26 Mar 2014

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse has asked Parliament to approve his ministry budget proposal of over P5.1 billion for the financial year 2014/15.

The sum of P951 million was proposed for the ministry’s development budget, while P4.1 billion would be for the recurrent budget. Under the development budget, Mr Seretse requested for the sum of P31.3 million for the construction of border fences.

Out of the amount requested, P5 million would continue the construction of the different phases of the border patrol route which enabled the security agencies to keep the boundaries under constant surveillance.

He said the project would also cover re-affirmation of the borders and densification of the beacons along the borders with neighbouring countries with a view to increase visibility of our international border line.

He said the remaining amount will be warranted to the E-Government project to develop an integrated Case Management System for the different players in the justice delivery system and other departments that require the same system.

Mr Seretse also requested P627 million for the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) developmental programmes. He said building projects were estimated to cost over P206.5 million, which translated to 33 per cent of the development budget allocated.

“This is mainly for ongoing projects and maintenance of existing infrastructure,” he said. The minister said the remaining P420.4 million or 67 per cent would cover aircraft, vehicles, communications and defence equipment projects. The minister further proposed that the police facilities be allocated P140 million.

The funds will be used for the construction of staff houses at Letlhakane and Block 10 in Gaborone; remedial work at Serule wetlands, construction of Forensic Laboratory, purchase of staff houses at Gaborone and Francistown, construction of Police posts, consultancy fees for Block 10 Police station and payment of final accounts for the completed Mahalapye and Palapye Police stations.

Mr Seretse further proposed P45million to finance the Police-telecommunications project to fund the Upgrading of Smartzone, Global Surveillance and Monitoring Cellular (GSM) and introduction of Incident Management System.

The department of Prisons and Rehabilitation’s overall budget is P107 7million of which P20 million will be used for prisons computerisation.

The funds will specifically be used for, among other things; rollout of the remaining networks in Prisons; rollout of the Automated Finger Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) in prisons, Implementation of the Cell phone Jammers at prisons as well as procurement of additional computers at Prisons. The remaining P87.7million has been requested for the Prison facilities project.

The budget will cover the projects among others, construction of Prison staff houses in Gaborone, Francistown, Bainesdrift and Mahalapye, refurbishment of a rehabilitation centre at Lobatse, upgrading of the sewerage systems at Francistown, Mahalapye and Selibe Phikwe prisons.

He said part of the funds will be used for the procurement of prison security equipment and Prisons vehicles.

Minister Seretse informed Parliament that in an effort to improve security prisons, security fences will be constructed in Mahalapye, Francistown and Boro prisons. He said standby generators will also be installed in a number of prison stations.

“Part of the funds will cover completion of outstanding works at Moshupa Male Prison and payment the main contractor as well as settlement of outstanding professional fees for the Francistown Maximum Security Prison project,” he said.

Minister Seretse said the proposed recurrent budget for the sum of P4.1 billion for the ministry comprising of Ministry Headquarters, BDF, BPS and Prisons which represents an increase of 12 per cent over 2013/2014 budget.

He said the increase is attributable to among other things, the increase in the rental account for the proposed office space for the ministry headquarters, the personnel emoluments and other critical accounts such as food, vehicle and aviation fuel as well as equipment and infrastructure maintenance for the BDF, BPS and Prisons.

He said the increase in the personnel emoluments is mainly for the BDF and is mainly attributable to the fact that the account has previously been under- funded and the organisation was also experiencing an increase in the number of staff qualifying for allowances as well as the filing of the vacant posts for intake of officer cadets and recruit privates.

“On the other hand, the increase in other critical accounts is mainly due to increased operational tempo on account of higher and sustained poaching activities globally and here in Botswana,” he said. Ends