20 Mar 2017

Parliament on Friday approved the Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure of 2016/17 financial year as it comes to a close at the end of this month with bills, salaries and allowances yet to be paid.

Presenting the estimates recently, Acting Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said the supplementary estimates were a result of several factors such as drought and a three per cent salary adjustment for Public Servants.

Minister Molefhi requested over P5 million for Parliament to cater for 3 per cent salary adjustment, shortfalls on provisions for temporary assistance, overtime allowance and internal transportation costs.

For the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, the minister has requested an additional sum of P38 796 770 to cater for various departments under it.

The Office of the President required P8 671 900 to cater for basic salary and allowances to augment the shortfall on account of the three per cent salary adjustment that was effected at the beginning of the financial year, but could no longer be financed through savings.

Mr Molefhi said P2 million was requested to cater for shortfall on the subsistence costs for the Poverty Eradication Unit, the Economic Stimulus Programme Unit and the Presidential Inspectorate Task Team.

He said another P2.5 million was to cater for the increase in consumption resulting from expansion of facilities and to accommodate the increase in utility tariffs.

Mr Molefhi said the Department of Information Services required P5 720 000 to settle outstanding invoices for Botswana Post for the delivery of DailyNews for the months of November, December and January and anticipated invoices for the remaining months of the financial year.

An additional P8 904 870 for the Department of Broadcasting Services have been requested to settle bills that have been outstanding since November, these being, for water, electricity and cleaning services.

The minister has requested P15.5 million for the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) to honour invoices for maintenance of computer systems.

He said the Bot50 celebrations called for tightened security and this resulted in increased number of hours used by the DIS’ computer system, hence the request for additional funding as there was urgent need to service the systems.

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development requested an additional funding amounting to P68.5 million for the shortfall in provision for a second meal at primary schools and for vulnerable groups in 10 districts under the Department of Local Government, Finance and Procurement Services.

The second meal follows the severe drought during the 2015/16 ploughing season, which adversely affected the vulnerable groups.

Minister Molefhi has requested P550 million for the Ministry of Health and Wellness to cover government’s contribution to the Botswana Public Officers Medical Aid Scheme following increases in Medical Aid premiums and also the shortage due to the three per cent salary adjustment under the Department of Clinical Services that was effected at the beginning of the financial year.

The Office of the Auditor General requests an additional P2.9 million to cover three per cent salary adjustment as well as the increased number of officers that became eligible for the scarce skills allowance.

Mr Molefhi also requested P500 000 to replenish the Contingencies Fund after the funds were authorised by the president in February 2016 to cater for purchase of food items for Lesotho.

At that time, the country was faced with a humanitarian crisis arising from drought.

The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism requests an additional P12.3 million to cater for shortfall in salaries and allowances under Headquarters, Departments of Wildlife and National Parks and Meteorological Services.

Minister Molefhi attributed the shortfall to the 3 per cent salary adjustment, adding that it was also because of an increase in the number of officers who became eligible for scarce skills allowance.

The ministry also requests P10 million under Botswana Tourism Organisation to contribute to the International Travel Bourse.

Minister Molefhi said the Department of Defence, Justice and Security requested P47 million to augment the budget for the Botswana Police Service.

This amount included P32 million needed for petrol, oil and lubricants to cater for shortfalls under this vote caused by the need for heightened responses to crime by the Police and also assisting in fighting disasters caused by recent floods.

An additional P15 million is to be used to settle electricity and water bills. ENDS