The ruling party has claimed yet again that the idea that opposition party legislator Ndaba Gaolathe has brought before parliament to set up an independent water and energy regulatory body has always been the idea of the current government.
In his response to the motion Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Kitso Mokaila indicated that a motion that opposition member of parliament brought in parliament to set up an independent water and energy regulatory body has been the idea that the government intends to put in place.
Mokaila told parliament that the cabinet has already agreed to set up an independent energy regulatory body.
He explained that initially the government was to come up with the independent regulator on water and energy only to exclude water at some point as some within the cabinet are of the view that Botswana given its population could not go ahead with the independent water regulator.
He said that allowing companies and other players to play a role in providing water to the populace could come with a hefty price as independent players could hike prices.
He said that it was then appropriate to leave the role of providing water to government as it would be very expensive for other players to provide water to a vast majority of citizens around the country which could come as a cost. He said that he has already taken the Bill for drafting to the Attorney General Chambers. According to Mokaila the Bill is likely to be tabled during the current parliament seating.
Gaolathe stated that setting up such regulatory bodies would create an environment in which the water and power sectors may benefit from significant investments therefore providing effectiveness in providing water and power to citizens. He further argued that in the presence of energy and water regulation it will also benefit the growth of industry.
Before that ruling party MP’s rejected opposition legislator Pius Mokgware’s motion requesting government to exclude those who acquired plots through the open market, inheritance and marriage from a policy that requires an individual to own one plot in Botswana.
The ruling party MP’s rejected Mokgware’s motion after Lands and Housing Minister Prince Maele informed parliament that they have been thinking of bringing back the land policy for the whole purpose of deleting a clause that subjects those who acquired plots through the open market, inheritance and marriage to one man one plot policy.
Gaolathe’s motion is likely to suffer the same fate as Mokgware’s motion that was rejected by the ruling party MP’s.
Maele had indicated that the motion should not be left to pass.
He however agreed that there was an anomaly that needed to be rectified.