticed. Local authorities now see central government as a constraint on their capacity to develop their jurisdictions. We should be decentralising a lot more of the responsibility for development to local authorities and strengthening their capacity rather than stifling them through centralised management. In response we propose the empowerment of local government authorities by allowing them to generate own revenue, and, through the direct election of mayors and council chairpersons to improve service delivery and promote accountability.
Tax Burden19. Madame Speaker we wish to register our dismay at failure by the president to explain to the nation how his government intends to relive them of an increasing tax burden. In the past few years Batswana have been subjected to a series of levies and taxes which have eroded household incomes and driven more of them into poverty. We have seen an increase in VAT, water tarrifs, electricity tariffs, school fees, Omang and passport replacement charges and even a hike in licences for small vendors/dimausu. In the corresponding period we have not been told how the more vulnerable in society are being protected. We recognise that government has to raise revenue through taxes but we submit that some of the levies mentioned disproportionately affect the poor sections of our society. We call on government to review and reform the tax regime to raise revenue without hurting the more vulnerable sections in our society.
Ipelelegeng20. Ipelegeng was introduced in 2008 as short term initiative to relive the poor and the unemployed from the their dire circumstances. In a short time it has graduated into a permanent scheme. A suggestion to increase the P 360 monthly wage upwards, though welcome, is cosmetic and no cause for great celebration because it does not address the fundamental issue of providing sustainable and long term jobs for the unemployed masses. The fact that government wants to increase Ipelegeng beneficiaries by 1,000 more people is a tragic indictment of its failure to unlock the job opportunities Batswana are looking for.
We contend that from 50 000, the numbers will escalate in the years ahead. In other words Ipelegeng is set to become a permanent programme in lieu of decent jobs. We propose that in light of this failure, government should rather review Ipelegeng and within its ambit introduce public works projects, horticultural gardens, agricultural activities and others that will provide long term sustainable jobs offering decent wages. As it were presently, Ipelegeng beneficiaries are better off registered under the destitute programme because they are better off with food basket offered and the cash stipend offered. We call on government to show more initiative and add value to the scheme for it to have any meaning to Batswana.
Defence & Security Police21. During his address, His Excellency commented noted the reductionin incidences of crime, and rightfully congratulated the Botswana Police Service. Although we appreciate his comments we feel an ordinary expression of gratitude falls far short of expectation. The best incentive for police officers vests in the improvement of their conditions of service and welfare. The service needs to be better resourced in terms of vehicles, communications, all weather clothing and other essential equipment. The police need to be equipped with state of the art resources so that they perform their duties without hindrance. Over and above, police training should be designed to deal with the sophisticated crimes of today. For example over the years, citizens of this country have disappeared and most have gone untraced. There is need for a special unit to deal with this phenomenon in our society. The issue of police welfare is close to our hearts as the opposition. We reiterate the need to establish conditions of service specific to the police to take into account the nature of their work. Issues such as such as accommodation and remuneration must be looked into as a matter of urgency.
Botswana Defence Force22. The President chose to remain silent on the issue of defence. However we believe it is important to let the nation know about the state of our defence force. We are concerned to learn from various sources that the state of readiness of our defence force could be wanting. And we needed His Excellency to assure the nation that everything is in order. We learn that some units lack relevant equipment while the entire defence force lacks night fighting capability. If this is the state of affairs prevailing, then urgent attention needs to be given to correcting the situation. On the policy front, we strongly demand that a defence review should be conducted as soon as practicably feasible.
A defence review would inform us on strategic imperatives, including the structure of the defence force and how it should be administered and resourced. Another area of concern to us is the welfare of our soldiers, especially on accommodation and other essential services. Most soldiers have resorted to renting accommodation outside their barracks, a development that will certainly affect response time. On a cautionary note, while we welcome the employment of women in the force, we are equally disturbed by media reports they some are used as amorous fodder by their superiors. These allegations are serious and warrant investigation. We also call for investigations on alleged corrupt activities and conflict of interest in awarding projects and tenders by some high ranking officers.
State Mining Company23. Madame Speaker, ownership and exploitation of natural resources has become a topical subject the world over. In many parts of South America and in Africa, governments are reviewing agreements signed with multinationals. At the heart of this issue is whether prevailing partnerships have resulted in tangible socio economic benefits to citizens of the various countries or whether it is the multinationals or private capital that benefits disproportionately from resources owned by the people. In the cauldron of this debate, a case often cited is the Botswana Debeers model which is often held up as providing the necessary balance between the national interest and investor imperatives.
Many admirers of the Debswana model seek to replicate it in their countries. Increasingly the school of thinking that says the state must play a more active role in the strategic minerals sector is gaining momentum. We subscribe to the view that if the Debswana model, despite its evident shortcomings has worked well for the country, then why not replicate the model in all sectors of the mining industry in Botswana. We are not calling for nationalisation because the Debswana model does not fit the definition of nationalisation. Rather it is joint venture between the government and a foreign investor. We therefore call for the creation of a state mining company which will on behalf of the nation own a stake in any mining venture in the country. In this way Botswana will receive more benefits beyond taxes and royalties.
24. A cursory glance at state participation in the mining industry reveals interesting scenarios. For example, government shareholding at BCL stands at 94 percent. We are in joint ownership of Debswana at 50 percent each with Debeers, plus a 15 percent stake in Debeers itself. Soda Ash Botswana has a similar ownership structure. At Tati Nickel government has a 15 percent shareholding. A case therefore exists for a state mining company to consolidate the assets and portfolios in question within a streamlined entity with a clearly defined mandate.
The Public Service25. In appreciating the role of the public service in the overall development of our country, we have to highlight certain observations which have been omitted in the State of the Nation address. In our interaction with those in the service we learn that a new culture of directives has diminished the traditional role of civil servants to innovate and render expert, professional advice. The advisory role of the public service has been emasculated to the degree that paralysis has set in and hardworking men and women live in fear of their jobs should they exhibit any streak of independent thinking. Many new initiatives are no longer subjected to due diligence lest those who disagree lose their jobs. As a result many talented employees are so frustrated they are either looking for early retirement or want to quit outright due to this state of affairs.
26. Madame Speaker, public officers are concerned that succession planning for leadership and middle management positions does not exist. In addition this country has an aging workforce and little provision is made for younger public officers to fill vacancies of responsibility, hence service delivery compliant with current and future trends is affected. In grappling with the question of how to improve service delivery, we recommend the establishment of one stop service centres. Why should members of the public have to visit different offices to access services that can provided under one roof?
There is no reason why Batswana should go to different offices to file applications for a passport, Omang card, death/birth certificates, cattle brand or drivers licence to mention a few. All these have the same data base and if services were computerized and integrated, dispensing services to the citizenry would take less time and make us a more efficient and competitive nation.
It has not escaped our attention that public service standards exist in theory and a reporting hoax, as the established standards have not been developed into a Charter which binds government to deliver according to set delivery times with the consequence that members of the public cannot hold any office accountable for lack of service delivery.
27. Madame Speaker the Public Service Act 2008 established a single public service. Since, no human resource audit has been conducted to ensure that human resource practices in ministries, local government and Land Boards are standardised. This is despite the fact that officers were trained to professionally conduct such audits. Lack of progress on this subject will adversely affect performance of the public service. As the name implies, the public service exists to serve the people. We also note that employee appraisal remains a paper tool for promotion purposes as opposed to delivering and measuring results. It would seem there are no systems in place to both identify and reward excellence, resulting in performers and non performers equally rewarded or not rewarded at all.
Employment Freeze28. Madame Speaker we are further dismayed that the president did not comment on this very critical subject. The nation expected the head of state to appraise it on the freeze in public service employment, and in particular on the fate of the reported 11,000 graduates who are set to roam the streets. We learn this state of affairs has been brought about by the implementation of the Public Service act of 2008.
To us this is an inadmissible reason because government knew as far back as 2008 that the new act would have budgetary implications. We call on government to come up with a strategy that will ensure no disruption is caused to absorbing new entrants into the public service. Among other strategies explored could be the utilisation of foreign reserves because if we have excess import cover then the surplus must ameliorate the immediate problems faced by our citizens. We reject inaction and reiterate that we are opposed to the employment free because of its heavy social cost on Batswana.
Labour Unions29. Madame Speaker, we are dismayed by the suggestion that labour unions must not partake in politics. We stand to defend the right of unions to adopt positions on important national issues. We submit that political issues are national issues and as a key component of civil society, the labour movement would be abdicating its responsibility should it heed this call to stay out of politics. They cannot remain aloof from issues that are of concern to the entire citizenry. We know of no democratic society where the labour movement is not active on political issues. In many countries, the labour movement has been at the forefront of change, in support of the interests of the people. Madame Speaker as far as we can tell the labour movement in this country is not affiliated to any political party. What they have consistently done, though, in recent times is support and even initiate positions that are consistent with the principles of good governance, democracy, rule of law and zero tolerance for corruption. We concur that the tendency in the past where the labour movement was exclusively concerned about the welfare of its members was counter productive in a country faced with the challenges we have. It is the right of the labour movement to even mobilise workers to vote for political parties which espouse policies consistent with what, they stand for. In view of the plight of many workers we therefore take this opportunity to urge the labour movement to urge their members to become agents of change for a better Botswana by voting for the opposition in 2014. Chinese Companies30. Madame Speaker it is said a friend is a person with whom you can share both good and bad tidings. Since formalisation of diplomatic relations between Botswana and the Peoples Republic of China in 1976, our country has benefited immensely from various forms of assistance extended by the people of China. We cannot deny the worthy contribution of our partner at difficult times in our history . In turn we have reciprocated by supporting China on various geo political issues and for this reason we enjoy a symbiotic relationship which works for the benefit of both partners. However there comes a time when certain home truths have to be told. The simple truth is that more and more Batswana are unhappy with Chinese businesses and companies operating here. As we speak citizen owned construction companies are collapsing at a disturbing rate due to lack of projects. Almost every project of significance is undertaken by Chinese companies. This stranglehold on projects has its downside evidenced by uncompleted projects, cost overruns and poor workmanship. A responsive government ought to explore ways and means of protecting citizen owned companies from further ruin.
31. Our concern is that government is silent in the midst of so much hardship to its own citizens. The argument that our companies should compete with the Chinese is disingenuous because the latter tend to be parastatals or government sponsored entities.
The many projects in which Chinese companies are involved tell a sad tale of poor working conditions, low wages and physical abuse of locals. Just why do we allow Chinese companies to import unskilled labour, fail to transfer skills and then fail to act against them? There is growing perception that Chinese companies can do as they please because they are above the law. Allegations abound in the construction industry of rampant corruption in the form of bribery and kickbacks for tenders awarded to Chinese companies. We raise this issue because it is of deep concern and a source of indignation to Batswana, on whose behalf we are here, and for whom relief must be found.
32. One of Africa's foremost thinkers, Thabo Mbeki has wondered aloud if China's relentless foray into our continent does not amount to a new form of colonialist adventure. Our point made, instead of gnashing our teeth, we hereby propose a solution; we call on government to place a moratorium on projects awarded to Chinese companies pending the outcome of an investigation instituted by line ministry. It is illogical to keep on giving projects to companies under investigation. Upon completion of this exercise, we propose that government should then convene a summit with citizen owned companies at which a protocol will be developed wherein Chinese companies will only be eligible to bid for a limited quota of projects with others set aside for citizen owned companies. Such a move will revive local companies, as well as stimulate the economy because our people will reinvest their profits here instead of repatriating them to China. The catalogue of disaffection is not confined to the construction industry. In the retail sector, our citizens lament poor working conditions without any relief forthcoming from the government. It is time for government to act because failure to do so will affect the friendship bonds between our citizens and the Chinese community. Legislative Agenda33. We take this opportunity to inform the nation that the collective opposition has drawn up an extensive legislative agenda for this session of parliament. This will be in pursuit of our mandate of holding government accountable, and responsive to the interests of Batswana. To this end we have noticed the following motions and bills for debate;
*Hon Motlhale will move a motion on the introduction of a Constituency Development Fund *Hon Arone is set to call for political party funding and a review of the Interpretation Act*Hon Gilson Saleshando will move a motion on Insider Trading*Hon Reatile is set to move a motion on the Matimela Act*Non Modubule will call for the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints Commission *Hon Saleshando Dumelang will table a bill on HIV/AIDS and Employment as well as a bill to enact a Freedom of Information Act.
*Hon Mabiletsa will move a motion calling on government to review its decision to seize 'masimo '*Hon Mmolotsi will call on government to institute a commission of enquiry on the conduct and validity of the PSLE and BGCSE examinations.
*Hon Ntuane will call for the repeal of the Media Practitioners' Act