07 Jun 2018

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi says the Botswana Defence Force(BDF) uniform upkeep allowance was discontinued after  BDF opted to provide all officers with uniform.

Mr Kgathi told Parliament on June 6 that the  allowance was initially paid to officers from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant General ranks to purchase service and ceremonial uniforms.

He said Parliament was not informed because “in actual fact, no right or privilege was taken away in this regard.”

“I am not aware of any soldier who uses his/her money to purchase any uniform, such occurrence would be unauthorized and out of procedure,” he said.

Mr Kgathi was responding to Tlokweng Member of Parliament(MP) Mr Masego Segokgo, who had asked why uniform upkeep allowance at BDF was discontinued and whether it would be reinstated in  future. Mr Segokgo also wanted to know whether Parliament was informed when the decisions was made since it was established through an Act of Parliament.

He had also asked if the officers who used their money to buy uniform would be reimbursed.

Still in Parliament Mr Kgathi informed the House that the opening of the Nkange Satellite Police Post was delayed due the electricity, water and telecommunications connections delays.

The minister said he was constrained to disclose the number of officers to be assigned/deployed to the facility.Mr Kgathi said a significant portion of the Nkange Constituency was short distances closer to the Botswana-Zimbabwe border which he said  exposed members of the community in the constituency to cross-border crime.

Notably, he said the constituency was benefiting from several facilities such as the refurbishment of the Tutume Police Station, the ongoing construction of Maitengwe Police Station with 31 staff houses as well as nine police posts located in Nkange, Nswaswi, Goshwe, Changate, Dangwi, Makuta, Senete, Matobo and Maitengwe Satellite Police Post.

MP  for Nkange Mr Edwin Batshu had asked the minister when the Nkange Satellite Police Post would be open and how many officers and vehicles would be assigned to the station. Ends