MPs decry lack of Freedom of Information law
Friday, June 15, 2018
The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Shaw Kgathi brought the bill on urgency on Tuesday, stating that the bill seeks to address the current lack of transparency and accountability in the legal arrangements of trusts to control the administration of trust property, which if not addressed will render the legal entity of trusts open to be used for money laundering and other illicit purposes.
Although many legislators appreciated the proposed law, they expressed reservation that the lack of FoI law would render it ineffective. Gaborone Central MP, Phenyo Butale said while the law is a welcome move, there is need to tighten other laws to enable the effectiveness of this law.
While it is widely acknowledged that Khama holds the title of Kgosi, the government’s failure to properly gazette his recognition has raised serious concerns about adherence to legal procedures and the credibility of traditional leadership. (See a story elsewhere in this newspaper.) Recent court documents by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Kgotla Autlwetse, shed light on the intricacies of Khama’s recognition process....