20 Mar 2018

Parliament has approved Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security budget proposals of more than P8 billion for 2018/2019 financial year.

Minister Shaw Kgathi, who presented the budget on Monday, said over P5.8 billion was for the recurrent budget while more than P2.7 billion was for the development budget. 

He said under the recurrent budget, a total of P212.1 million had been allocated for works under the Ministry Headquarters, which showed an increase of 38 per cent as compared to the 2017/2018 budget of P152.7 million. 

He said the increase was attributable to the growth of the ministry headquarters manpower and the establishment of the Office of The Receiver, which was established by the Proceeds and Instruments of Crime Act (PICA) of 2014, as well as operational costs of Legal Aid Botswana.

Mr Kgathi said the Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation had been allocated over P367 million, which showed a 12 per cent increase against the 2017/2018 budget of P327.7 million, which he said was attributable to increase in the Service Charges and Subsistence Costs Account (Internal Travel) as well as the vehicle replacement budget. 

Projects under the ministry’s development budget received over P2.7 billion.

They included the integrated ministry’s Phase III ICT System that catered for the automation of the Private Security Registration System and the completion of the on-going data and biometric system in the Dukwi Refugee Camp. 

Other projects are the upgrading of the Dukwi Refugee Camp Clinic project, procurement of office space and vehicles for Legal Aid Botswana, procurement of vehicles for the newly established office of the Receiver, specialised vehicles for Botswana Police Services and upgrading and expansion of Radio Communication Network System, among other projects.

Giving an overview of the ministry services, Mr Kgathi acknowledged the role of the Botswana Police Service (BPS) in justice delivery and the achievement of the rule of law.

He said it was reassuring to note that Botswana Police Service crime fighting strategy was showing positive impact in the management of crime and in improving public confidence in the police service 

“As at end of September 2017, Botswana Police Service recorded an overall crime reduction of 3.7 per cent in the number of violent, intrusive, and serious crimes compared to the same period in the year 2016,” he said. 

Mr Kgathi said during the period under review, significant reductions were also recorded in respect of topical offences including theft of motor vehicles, burglary and stock theft.

He further said Botswana policing indicators were in agreement with the assessment of a number of international indices on peace, safety and security that included the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, Global Peace Index, World Justice Project (Rule of Law Index, Global Competitiveness Index and the World Internal Security and Police Index, all of which consistently recognised Botswana as a country of good standing.

Mr Kgathi said the increasing intensity of distribution and use of illicit drugs was a worrying phenomenon, which needed participation of all members of the society, lest this would soon lead to devastating effects of drug addicts and violence as witnessed in some jurisdictions in the world. 

In 2017, he said, the BPS arrested 1 115 people compared to 983 in 2016 for various types of illicit drugs, including the most prominent one dagga, cocaine, heroin, meth cathinone, ephedrine and crystal meth.

“The use of narcotics and drugs has adverse effects on the physical and mental health of users at the personal level and it undermines social and economic development efforts at family, community and national levels. These phenomena therefore should be conceived and implemented with key stakeholders for a broader effectiveness,” he said.In this regard, Mr Kgathi noted that the efficiency and effectiveness of the Botswana Police Service would be ensured by providing them with sufficient capacity and effective operational sources, supported by statutes targeting existing and emerging public safety and security challenges in Botswana.

To this end, a number of capacity building projects such as the Safer City were at various stages of implementation, which he said would further enhance efficiency of the BPS in providing world class policing and a better public safety and security services to the public. On other issues, Parliament also learnt that the ministry continued to table strategic legislations aimed at dealing with emerging security issues and matters of national concern such as the control of money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, ‘which are also issues of concern in the global security framework’.

With regards to the Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation, he said a number of children residing at prison facilities as a result of the incarceration of their mothers had decreased by 74.2 per cent recorded in the same period last financial year. Mr Kgathi also said from April 2017 to January 2018, the number of escapes recorded was eight compared to 33 recorded in the same period last financial year. “This shows a decrease in the number of escapes by 75.8 per cent.  Most of the escaped prisoners have however been recaptured and they will be tried accordingly for prison escape, which is an offence under the Prisons Act,” he said. ENDS