I was betrayed - Pheto

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday December 14, 2007 00:00

He withdrew the Bill the following day saying 'numerous proposed amendments which have been noticed over and above those that were agreed to in an All-Party Caucus, and some of which are so fundamental and far-reaching as to alter the complexion of the Bill'. 

'I regret that this course of action has become necessary despite the full concurrence of my ministry and the Botswana National Youth Council on the urgent need for a legal framework to be put in place in the interest of Botswana youths and the safeguarding of government investment in funding the BNSC, which is wholly dependent on the Botswana Government for its existence,' he told Parliament on Wednesday.

But the minister told Mmegi yesterday that the Bill will be back very soon. He said youths from different political parties are using BNSC to launch their political ambitions and that abuse of public funds is rife within the organisation. Pheto disagreed with MPs who labelled the Bill as a shoddy job and that he wanted to take all powers.

'I have consulted with legal advisors at Attorney General's Chambers and they did a good job. 

They advised me that BNSC needs an oversight person and that person should be the Minister responsible,' he explained. Furthemore, he was happy with the way the Bill was drafted.

'The Bill was drafted correctly and is not a shoddy job,' he said confidently. 

Pheto who will be travelling abroad today said that some members of BNYC still need to account for tens of thousands of Pula.

Apparently, the youth who failed to account for the public funds could find themselves in the dock in the near future.

He revealed his suspicions that some MPs wanted to frustrate him to destroy the matter. 

He said that they had agreed certain amendments at the All-Party caucus but he was surprised to see new ones coming from MPs that he believed were going to compromise the Bill.