24 Nov 2016

Members of Parliament on Tuesday expressed mixed feelings over the amount of money proposed for the Botswana Defence Force (BDF).  

Nkange MP Mr Edwin Batshu said the amount of money, P17.9 billion allocated to defence during National Development Plan (NDP) 11 was not enough to sustain the peace and tranquility which every Motswana has to enjoy.

He said the police should be given enough resources to enable them to be visible everywhere at all times.

MP Batshu further said the BDF should have continuous training and up to date equipment including the latest weapons.

He said the money was also not enough as members of the BDF do not have proper accommodation.

Mmadinare MP Mr Kefentse Mzwinila also was supportive saying the BDF should be given enough resources for it to protect the country.

He said it would be suicidal or like sending the defence units on a death trap if they are sent on harm’s way with dilapidated weapons.

MP Mzwinila said the purchasing of fighter jets for the defence force was a welcomed development saying it was important for a conventional army to protect its skies.

Supporting the bill, Maun East MP Mr Konstantinos Markus said it was important for the defence force to be always prepared and fully equipped.

He said the Lesoma incident happened because BDF soldiers were not fully equipped.

MP Markus further said he welcomed EVM saying it was time for change adding several opposition MPs approved the system after they witnessed its usage in Namibia.

However, several MPs amongst them Isaac Davis, Duma Boko, Dithapelo Keorapetse and Wynter Mmolotsi were opposed to the close to P15 billion allocated to the BDF alone with the police getting about P2 billion.

Mochudi East MP, Mr Davis, said this was tantamount to crime as it was not clear how the money was going to be spent.

He wondered how the police were allocated a small amount of money yet they were dealing with criminal activities on a daily basis.

For his part, Bonnington North MP Mr Duma Boko said the country was not faced with iexternal security therefore does not require such spending.

The biggest threat to national security, he said, includes misery of the unemployed and working destitute, not external threat.

He said the P15 billion could have been channeled into other priority areas such as creation of employment and other areas such as health care and the police. BOPA