09 Apr 2017

A Bill amending the Pensions and Retirement Benefits of former Presidents of Botswana was passed by Parliament on April 6.

Presented by the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale, the Bill amended the current legislation and made it lawful for former presidents to find employment elsewhere after vacating the highest office.

Further, former presidents will now have access to any mode of government transport with permission from the sitting president under the amended law.

It further specified pensions and retirement benefits of former presidents. 

Supporting the Bill, MP for Tonota, Mr Thapelo Olopeng said former presidents should be allowed to work after retiring from the presidency so that they could share their knowledge and experiences locally and abroad.

“We should change the mindset that retired presidents are old men who should be waiting for death. One day we will have a 40-year-old president who will retire aged 50,” Mr Olopeng said.

Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, the Serowe South MP, said allowing former presidents the use of any mode of government transport would help when former presidents are required to undertake significant international trips.

MP for Boteti West, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said former presidents needed to continue contributing positively to development of this country even after retiring.

Therefore, he pointed out that it was progressive for the minister to be amending the law to enable them to work after retiring from the presidency.

However, the Bill received criticism from members of the opposition bench with Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi saying it was crafted to push the interest of the current president.

Mr Mmolotsi wondered why the minister was amending the existing law on benefits on retired presidents, which he said entitled them to good retirement packages.

He also criticised the proposal to give former presidents access to any mode of government transport.

“We cannot afford to fund people’s lifestyles because lifestyles are expensive. We should provide the basics only,” he said, asking for removal of the clause from the Bill.

Also criticising the Bill was Gaborone Bonnington North MP, Mr Duma Boko, who said retired presidents should not be indulged with many benefits at the expense of suffering citizens.

He warned that doing that would lead to resentment on former presidents by citizens.

Also objecting was MP for Ramotswa, Mr Samuel Rantuana, who urged Parliament to address poverty issues and improve the conditions of public officers instead of coming up with laws aimed at enriching former presidents.

However, Mmathethe-Molapowabojang MP, Dr Alfred Madigele said former presidents should be allowed to use different modes of transport belonging to government. ENDS