23 Mar 2017

Parliament has, on March 22, approved the Ministry of Transport and Communications budget proposal amounting to P3.71 billion for the 2017/18.

The budget comprises over P1.9 billion in recurrent estimates and P1.7 billion in development estimates.

Transport and communications minister, Mr Kitso Mokaila explained that the recurrent estimates are an increase of 0.6 per cent from the 2016/17 financial year.

Mr Mokaila said the largest share of the recurrent estimates at P536.5 million has been allocated to the Central Transport Organisation while the second largest share of P488.9 million has been set aside for the Department of Information Technology.

The minister stated that Corporate Services would get P401.8 million while the departments of Roads, Road Transport and Safety, and Telecommunications and Postal Services would share the rest of the money.

The minister further said the bulk of the development budget would be used for roads infrastructure and development of ICT facilities programmes. He said P933.7 million would be spent on completion of projects under the Botswana Integrated Transport Programme.

Minister Mokaila further explained that P129.8 million from the development budget would be spent on air transport infrastructure development. “Major projects to be implemented under this programme are Maun airport project, improvement of radar coverage projects, completion of the Kasane airport project, aeronautical mobile services project, improvement of aviation security systems, navigational aids project as well as upgrading of AFTN to AMHS,” he said.

The minister added that P457.7 million would fund the development of ICT facilities. He said these include the Government Data Network Phase III project, e-Government Programme and the schools connectivity project.

He said ICT facilities in the country have to be brought up to speed.

“My ministry is working on an ICT roadmap, which is intended to refocus our adoption and adaptation for the use of ICT in Botswana, both for the public and the private sector. The roadmap lays out plans with clarity and clearly defines how the government, its stakeholders will attain the set economic targets,” the minister said.

Commenting on the budget, Letlhakeng- Lephepe MP, Mr Liakat Kablay asked the ministry to tarmac some of the roads linking villages in his constituency.

Also contributing to the debate, MP for Tonota, Mr Thapelo Olopeng thanked the minister for pronouncing that the ministry would improve ICT infrastructure.

Mr Olopeng stated that ICT platform is currently weak in Botswana and must be improved without failure. He also said Internet strength and connectivity are poor in the country and must be improved.

MP for Mogoditshane, Mr Sedirwa Kgoroba asked the ministry to improve the state of some internal roads in Mogoditshane such as Khudiring and the one linking Ledumadumane and Mmopane.

Okavango MP, Mr Bagalatia Arone asked for the Mohembo- Gudigwa road to be maintained because ‘it is in a bad state.’

Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile urged the ministry to speed up provision of Internet and computers in schools which would promote the use of ICT by learners from a young age.

MP Fidelis Molao of Shashe West, decried the dilapidated state of roads in his constituency. He said the highway linking Francistown and Nata was in a poor state and needed urgent attention.

The Specially Elected MP, Mr Eric Molale complained that mobile phone and Internet connectivity were not up to the required standard.

He asked the minister to ensure that service providers in the mobile phone and Internet industry invest on better infrastructure to improve their services.

Good Hope-Mabule MP, Kgosi Lotlaamoreng II asked for the tarmacking of several roads in his constituency such as the one linking Rakhuna, Tlhareseleele and Pitsane.

Specially Elected MP, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo urged the ministry to create an enabling environment for youth to tap into opportunities from the ICT sector, which she said was a multi-million Pula industry.

She also said the ministry should encourage new entrants by local companies into the aviation industry, and more air routes and flights introduced. ENDS