Cabinet Ministers on Friday opposed a motion calling for the ratification of the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Phandu Skelemani, while opposing the motion by Member of Parliament for Selibe Phikwe West, Gilson Saleshando said some things will always remain behind. “We are still examining this convention,” Skelemani said despite the fact that the covenant has been around when Botswana attained independence in 1966.
The Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry Maxwell Motowane opposed the motion saying if he supported it he would be contributing to a piecemeal approach in fulfilling the aspirations of the minority groups.
“To what extent have we as a government either fulfilled or moved towards fulfilling the aspirations of the ethnic minorities? I fail to support the motion,” said the minister, whose constituents are mainly an ethnic minority.
In refusing to support the motion, the minister said he was tired of waiting for government promises.
“Ethnic minorities are still not taught in their mother tongues. A motion on community radio stations has not seen the light of the day. I am prepared to wait for so long as we are waiting for the same things. I represent a constituency which over the years has had to contribute to the unity of this country by waiting.” Motowane said.
The MP for South East South Odirile Motlhale on a point of clarification asked whether Motowane realised that the facts he had premised were in support of the motion. Motowane replied that he would have wished to support the motion but the approach was a piece meal one. Motowane said he had difficulty in signing simply because other countries had done so. He insisted that his agitation is for a deliberate, holistic and well thought out approach.
The MP for Gaborone Central elucidated that the covenant is as old as the republic of Botswana and whether he was going to withdraw his word of being tired to wait. Motowane said no.
“Just say you have a problem with your government then,” Dumelang Saleshando told Motowane.
“I feel that the Honourable MP is trivializing the role of the UN. The approach Motowane is using goes for one applying different strokes for different folks. We have amended the Public Service Act in line with the ILO convention. Why can’t we ratify this convention?” Motlhale asked Motowane. Motlhale then pointed to the minister that there are international instruments that would address his [Motowane] concerns at the United Nations level and locally at central government level.
“Assuming “wait” means lack of political will, how will ratifying the convention bring about political will?” asked the Assistant Minister of Education, Keletso Rakhudu who also opposed the motion.
The Specially Elected MP, Dr. Somolekae who was part of the Secretariat of the Balopi Commission that consulted the nation on Sections 77, 78 and 79 of the Constitution also opposed the motion. “We need to start engaging each other. Running to sign will not help. We must start to engage in a holistic, comprehensive fashion,” Somolekae said.
Supporting the motion, MP for Kgatleng East, Isaac Mabiletsa said the BDP legislators supported the motion calling for ratification but there was no political will. He threw a salvo at Somolekae saying her scholarly intervention was diplomatic. “Since 1966 we are still engaging. What is engagement after all? We had the Balopi Commission. Wasn’t it engagement? There is no political will,” Mabiletsa said before quoting extensively from a Botswana national Front document addressing minority rights.
Tati East MP, Samson Guma Moyo supported the motion saying it is dear to his heart.
“I have difficulty when I say to my child ‘You cannot be taught in your mother tongue.’ My Ndebele and Kalanga constituents would not want to be addressed in Setswana. We are talking about rights. I may not have resources but there are certain rights that are not negotiable,” said Tati East MP, Samson Guma Moyo.
Serowe North East MP, Ramadeluka Seretse opposed the motion saying rights go with obligations. “When you create a right, there is a corresponding obligation. What will be the purpose of creating a right when you don’t have the resources?” asked Seretse.
To which Moyo replied: “Are you saying rights are created? Rights are not created. I have a right to exist. I am not created by this republic. There is nothing wrong in ratifying this covenant. The challenge is implementing it. As leaders we should discuss these issues with some element of calmness. The cry about the Basarwa of the CKGR is more about these issues,” Moyo said.
Maun West MP Tawana Moremi opposed the motion saying there was no money to implement the ratification. “What’s the point of signing a cheque that is going to bounce?” he asked.
Moyo scoffed at Moremi’s contribution saying the issue of money availability was a non-starter. “Government starts policy and framework decisions and then finds ways and means of implementing them,” Moyo said.
