12 Dec 2017

MPs have continued to make contributions to the ongoing debate on the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) bill that was tabled in Parliament on Monday.

The bill seeks to, among others, provide for the administration, conditions of service, discipline and employment in the BDF; declare offences, restrictions and penalties as well as to prevent the unauthorised wearing or use of military uniform, decorations, medals or badges and the authorised use of certain military documents.

Contributing to the debate, MP for Gaborone Bonnington North Mr Duma Boko said it was critical that conditions of services of soldiers and professionals serving in the BDF be regularised in cases where the two were performing the same duties.

He cited as an example the case of nurses, saying civilian nurses serving in the army and soldier nurses were being treated differently especially in terms of pay as civilian nurses continued to benefit from pay increases announced by the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) from time to time when their soldier counterparts did not benefit from the same due to them being regulated by the BDF Act and not the Nurses and Midwifery Act over which the DPSM had control.

Mr Boko also noted that it was important that the bill addressed the issue of soldiers being made to undertake policing duties.

He said the nature of their training had conditioned soldiers to use lethal force, hence the importance of minimising their involvement with civilians.

Mr Boko also spoke against the notion that a soldier was on duty 24 hours each day, arguing that every employee was entitled to their leisure time.

He said government should not punish soldiers for having chosen to serve their country in the army by denying them their leisure time.

MP Thapelo Olopeng of Tonota supported the bill saying it was a smart move meant to bring one of the country’s up to speed with those of other countries.

On the notion that soldiers were being denied benefits being enjoyed by their civilian counterparts, Mr Olopeng said it was important to not compare army men and women with civilian professionals regardless of them performing similar duties.

He said even in situations where they performed similar duties, it was crucial to note that soldiers by nature performed special duties.

He dismissed the argument that it was improper for a soldier to work 24 hours a day, saying it was ill-informed because in the army leave was not a right but rather a privilege.

For his part, Selebi Phikwe West MP Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse called on government to consider honouring the founders of the BDF for their role in making the army what it was today.

He said because of their contribution, the BDF had evolved to become the erudite force that it was today.

He however, raised a concern that many soldiers were retiring into poverty due to insufficient pensions.

Indicating that ideally, one’s pension should be at least 75 per cent of their last salary, he pointed out that today, some soldiers took home about 25 per cent of their last salaries.

He said it was, therefore, important that government make a commitment to put more money into the pensions of soldiers.

On another matter, Mr Keorapetse noted that Parliament must provide adequate oversight over the executive on issues pertaining to the BDF.

He said presently, there was an obsession with secrecy under the guise that some information particularly regarding defence and security were confidential and their release detrimental to the country’ security.

Gabane-Mmankgodi MP Major General Pius Mokgware also paid tribute to the founder commanders of the BDF, saying they had served well despite the limitations and challenges under which the army operated then.

On  the bill presently before Parliament, he said the proposed Act should provide for the rehabilitation of soldiers into civilian life when they ceased to served in the army.

He also proposed that a set limit for the period of time that one could serve as commander of the BDF.

Such a move, he said would enhance the effectiveness of the commanders, noting that allowing them to stay for too long carried the potential to engender nepotism and other undesirable traits.

MP Edwin Batshu of Nkange, who also supported the bill, similarly paid homage to the BDF’s founding leaders.

He said having being chosen because of their capabilities, the army’s founders had not disappointed as they had managed to discharge their duties exceptionally well.

The debate on the bill is set to continue. BOPA