05 Mar 2025

Ministry for State President 2025/26 recurrent and development budget amounting to approximately P12.5 billion was approved by the National Assembly Committee of Supply yesterday.

Members of Parliament elected in favour of passing the ministry budget after expressing various views during the debate, after the minister, Mr Moeti Mohwasa had presented the budget proposal.

Responding to MP concerns, Mr Mohwasa said the construction and maintenance of police stations would take place over the coming financial year, while some projects would be deferred to the twelfth National Development Plan (NDP 12).

He said there were plans to empower the Stock Theft Unit through resources and manpower as well as the continuation of the Kgomokhumo campaign in order to reduce cattle rustling.

Mr Mohwasa said government intended to ensure institutions such as Independent Electoral Commission and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime become independent oversight bodies that report to Parliament.

Mr Mohwasa said government envisioned a future where the appointment of the Director General of the DCEC involved candidates being interviewed by Parliament before recommendation to the President for appointment.

He said public sector reforms would determine if parastatals such as the National AIDS and Health Coordinating Agency and SmartBots move outside the ambit of the Office of the President.

Mr Mohwasa said as per the Disability Act of 2024, the ministry coordinated administrative advocacy relating to people living with disabilities, while the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs implements their social welfare grants and there was a need to mainstreaming of roles.

Commenting on the ministry budget, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gaborone Central MP, Dr Phenyo Butale said Botswana Police Service Special Support Group camp in Maruapula, Gaborone was in dire need of better housing.

He said the country needed to invest in proactive measures to plan for disaster preparedness, saying the recent flood exposed the country’s vulnerability in addressing natural disaster situations. He welcomed the establishment of a National Disability Council, but called for comprehensive measures to address the needs of people living with diasbility.

Leader of the Opposition (LOO) Mr Dumelang Saleshando said at point where the country was running a budget deficit, Botswana needed to be cutting on defence spending. He said P2.3 billion budgeted for Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and P530 million for the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services, was astronomical, given the country’s current economic conditions.

Mr Saleshando said difficult economic times required investing in activities that could stimulate the economy and generate revenue.

He said procurement processes at BDF raised controversy in the past, while the DIS had been a law unto itself in the past, with no audits or accountability to Parliament and as such Mr Saleshando said the institutions needed to have their processes reformed.

Okavango West legislator Mr Kenny Kapinga said there was a need to revive the Ministry of Defence and Security in order to have a leaner ministry of state to focus on presidential affairs and public administration. He also called for a complete reform of the DIS and for the drafting of a national security sector strategy to guide the government in its security system operations and planning. ENDS