22 Feb 2013

Parliament will use P90 134 850 for its recurrent budget for the 2013/14 financial year.

Presenting the budget estimates on Wednesday, Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said the estimates represented an increase of P2 507 080 compared to the 2012/13 financial year.

Mr Masisi told Parliament that the budget would cover major accounts for the National Assembly and Ntlo ya Dikgosi.

For the National Assembly, the minister had requested P83 751 780 which represented an increase of P2 507 080. The increase, he said, was due to provisions of two new accounts; rents, offices as well as workmen’s compensation whose provision amounted to P2 457 080 and P50 000 respectively.

He added that the two accounts activities were decentralised from the Office of the President and the Department of Labour and Social Security.

The minster had also requested P6 383 070 for Ntlo ya Dikgosi. Mr Masisi did not make a request for the National Assembly for the 2013/14 financial year under the development budget.

That, he explained was because a provision was made in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST) maintenance budget for refurbishment of Parliamentary flats as well as the second phase of renovating old Parliament buildings.

He indicated that the provision for the project amounted to P20 040 000 while work will be implemented by MIST. Meanwhile, the minister updated Parliament on some achievements as well as challenges encountered during the 2012/13 financial year.

Mr Masisi indicated that Parliament continued to play its role of making laws for the peace, order and good governance of Botswana.

Key legislation passed during the last financial year, he said included the Communications Regulatory Authority, Broadcasting, Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (amendment), International Financial (amendment) as well as the Public Audit Bills.

With regard to parliamentary oversight, the minister indicated that portfolio committees undertook various oversight activities to improve accountability, transparency and promote participatory democracy in the governance system.

The minister noted that the Public Accounts committee opened its examinations to the public for the first time last year.

Also, he said the Parliamentary Special Select Committee to investigate the Fengyue glass manufacturing project concluded its examinations and the report was tabled in November last year.

Again, he said the Statutory Bodies committee examined statutory bodies and presented its maiden report for adoption by Parliament during the winter meeting.

Further, the minister told Parliament that a number of portfolio committees such as agriculture, lands and housing, education and skills development, wildlife, tourism, natural resources and climate change, health and HIV/AIDS, among others, undertook tours to projects within their respective portfolios to address topical issues in the public domain adding impetus to undertaking of Parliament to the people.

Parliament also heard that a number of capacity building initiatives were undertaken for MPs and staff through participation in inter-Parliamentary activities such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC/PF), Pan-African Parliament as well as other bodies of repute.

Training on the community scorecard; a social accountability tool was also arranged in October last year while its field testing was undertaken at the beginning of this month (Feb) in four pilot sites; Selebi-Phikwe, Letlhakeng, Maun and Kanye.

The minister said that was a collaborative effort with the Parliamentary centre in Ghana which he said was devoted to improving effectiveness of representatives legislative Assemblies around the world.

Further, Parliament in collaboration with the American Embassy trained journalists on objective and factual Parliamentary reporting as well as on procedures, functions and other legislative processes.

With regard to implementation of development projects, the minister said P22 700 000 was requested for the 2012/13 financial year to undertake refurbishment of Parliamentary flats, second phase of refurbishing old Parliament buildings and computerisation.

He added that an assessment on refurbishing the flats to determine the scope of work has been completed for the Western wing while for the Eastern part will soon be completed and the actual renovation will commence at the beginning of the next financial year.

The minister also reported a delay in renovating the old Parliament buildings but said work was expected to commence during the course of 2013/14. ENDS