Motion to split Education Ministry fails

Lebogang Mosikare
Correspondent | Thursday August 29, 2013 00:00

 

The BDP councillor had requested that MoESD be divided into the Ministry of Basic Education and Ministry of Tertiary Education.Moswaane said the ministry is currently engulfed by a number of problems that could only be solved if it was divided.He added: 'The education ministry is too big to be headed by one minister and an assistant minister. 'Teachers have also advocated for the ministry to be separated into two ministries,' he said Six councillors voted in support of the motion while seven voted against the motion. Tatitown councillor Stanley Masalila of BDP said the motion was the panacea that Batswana had being waiting for to arrest the mess at MoESD.

He said it was difficult for one minister to be tasked with the responsibility of heading a ministry as broad as MoESD.Masalila said separating MoESD would bring quality results that would improve the socio-economic well  being of Batswana.Botswana Congress Party (BCP) councillors Albert Mosojane and Robert Mosweu did not support the motion on the grounds that Moswaane should research further.

However, Mosweu blamed President Ian Khama for downplaying the problems at MoESD. He added that Khama could have left the ministry to continue with two assistant ministers like it was the case before Keletso Rakhudu was transferred to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.Ace Ntheetsang, also of the BDP, said it was clear that Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi was unable to handle the huge load in her ministry and as such it was vital that it be divided.Another BCP councilor, Tabengwa Tabengwa did not support the motion because a ruling party councillor tabled it.

He said the BDP had a tendency of rejecting good motions tabled by the opposition councillors and members of parliament.Tabengwa added: 'When we ask them why they reject our motions they say that they do not need our advice because they are ruling the country alone.'Specially elected councillor Ford Moiteela said problems bedeviling the ministry could be a thing of the past if it was split into two.After his motion was defeated an emotional Moswaane said it was a sad day for democracy in the city. He said Francistown City Council was cursed and needed divine intervention.