25 Feb 2015

Parliament has approved the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) budget for the 2015/16 financial year amounting to P212 million.

The budget was proposed by Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, on February 24. 

It included P178. 7 million recurrent estimates, which is an increase of P21.4 million compared to the current financial year, as well as P33.3 million development estimates. Mr Kgathi said increase in the recurrent estimates was, among other things, caused by the decentralisation of vehicle and building maintenance votes, and increase in the legal costs account. 

Under the recurrent estimates, he said P27.3 million will be spent on salaries, vehicles, and running costs of Legal Aid Botswana, which became an independent public entity at the beginning of January. 

The minister further stated that the Doing Business Reform initiative has been allocated P1 million to support the activities of the National Doing Business Committee in terms of relevant legal reforms to facilitate ease of doing business in Botswana. 

“The remaining five million Pula is geared towards the closure of accounts for infrastructural development of the Directorate of Public Prosecution office in Gaborone,” he said.

Mr Kgathi told MPs that the Attorney General’s Chambers is still facing challenges of shortage of experienced staff with specialist skills, and general staff attrition, especially at the middle management level. 

He said despite the Attorney General Chambers having been allowed special dispensation for the past three years to grow its establishment to meet its critical manpower needs, the dispensation has been set back by imbalance between recruitment and retention, and separations and resignations. 

“In their comments and feedback officers have expressed personal burnout due to a heavy case load per officer within the organisation and unattractive pay and benefits as reasons for separating with chambers. To address some of these challenges we are in the process of reviewing the Attorney General’s Chambers O&M structure. 

We are also exploring possibilities of engaging experts who can help us with reviewing the conditions of service for the officers of the Chambers and the DPP during NDP 11,” the minister explained.

Though he was one of the members who supported the budget proposal, Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, expressed misgivings about the manner in which the Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions are appointed.

He said for the public to have confidence on them, these institutions’ independence must be safe-guarded.  He also said the DPP must be separated from the AGC to enhance its independence. 

Further, he said the Office of Parliament Council should not report to the Office of the President, as it has an important task of advising Parliament on procedures and legal issues. Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi expressed concern at resignations occurring at the AGC. 

Which he said has a negative impact on service delivery, and urged the minister to address it quickly. He said the issue of low salaries is one of the things causing resignations.  He also complained about political interference at the AGC and asked the minister to ensure the issue is halted otherwise the public will lose confidence on the institution.

However, Sefhare-Ramokgonami MP, Ms Dorcus Makgato refuted allegations of political interference on AGC by the ruling Botswana Democratic Party.  Parliament approved the budget on Wednesday, February 25.