08 Dec 2024

The Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education will hasten to harmonise all policies under its custody that are at discord with the 2009 Children’s Act.

This was said by the minister also Specially Elected Member of Parliament,  Dr Nono Kgafela-Mokoka when contributing to SONA on Thursday.

She indicated that this would help prevent confusion on the interpretation of such policies as it was currently the case with departments having separate policies.

Minister Kgafela-Mokoka said by doing such, the ministry would also ensure that all children were equally protected.

“Hastening to harmonise these policies with the Children’s Act will also ensure children have protection against abuse, exploitation and child labour among others,” she said.

Dr Kgafela-Mokoka said nurturing a child should be a joint effort between the ministry and society.

“This can be achieved by ensuring that the home environment is child friendly, free of all sorts of abuse,” she said.

She also indicated that the ministry was aware of challenges ahead as reports have already trickled in highlighting concerns such as unequal access to resources.

The minister said this was especially common in rural areas where the children’s right to education and protection seemed limited.

Dr Kgafela-Mokoka said issues to be attended to included practices and customs such as child marriages.

“These are the issues that we have to prioritise. Children have to enjoy their right to being children and should not be rushed into growing up under the pretext of culture,” she said.

Dr Kgafela-Mokoka also said there was a need to ensure that school diet was balanced, which she said could be achieved through home grown produce.

There is a need to motivate guardians, by increasing their pension fund to P1 800, which will also help relief unemployed parents, Dr Kgafela-Mokoka said.

In his debate, Gamalete legislator, Mr Boniface Mabeo said despite sitting on a vast trans-boundary aquifer, Ramotswa was in dire shortage of water.

He said part of the village relied on boused water, but that was inconsistent as the tanks could go for about three weeks before being refilled.

“We therefore, call upon government to declare water a human right, which will then compel it to ensure its adequacy,” he said and suggested drilling of boreholes to supply the village, a move that he said would also help farmers explore irrigation production.

“We have a large mill in Ramotswa and it would provide a good market for farmers because it currently imports most of its raw materials,” he said.

On other issues, Mr Mabeo requested government to consider increasing operating times for Ramotswa border post, which he said would relief the neighbouring Tlokweng and Pioneer borders.

He said the border, which operated from 7am to 7pm, was important for the constituents since most had relatives across the border.

Mr Mabeo said Bamalete Lutheran Hospital faced operational challenges that should be addressed and urged the Ministry of Health to do so.

 The facility is a mission hospital, but gets financial assistance from government.

Mr Mabeo also stated that the constituency was in a good position to be turned into an industrial hub. “We are in the periphery of Gaborone and we have land in places such as Seuwane and Mogonye that the capital city lacks. We also have rail and road links through the A1 road,” he said. 

The legislator requested government to help desilt dams in the area such as Mogobane, Boatle and Lesetlheng since they were used for recreation.

For his part, Francistown West legislator, Mr Ignatius Moswaane said as a new government, their promises marked a new covenant with the electorate.

“Such a covenant includes a right to decent life no matter the location. 

These are the issues that we give the utmost priority and we are committed to delivering on them,” he said.

Mr Moswaane, who is also the assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs said that it would be unfair to accuse the Umbrella for Democratic Change of failure to deliver as it only had about a month in office.

“Batswana should not be misled by social media but should be patient with the new government,” he said.

He also assured civil servants that they would not lose their jobs as long as they remained apolitical and worked diligently with the new government. Ends