22 May 2019

Francistown South Member of Parliament, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi says Botswana has not declared a budget surplus for the past three years.

Addressing Francistown South constituents recently, Mr Mmolotsi said this was due to the fact that the mineral sector under-performed and that tax collection posed a challenge to government. 

He said many people evaded paying tax and that had resulted in government losing a lot of revenue hence the deficit.

Mr Mmolotsi noted that currently, Botswana had about P72.3 billion and such funds helped the country to borrow from outside, adding that about P13 billion had been borrowed to finance development projects.

“The inflation rate faced by this country is at 3.5 per cent but in the year 2018/19, the government raised P58.23 billion from mining, tax, tourism and other sources of revenues but the expected revenue to be used amounted to P67.89 billion,” he said.

MP Mmolotsi stated that the budget was revised and brought down to P65.19 billion with a deficit of P6.96 billion, which prompted government to borrow from other countries to avoid a shortage in the recurrent or development budget.

This, he said was a result of the under-performance of the mineral and tourism sectors and failure to collect tax from individuals and companies.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Segale Letshele called on Batswana to be ready to participate in this year general election by casting their votes.

He urged them to keep their identity cards and registration cards safe to avoid last minute panic.

Kgosi Letshele said as ‘manners make a man’ parents should lead by example by behaving well on the day. Being respectful does not mean one is not clever, he said, adding that the spirit of botho that Batswana are known for should prevail.

For her part, Block 5 Ward Development Committee chairperson, Ms Elizabeth Morebodi said the projects at Phase 4 were nearing completion.

Ms Morebodi briefed the meeting that the Kgotla shelter was at roofing stage while the road project had been completed.

He noted that the only ongoing project was the sewage system installation.

She raised a concern about people who turn residential areas into dumping grounds and urged them to desist from such practice.

Ms Morebodi also complained about unoccupied residential plots that had turned into ruins.

Chief immigration officer Ms Tidimalo Kwati raised concern about people who apply for passports and fail to collect them, noting that their office had many uncollected passports.

She warned those harbouring illegal immigrants to register them with her office as failure to do so was an offence.

For their part, residents requested that their clinic be opened 24 hours, as they were expected to use Area W Clinic after working hours.

They further complained about incomplete development projects. ENDS