04 Mar 2013

Gaborone Central Member of Parliament Dumelang Saleshando has criticised Minister of Local Government and Rural Development’s proposal to procure blankets and radios for destitute persons and some old age pensioners.

Mr Peter Siele had told Parliament, that from the proposed budget of over P5.4 billion budget proposal for the ministry’s recurrent and development budget for the 2013/14 financial year, the department of Social services will take a share of over P832 million under which they will procure 30 000 blankets and 9 918 radios for destitute persons and some old age pensioners who have no care.

The minister however, explained that the 30 000 blankets were estimated at P200 per blanket which gives a total of P6 million while for the 9 000 radios, inclusive of batteries, at a cost of P270 each thus an amount of over P2.6 million hence an overall total of P8 677 860 to purchase radios and blankets.

The amount, he said was under the old age pension vote but should be under the relief of destitute vote. “If the amount is approved by Parliament, the virement will be effected accordingly,” he said.

Consequently, Mr Saleshando moved for an amendment that would facilitate allocation of the fund to augment the support grant for local authorities for the councils to carry out key issues of priority for the ministry.

Such priorities, he said included among others, refuse collection throughout the country which he argued was not taking place as well as maintaining roads which he said were full of potholes.

Further, he argued that the ministry had a number of areas where it was not coping with proving basic services, saying school children classified as orphans needed on an annual basis enough provision for their clothes and expenses when they are on school trips.

Mr Saleshando further argued that such was introducing a culture that was completely foreign to the way in which public resources were managed and also encouraged further dependence on government.

“Never before have we had Parliament with proposals where ministers in any particular financial year decided to purchase different commodities for destitute persons and pensioners,” he said.

He said allowances have been introduced with a view that they would adequately meet their daily requirements and that there was never any assessment whether old age pensions needed it or not.

“If there are funds and we realise that old age pensioners and destitute persons are not able to survive on the current allowances granted to them why not increase allowances instead?” he questioned. 

He said the government should be allowing old age pensioners and destitute persons to get adequate funds to cater for their basic needs,” he said. ENDS