MP for Gaborone Central, Dr Phenyo Butale’s motion that sought to have government arrest escalating fuel prices following yet another increase on Wednesday night, was shot down by a majority on the floor of Palriament on Friday morning. The motion, was defeated by 19 votes to 13. On Wednesday night retail price for unleaded petrol 93 and 95 increased by 23 thebe per litre while that of diesel 500ppm and 50ppm increased by 45 thebe per litre. Illuminating paraffin goes for 38 thebe more per litre. Dr Butale wanted Parliament to consider alternative options to cushion fuel price hikes and their frequency, by authorizing funds to subsidise price hikes. He also proposed that Parliament use money from other Funds such as the Road Fund Levy to augment the depleted National Petroleum fund (NPF). He said the NPF currently only has P76 million, a far cry from the P1 billion that the country owes to multinational fuel suppliers. Dr Butale had also proposed that the P1 billion debt could be sold to commercial institutions so as to alleviate the pressure from government. Lending support to his comrade was Francistown South MP, Wynter Mmolotsi who submitted that although the NPF was initially…