05 Feb 2018

Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Kenneth Matambo has proposed P19.31 billion as development budget for the 2018/19 financial year, and the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services has been given the lion’s share.

Presenting the budget proposals before Parliament yesterday, the minister said out of the P3.29 billion allocated to the ministry, P2.51 billion had been budgeted for the improvement of water supply as well as wastewater and sludge management.

Minister Matambo said amongst the projects to be implemented was the North South Carrier 2 from Palapye-Mmamashia-Gaborone at P647.29 million in order to provide adequate water supply to the southern part of Botswana.

Another project is the Botswana Emergency Water Security and Efficiency project funded through a loan of USD145.50 million from the World Bank.

Minister Matambo has proposed P562 million to be given to Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to cover operational costs and restructuring of the company.

The remaining P780 million is to be spent on land projects, particularly land servicing countrywide.

The Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security has been allocated P2.78 billion to cater for provision of infrastructure and procurement of air assets, vehicles as well as defence and communication equipment for the Botswana Defence Force (BDF).

The money is also to be used for the refurbishment of Botswana Police Service’s facilities and construction of police stations at Mmathubudukwane, Maitengwe, Semolale, Block 10 in Gaborone, and the rehabilitation of facilities for the Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation.

Mr Matambo also proposed P2.66 billion, which is the largest share of the budget, for the Ministry of Transport and Communications to cover construction and maintenance of transport related infrastructure such as roads, rails and airports.

He said a substantial provision had been proposed for mega road and bridge projects including the Kazungula and Mohembo bridges, construction of three intersections along the KT Motsete Drive in Gaborone, Mogoditshane-Gabane-Mmankgodi road and Gaborone-Boatle dualling.

Other projects are the Mulambakwena-Tshesebe road, Dibete/Mookane/Machaneng road, as well as a modernised and central traffic control system for the greater Gaborone area.

The Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security has been allocated P2.52 billion to promote efficient and optimal utilisation of energy resources.

Mr Matambo said out of the amount, over P863 million or 34 per cent of the budget was proposed for the implementation of the North West Electricity Transmission Grid, which was under implementation after delays.

He said the budget also catered for the completion of Morupule A Power Station rehabilitation.

The minister said Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) had been allocated over P1 billion to cover operational expenses and to meet its debt service obligations for the Morupule B Power Station project.

A further P2.25 billion has been recommended for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to continue implementing social protection programmes and village infrastructure projects.

The primary school backlog eradication programme, including maintenance, accounts for P634.27 million of the ministry allocation increased by P328.52 million over the current year’s allocation.

Ipelegeng has been allocated P635 million and the Community Development programme has a budgetary provision of P570 million. ENDS