MPs approve P2.4 billion add-on budget
News
Member of Parliament for Serowe North, Kgotla Autlwetse
Parliament has approved a total amount of P2.4 billion request for supplementary funding by government and government departments amid strong dissatisfaction from opposition MPs, to be financed through General Revenue balance and Development Fund revenues.
The Finance and Estimates Committee chaired by Member of Parliament for Serowe North, Kgotla Autlwetse approved P1, 104,713,370 recurrent supplementary budget and P 1, 381, 060, 038 for development fund supplementary budget requested by government Ministries. Opposition MPs contend that approving such request without prudent consideration through a framework and scoring system in place is grossly irresponsible.
The role of Finance and Estimates Committee is to interrogate and analyze the supplementary budget request and make recommendations to parliament. However, opposition is aggrieved by the manner in which the request was approved which rendered weak, parliament’s ability to play an oversight role.
Ndaba Gaolathe, who is a member of the committee, submitted in a fierce debate in parliament that no country in the world could appropriate such amount of money without careful considerations. “Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has its role as part of the executive, and parliament has to play its role as the legislature by providing oversight,” Gaolathe said.
Gaolathe is of the view that the Budget and Estimates Committee must have its own framework and scoring points to satisfy itself on whether the money requested are worth it or not.
The opposition MPs who are members of the Finance and Estimates Committee, Tawana Moremi, Shawn Nthaile and Ndaba Gaolathe submitted a proposal on the framework of analysis of supplementary funding of Government ministries, and its departments.
The framework identifies five key criteria, considered to be pertinent in any national supplementary budgeting process. This categories are; Category unforeseen, Category high systematic risk, Category cost-benefit, Category sustainability and Category Management of Risk.
Opposition argue that supplementary funding should only be those expenses that meet the requirements as prescribed by the constitution or that were foreseen but not budget for due to planning lapse or sudden changes in government revenue out-turn.
The proposal points out that the framework does not necessarily mean it could be used to deny ministries the money which they requested but assists in informing parliament under what circumstances did each ministry get approval for its request.
“For instance a score of 20% does not necessarily mean the Ministry deserves exactly 20% of the funding request but strongly suggest that the case for granting that money is weak, and should not attract a positive response in general because then in the long term fiscal approach of the country would be violated in the long term,” reads the report.
The total of supplementary funding required for recurrent expenditure is in the total of P1 104 713 370 allocated across eight ministries: State President (49.6 million), Labour and Home Affairs (P10.5 million), Education and Skills Development (P536.3 million), Local Government (P71.1million), Foreign Affairs (P1million), Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (P2 million), Transport and Communication (P43.3 million) and Defence, Justice and Security (390.8 million).
The total supplementary funding required for capital expenditure is P1 381 060 038 million divided among Agriculture (P497 million), Education and Skills Development (P396.1 million), Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (P46 million) and Defence, Justice and Security (P442 million).
A frame work and scoring system proposal reveals that in their analysis, ministries and government department scored the following points; Agriculture (51%), BDF (52%), DIS (33%), Education and Skills Development (66%), Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (39%), Home Affairs (50%) and, Transport and Communications (66%).
In essence the proposal reveals that Ministries like Education and Skills Development and, Transport and Communications had stronger case for seeking supplementary funding while ministries like Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, DIS department have weak points for seeking supplementary funding.
The proposal says it is not clear why Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services (DIS) should constitute a supplementary request since the reasons for the quantum required for service level agreements are not clear. Their recommendation was that this should be assessed at the level of the regular budget process as it does not meet any of the requirements for supplementary funding.
The proposal also note that a ministry like of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, should only be given 40% of the requested budget i.e P15.2 million because there is no reason why the ministry should commit to build a rhino protection capability of such magnitude overnight, while it can be phased and also could be planned for through the normal Government budgeting process. The proposal also recommend the same for Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs by approving 0nly 50% of the request while the remaining is routes through the normal government budgeting process.
The proposal grants Ministry of Education and Skill Development the total amount of money requested by request that the money be approved on condition that the ministry submit a risk management plan, a major part of which should be how the ministry intends to address the ‘planning risk’ that permeates its functioning.
Opposition members of the committee are the view that by granting 100 percent of the supplementary requests by ministries, the Finance Estimates parliamentary has erred, and this will create not only a precedent but a culture that will compromise Botswana government’s system of sustainable budgeting.
CONSOLIDATED FUND
Ministry of State President- P50 million
Office of the President – (P12 ,3 million)
Subsistence cost on travel
Operational cost of two new offices
Vehicle maintenance
Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime – (P7 587)
Augment Basic Salary Allowances
Directorate of Intelligence and Security (P28.5 million)
Service Level Agreement for Computer Systems Maintenance
Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs – P11 million
Cater for fixed contract which maintains the system for Passport and Border Control
Ministry of Education and Skills Development- P500 million
Shortfall in salaries and allowances
Cater for increase in sponsored students
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development – P71 million
Destitute Allowances, World War Veterans and Old Age Pension
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – P1 million
Replace amounted advanced for humanitarian situation in Sierra Leon, Liberia and Guinea for Ebola epidemic
News
Mascom, Letshego partner to deliver the MyZaka instant loan
Letshego Botswana has recently partnered with Mascom to launch the Mascom MyZaka Instant Loan, a customer focused mobile money microloan service designed to provide customers with swift and convenient access to funds, driven by the underlying theme of “Ithuse” meaning “help yourself”
The loan is said to have been developed through a partnership driven by a deep customer focus with the key objectives of access, convenience and flexible financial support to customers of Letshego Botswana and Mascom through instantly disbursed short-term loans from P50 to P1 500 over the period of one month.
Letshego’s head of transformation, Molebogeng Malomo highlighted that working through agile methodologies, the partnership was able to develop and be released as what they call a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or solution. “In keeping up with the spirit of design thinking and agile methodologies, the experiences and viewpoints of both Letshego Botswana and Mascom’s customers will be valuable to inform further enhancements to the Mascom MyZaka solution,” he said.
He further noted that the partnership and the development of the MyZaka instant loan will provide both the organizations to diversify their offering and customer base, while also offering the customer more choices and flexibility to initiate and be in control of their loan requests through the self-service mobile based application.
Mascom’s Chief Executive Officer, Dzene Makhwade-Seboni also alluded that their origins, priorities and initiatives are firmly rooted in Botswana and in the success of all Batswana, and that their strategy and intent is supported by embracing innovative problem-solving.
“The speed with which Letshego has grown over the years gives us confidence that we have partnered with the right service provider. Their expertise and most of all, innovation, a value we both share, will be beneficial to MyZaka Mobile Money for growth and for the convenience of our subscribers,” she concluded.
News
DCEC granted warrant to arrest Khama twins
The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) has been granted permission to apprehend the former Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama, and his twin brother Anthony Khama.
Information gathered by this publication suggests that the DCEC is actively searching for the Khama brothers, this is in connection with events that transpired whilst Tshekedi was Minister of Environment. The duo is currently in exile in South Africa together with their elder brother, and former President Lt Gen Ian Khama.
Approximately two weeks ago, the corruption-busting agency discreetly filed for an arrest warrant that was approved by the Broadhurst Magistrate Court for the two to be taken into custody, according to a highly placed source within the government enclave.
DCEC is also said to have filed an affidavit signed by a high-ranking officer known to this publication. Reports indicate that after being presented with details of the case, the Broadhurst magistrate issued the agency an arrest warrant.
It is also believed that the agency has been conducting extensive investigations into the supposed suspects for quite some time. Furthermore, Weekend Post has it on good word that the DCEC has been looking for methods to summon the two for questioning but has been unsuccessful.
According to unconfirmed reports, DCEC met with attorney Victor Ramalepa, who refused to accept the summons, saying that he is not their attorney. Furthermore, it is believed that DCEC has enlisted the assistance of the Botswana Police Service (BPS) in flagging the suspects’ names in the International Criminal Police Organisation INTERPOL.
Responding to WeekendPost enquiries, DCEC spokesperson Lentswe Motshoganetsi said, “I am not in good position to confirm or deny the allegation,” adding that such allegations may fall within the operational purview of the DCEC.
When contacted for comment, Ramalepa briefly stated that he is unaware of the purported arrest warrant. “I know nothing about the warrant and I haven’t been served with anything,” he said.
Meanwhile, former president Lt Gen Ian Khama recently issued a statement stating that DIS is intensifying the harassment and intimidation of him, family, friends and office employees.
“It is reprehensible for state officials and agencies to abuse government resources to terrorise their own citizens for personal gain,” said the former president in a statement.
He also stated that his brother TK’s staff and security were ordered to falsely implicate him. “Their desperate tactics will never work, it only serves to motivate me more to pursue regime change and free Botswana from tyranny,” he said
This comes after the corruption busting agency wants to interview the alleged suspects as they are still hiding in South Africa since last year.
Despite the hostility between government and Khama family going unabated, last month, Masisi extended an olive branch to Khama in political rally, indicating that he hopes the two of them settle their differences, of which the former responded by welcoming the gesture.
Khama further said his brother, Tshekedi, will facilitate the reconciliation of his behalf. Many have indicated that Masisi did not say what he said in good faith, and was only scoring political brownies since he was in Khama’s territory in Shoshong.
News
DCEC’s Tshepo Pilane still has his mojo
Tshepo Pilane silenced his critics after being named the head of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) in May of last year and served his opponents humble pie. Many believed he would only last for a month, but almost a year later, he is still standing.
Pilane, a trained soldier whose appointment surprised both the general public and some officers within the DCEC walls, has never glanced back in his duty to steer the DCEC ship forward.
It is alleged that immediately after his appointment the man embarked on a nation-wide trip touring the DCEC offices across the country in order to confirm and reaffirm the DCEC’s mandate. Sources from inside the DCEC claim that Pilane won the hearts of many DCEC employees due to his humility and plain message; “people at the top of the DCEC will come and go but the mandate of the DCEC remains relevant and unchanged.”
Pilane was appointed the Acting DCEC Director General at a time when the organisation was undergoing turbulence through court proceedings in which the suspended Director General Tymon Katlholo had interdicted the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) from accessing the DCEC premises. At the time, the DIS had raided the DCEC offices in the absence of Katlholo claiming to be looking for high profile corruption cases allegedly held by Katlholo.
At the time Pilane was Head of the DCEC Intelligence Division holding the position of Senior Assistant Director General reporting directly to the Deputy Director General Operations Ms Priscilla Israel. Contrary to his detractors, Pilane who is a reserved and humble person by nature won the support and backing of many DCEC officers due to his unassuming nature.
In a recent questionnaire sent to the DCEC regarding Pilane’s term in office, the DCEC was resolute on its commitment towards the fight against corruption. When quizzed on allegations of rife corruption since he took over, Pilane through his Public Relations (PR) office stated that the corruption landscape in Botswana remains unchanged as the DCEC continues to receive reports on allegations of corruption with sectors such as procurement (tenders and supplies), Transport (licensing and certificates), and land (dubious allocation and collusion) still leading issues reported. This trend has been consistence in the DCEC database for more than 10 years.
When further quizzed on accusations that suggest that due to the infighting at the agency, particularly at the top management, Investigations of cases has dropped significantly the DCEC claimed ignorance to the matter, stating that they are not aware of any “infights” at the DCEC “at the top management”, further stating that, investigations of cases has increased significantly, contrary to the allegations raised. “The DCEC is currently seeking new ways of expediting the investigations in order to fast track its enforcement role,” said the DCEC Head of Public Relations Lentswe Motshoganetsi. He further stated that the DCEC is in pursuit of high profile cases involving money and assets valued over P900 million. Three companies are involved in the scandal and two cases have already been committed to court while on one, investigations are about to be completed.
When WeekendPost inquired about Pilane’s roadmap, the DCEC stated that in the past, anti-corruption interventions were reactive, particularly in dealing with national projects that involve large sums of money. It was further started that in most instances investigating such matters takes a long time and in most instances, the money looted form Government in never recovered. As a result, the DCEC has taken a deliberate stance to attach its officers from the Corruption Prevention Division to be part of the implementation of these projects before, during, and after implementation.
The DCEC cited the Economic Stimulus Programme which, although meant to grow the economy and uplift Batswana from poverty, yielded incidents of corruption and poor workmanship. To date, the DCEC is still grappling with cases as some projects were not done, or were completed with defects beyond repair. Currently the DCEC is involved at the Ministry of Education conducting project risk management in the Multiple Path Ways Program at Moeng College and Maun Senior School. This intervention will spread to other sectors of the economy as part of the DCEC’s corruption prevention strategy.
Of recent, the DCEC has been in the media for all the wrong reasons following leakage of high profile cases and allegations claiming that the executive management is at war with each other more particularly with some within the agency harbouring ambitions to dethrone Pilane from the Directorship.
Although the infighting was denied by Pilane’s Office, he acknowledged that leakage of information is a problem across Government and stated that it is a pain at the DCEC. He however stated that Staff has been cautioned against leakage of investigation information and that they have roped in the Botswana Police to assist in investigating incidents of leakage. He further stated that they have increased continuous vetting and lifestyle audits for DCEC employees in order to enforce discipline.
Pilane’s term comes to an end in May 2023 after serving the DCEC for a year on acting basis. It will be in the public interest to see who will be given the baton to continue the anti-corruption journey if Pilane’s contract is not renewed. The DCEC has seen arrival and departure of Director Generals having alternated the top seat five times in less than seven years.