Africa-Press – Botswana. Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) is in the process of rolling out smart meters to the general public. The initiative is aimed at modernising the country’s water distribution system.
Addressing a kgotla meeting in Somerset Extension kgotla on Monday, Francistown South Member of Parliament, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said the programme would address the many concerns that hadbeen raised by many Batswana, chiefly high water bills.
He said through the initiative the corporation would install smart meters to provide real time data on water usage and leaks. The meters will also allow for remote metre reading and bill payment.
“Hopefully this will not only improve water conservation and efficiency, but also address the issue of high water bills across the country,” he said, adding that such was an innovative and potentially transformative programme for Botswana’s water sector.
The MP also briefed residents on proposed constitutional changes, such as the direct election of the president, the increase of specially elected Members of Parliament from six to 10, reinstatement of corporal punishment in schools, the death penalty, the legalisation of commercial sex work, as well as the appointment of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) secretary by the president, amongst others.
He said the proposed constitutional amendment changes would be discussed in the next parliamentary session. MP Mmolotsi said a lot of Batswana had proposed for the direct election of the president, but Cabinet resolved that the status quo remain.
He said constitutional amendment review report also proposed that corporal punishment be reinstated in schools, which Cabinet supported. He said the status quo regarding the death penalty remained, and the commission suggested a national referendum so that Batswana could air their views.
In their comments, residents said the constitutional review commission had given the president too much powers. One resident, Ms Keneilwe Siska said concentration of power could lead to abuse and corruption, and it would limit the ability of other branches of government to hold the president accountable.
She said it was important to give the president authority to govern effectively, while also ensuring adequate checks and balances were in place. She supported the suggestion that corporal punishment be re-introduced in schools, saying indiscipline among school children was a concern.
She also called for legalisation of commercial sex work, to help alleviate poverty in some families, a suggestions that other residents opposed.
Another resident, Ms Sophie Galegake also supported the reinstatement of the corporal punishment in schools, adding that it was important to identify the root cause of bad behaviour and find effective ways to address it.
Mr Ezekiel Mfananyana rejected the proposal to increase specially elected MPs, saying such MPs in the past played a crucial role in parliament because they brought in special skills and expertise which were now possessed by many elected members of parliament.
He said even the six was too many and a waste of government resources, noting that they were also given constituency allowance when they did not have constituencies.
In response to some of the issues raised by the residents, MP Mmolotsi said it was true that initial purpose of specially elected members of parliament was to bring certain skills and expertise into parliament that might not otherwise be represented.
He was of the view that increasing their number might not necessarily achieve the intended goal. He said some MPs argued that the system was outdated and no longer served its intended purpose.
He also said the constitutional review commission proposed that the president should also enjoy a constituency allowance of P232 000 000 per annum.
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