What A Waste Of Time

Monitor Editor | Monday July 11, 2016 12:59

It was Gabane-Mmankgodi Member of Parliament (MP), Pius Mokgware, who started the debate with a motion to amend the land policy.  However, we learnt that the Minister of Lands and Housing, Prince Maele stood up to clarify that all the points raised by the MP had in fact been raised by Batswana during consultations.

 He further stated that as the minister of lands, he is due to make a presentation about the policy to Parliament, a presentation that would also include amendments similar to the tone of the opposition MP.

Under normal circumstances the reassurance by the minister that the proposed amendments suggested by the opposition MP had been incorporated in the soon-to-be-made presentation before Parliament, should have caused any sane mind to discontinue the debate on the subject and invest more time on other parliamentary business.

The continued debate on the motion on the land policy and its subsequent vote was a waste of time for everyone concerned.  It would only help if MPs put aside their party differences to concentrate on a common goal.

Likewise, the ruling party MPs should not be seen to be in the habit of discarding or out-voting certain motions simply because they were tabled by the opposition. 

What is good for the people of Botswana should be endorsed by the majority with ease or else we shall find ourselves sabotaging the very same people we are supposed to serve all because of egos  playing out in Parliament.