20 Feb 2017

Members of Parliament on Thursday had different opinions regarding the salary increment of public officers with some providing alternatives.

Debating the 2017/18 national budget on Thursday, Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile said the government should come up with the 13th cheque adding that it should also apply to private sector employees.

MP Reatile said the cheque would become a morale booster for employees adding it could be paid at any time of the year.

For his part, MP Buti Billy of Francistown East called for the improvement of the welfare of public officers, saying this does not only mean salary increment but also issues of staff accommodation.

He further called for the improvement of relationship between unions and government saying it was an area of great concern.

MP for Shashe West, Mr Fidelis Molao said the government was faced with a budget deficit and given a huge wage bill of P20 billion, it was impossible to increase salaries.

He said the 17 per cent salary increase as proposed by the opposition MPs was not sustainable as it meant an additional P3.4 billion.

MP Molao said even if the P3.4 billion could be sourced from funding meant for the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security, as proposed, the money would run out.

Meanwhile, MP Reatile has called upon the government to close any loopholes, as currently some investors easily evade tax.

He said the Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) must be strengthened, as currently it loses money due to some multinational companies who cook their accounting books by stating losses which they never encountered thus avoiding tax.

MP Reatile further said he was concerned about the P1.7 billion given to ICT saying Internet services in the country has not improved.

He said he was concerned that the majority of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were foreign owned and called upon the government to afford citizens willing to invest in the sector with some form of assistance.

MP Reatile said if the government had supported the local textile companies, they could have remained in business rather than to make them rely in Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA).

He said the government could have engaged the companies in the procurement of military and police outfit.

MP Molao said the ICT sector should be developed as it was crucial in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

He further said Botswana should take advantage of the abundant sunlight to generate power.

MP Molao said Batswana should be taught about the importance of tax and how it is used in the development of the country.

He welcomed the tax review adding people should not think it meant they would be an increase rather, the system was being simplified and loopholes would be closed.

MP Molao said the government should come up with a wage subsidy for companies that employ the youths.

Francistown East legislator, Mr Billy said dual citizenship should not be restricted to investors, adding that currently it was difficult for foreigners to get residence and work permits.

MP Billy said churches and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are not doing enough to create employment opportunities hence do not add value to the economy.

He said the government was not able to recover the costs it incurred in sponsoring students in tertiary institutions under the Grant/Loan Scheme due to lack of employment opportunities for graduates. MP Billy said multinational companies doing business in Botswana should be forced to subcontract citizen companies saying this would result with skills transfer.

He said vocational institutions could play a meaningful role as the economy still needed skilled personnel adding school curriculum should be aligned to the demands of the economy. BOPA