16 Mar 2015

Parliament has heard that only 51 officers in the Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police and Prisons Department are eligible for Dirt Allowance.

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, said of these, 42 started receiving the dirt allowance with effect from September 1, 2014, and the concerned officers were also paid arrears from April to September.

He said the remaining nine would be paid allowance in arrears effective April 1, 2015. Minister Kgathi noted that the delay in payment of this allowance was due to the late submission of certified documentation by employees and the necessary verification by the departments, as well as limited funding.

Gaborone Central MP, Mr Phenyo Butale had asked the minister to give an update on the implementation of Directive No. 5 of 2014 on the payment of Dirt Allowance to plumbers and craftsmen under the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security. The minister was also to state the reasons for the delay and give timelines for the implementation of the directive. ENDS