He added that a Kgotla is not the right place for the formulation of policy because of its limitations. The MP was debating the P300 million-plus budget proposal for the Ministry of Trade and Industry that Parliament approved yesterday. He warned that if government imposes the regulations restricting entertainment and liquor trading hours, businesspeople will take the matter to court where chances of government winning are very scarce.
"Government should not be high- handed on this issue. It is going to backfire - we are going to have a spectacular case. Let us have a consensus," he advised. He said that the minister responsible should continue consulting with professionals and youth whom he said could not attend Kgotla meetings because of their official engagements. Ntuane tabled a motion last year calling on government to put in abeyance the proposed regulations in the Liquor Trade Act. He argued that the regulations would drive the industry underground and that many people would lose sources of their livelihood.
The MP for Gaborone West South Robert Molefhabangwe called on government to be firm if it wants local businesses to survive for a long time.
