Parliamentarians call for cannery

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday February 14, 2008 00:00

The Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) had an abattoir in Maun that was closed in the mid-90s following an outbreak of cattle lung disease. 

Contributing to the debate on the budget speech in Parliament this week, Ramsden said farmers in Ngamiland faced a predicament since the outbreak of foot and mouth disease there. He said it was gratifying that the Ministry of Agriculture got attention in the budget. Ramsden said he encourages farmers to use solar power on the farms. Ramsden, also the Assistant Minister of Works and Transport, pointed out that although there are plenty of rivers in Ngamiland, some areas face water shortages. 

He said water should be reticulated from the rivers to supplement the existing boreholes. Ramsden said a strong electric buffalo fence should be erected urgently because elephants are destroying crops. The Maun MP said there was shortage of senior secondary schools. Maun Senior Secondary School has been the only one in the district since 1970 and it also caters for children from Chobe. He demanded another senior secondary school in the district.   

The MP for Francistown South, Khumo Maoto, wondered 'why we cannot maintain our infrastructure when our economy is doing well'. He said maintenance of the new hospitals should be done on a regular basis.

Maoto also lamented the unavailability of commercial and residential plots in the urban areas. The Francistown South legislator was concerned about the recent power outages that have hit the country. 'It is taking our country back by 52 years,' he said.

He called on the responsible minister to announce measures to fix the situation. Maoto commended the Ministry of Education for the strides to provide education. He said there are now more tertiary institutions to alleviate over crowding at the University of Botswana (UB). However, he regretted that the introduction of double shift classes has led to shortage of accommodation for teachers. He said schools that offer double shift classes like the Francistown Senior Secondary School, face acute shortage of accommodation for teachers. The MP said some of the teachers at the school live in places outside Francistown.

Maoto also commended Finance Minister, Baledzi Gaolathe for committing more funds to the Ministry of Health. He said this would go a long way to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS.The Francistown legislator also welcomed the review of the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). He said the CEDA vote should also be reviewed. 

Maoto described the chief executive officer of CEDA, Dr Thapelo Matsheka, as a considerate person. He said when one appeals to him, he listens. The MP said although he supports privatisation, he believed it was done incorrectly at Air Botswana. He said Air Botswana pilots should be paid according to international standards to prevent them from leaving for greener pastures. Maoto said Special Constables are regarded as industrial class employees. But he objected that they are not being paid like industrial class employees or police officers.

He said some of the Special Constables have worked for four years but they are still treated like temporary employees.