03 Mar 2019

Parliament has been informed that out of a total budget of P21 million allocated to Botswana Television (Btv) for the 2018/19 financial year, P8m was warranted for local content.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi, said P13m was spent on data broadcasting under the same vote.

He said three companies benefitted during the current financial year. Companies included Refa Creations at a cost of P4m, Swanky Arrays at P3.9m and Dee-Zone at P2m.

Mr Molefhi said Refa Creations had been paid P2.9m and the outstanding balance would be paid upon delivery of remaining episodes while Swanky Arrays and Dee-Zone had been fully paid.

The minister further told Parliament that Btv spent a total of US$ 9.1m (over P91m) on international content for the past five years.

He added that Btv had not procured any international content in the current financial year. He stated that government did not incur any cost by airing France 24.

Specially Elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile had asked the minister to state the annual budget for Btv reserved for procuring local content from Batswana and to state the companies that had benefitted from the arrangement during the current financial year.

MP Reatile also wanted to know the annual budget for procuring international content and the amount spent on international content for the past five years.

The minister was further asked whether government incurred any cost by airing France 24 television channel daily. ENDS