13 Aug 2013

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been commended for ensuring that public funds are properly utilised.

Debating the PAC report on August 12, Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said it was clear from the report that systems were not followed when the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security secured rental premises in the Gaborone Central Business District (CBD).

Mr Mmolotsi said the P30 million used to pay rent for unoccupied offices could have been channeled to other development projects. He further said the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning also paid rent for an unoccupied office for three years, which was not acceptable to be coming from the vey ministry holding the national purse.

Tati East MP, Mr Samson Guma said the report should be accepted, although some ministries had fared badly in it; he said those that had fared well should be commended, such as the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology.

For his part, Maun West MP, Mr Tawana Moremi, said he found it difficult to accept the report as the PAC had flouted Standing Orders during the course of its work. Tonota South MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi, said MPs should rally behind PAC in order for it to execute its duties without fear.

He said PAC never victimised or vilified anyone but it probed documents page by page scrutinising everything to the latter. MP Moatlhodi said each thebe spent should be accounted for as developments were not being undertaken on account of economic recession.

Okavango MP, Mr Bagalatia Arone, said it was disheartening to see how money was misused although some constituencies such as his, remained underdeveloped.

Nata/Gweta MP, Rayner Makosha, said a minister should protect the nation instead of defending his officers. He was referring to defence, justice and security minister, Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse, who had called for the expunging of a chapter covering his ministry.

However, on a point of clarification, Mr Seretse asked whether he was defending his officers or procedural error on the part of PAC when he made the request. To this, MP Makosha said the minister could have addressed procedure issues when the Ministerial Tender Committee (MTC) first handled the office accommodation matter.

He commended PAC for its work saying if all procedures were followed, government could save funds. For his part, Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Gilson Saleshando, said the PAC report showed that the country was still experiencing problems of project implementation as funds continue to be returned unspent whereas developments are not done.

He said over expenditure in ministries showed that there was little monitoring by both the ministers and permanent secretaries.The minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, on a point of clarification said ministers were not involved in the administration of funds to avoid corruption and misuse.

However, MP Saleshando said although they did not release funds, they could just monitor the accounting books. Letlhakeng East MP, Liakat Kablay, said the report was welcomed while Kgatleng West MP, Mr Gilbert Mangole, said he was disappointed by the Office of the President saying it should be exemplary, adding that outstanding phone bills were not paid.

MP Mangole further said the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) was just an academic exercise as its impact had not yet been felt on the ground.

He called for priorities to be set saying a leather park that could have been built in Lobatse promised to create 5 000 permanent jobs but was shelved as it needed P240 million funding.

MP Mangole further said the government should create an enabling environment for local producers to produce quality goods. Ends