15 Dec 2016

MP for Bobonong, Mr Shaw Kgathi has commended President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama for visionary leadership that has put the country in high ranks with regards to world rankings in most aspects.

Contributing to the State-of-the-nation-address at Parliament on Tuesday, he said Botswana consistently ranks high in the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

He said when the country gained independence, there were few Batswana attorneys and no citizen judges, but currently there were magistrate courts around country staffing 62 per cent of women judicial officers.

Mr Kgathi, who is also Minister of Defence, Justice and Security said incidences of crime rate had been on decline since 2008, from 149 crimes per 1 000 population in 2008 to 67 per cent in 1 000 population in 2015.

“A similar trend has been noted in respect to road traffic accidents,” he said.

He further refuted comments from other MPs that the Botswana Police Service (BPS) was neglected with regards to their welfare and conditions of service.

He said his ministry remained committed to facilitate crime management strategy and generally alleviate the fear of crime.

Minister Kgathi further said there had been significant increase in resources allocated to BPS, adding that its vehicle fleet had been increased from 2 125 to 2 522 between 2008 and 2016, adding that six helicopters were purchased for visible and rapid response purposes. With regards to BDF, Mr Kgathi said BDF’s capital defence procurement had been deferred over many years, hence many things became due for replacement and or overhaul as more or less the same time.

“It is thus important to fund the defence force at adequate levels to maintain it cost effectively in the long run,” he said.

He said the bulky budget of his ministry that had been allocated to BDF was meant to balance between such factors.

Mr Kgathi said 18 percent of the BDF budget goes towards addressing the infrastructure, and most of it towards addressing accommodation shortage.

He said close to 50 percent of soldiers were married couples sharing accommodation, while some live in sub-standard accommodation like tents and zozos and some live off-post, hence this poses a serious challenge to military readiness and mobilisation.

He further said 50 percent of the BDF budget would be used towards replacing, upgrading or refurbishing some aged and obsolete weaponry, particularly the air defence, manoeuvre, communication systems and airspace surveillance.

Meanwhile, MP for Sefhare-Ramokgonami, Ms Dorcas Makgato emphasised the need for paradigm shift of strengthening preventative measures in health care. Ms Makgato, who is also Minister of Health and Wellness said the component of wellness in anyone’s health was important in the sense that the bulk of it depends on the individual.

She said individuals were mostly victims of their indiscriminative indulgence in sex, speed and food, adding that these were the main basics of health that needed to be taken care of.

She further said government had invested immensely in various prevention and treatment strategies and programmes in quest to combat diseases and that it was up to individuals to take health precautions. Minister Makgato further cautioned that it was not through provision of resources or huge facilities that could bring about the well-being of citizens, but the adoption of healthy lifestyles.

She said as resources were diminishing, it was about time that Batswana take their health in their own hands and ensure a healthy lifestyle as championed by government’s response in further emphasising the component of wellness in the ministry’s change of name.

Ms Makgato said the vision for the 90-90-90 Fast Track Initiative for ending AIDS by 2030 can be attained if Batswana could put a little more effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS through behavioural change and lifestyle.

On other issues, Ms Makgato called on government to consider supporting the Tswapong region in provision of horticultural implements as the area was endowed with underground water that might be utilised to create employment opportunities for young people. ENDS