10 Jun 2019

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has urged retired Botswana Defence Force (BDF) members to join the BDF Retired Members Association so that government could assist them as a collective.

Dr Masisi, who was addressing the Retired BDF Members Association’s 11^th Annual General Meeting on June 8, said he had instructed the Minister of Defence, justice and Security to come up with a legislation specific to military veterans so that their needs could be addressed.

While the enactment of legislation is being progressed, he said, a Military Veterans Unit has already been established in the ministry.

Dr Masisi said the envisaged legislation would facilitate, empower and give authority to Military Veterans Unit to deal with the needs of ex-military members.

The legislation, he said, would provide structures and principles for governance of separated members of the BDF in line with international best practice.

It would provide a clear definition of a veteran, what qualifies them to be one and manage expectations by elaborately spelling out entitlements to military veterans.

“The minister has informed me that a Cabinet Memorandum on the enactment of a Military Veterans Act has already been submitted for consideration by Cabinet during the month of June,” he said.

Dr Masisi further informed ex-military members that the envisaged act would address the current arrangement, where the commander is responsible for the welfare of both active and separated members.

He said the arrangement fell short in addressing the needs of ex-military personnel as it over-stretched the commander in terms of time and resources.

He cited some of the issues affecting ex-military personnel as payment of forfeited leave days, workers compensation, and disability claims.

Dr Masisi said between 2013 and 2019 a total of 705 out of 888 workers compensation claims were fully settled at a total of P44.9m while 104 were still being processed.

“My government is committed to establishing systems and structures that will address challenges pertaining to the military veterans. You are a national resource that should be tapped into for the development of this nation. The skills that you possess cannot be allowed to go to waste. We will therefore continue to engage you individually and collectively through your association to determine how and where you can make meaningful contribution to the advancement of this nation,” stated Dr Masisi.

He implored ex-BDF members to explore opportunities and come up with initiatives ‘so that together we can build a brighter future for this country’.

He also commended ex-military members for a ‘splendid job’ as trainers in character building and life skills at technical colleges.

For his part, association’s chairperson, Maj. Gen. Bakwena Oitsile informed President Masisi of the contribution made by his members to the success of the character building and skills development programme.

He called for the programme to be extended to junior and senior secondary schools in order to help mould pupils into responsible leaders.

He also raised a concern over the low number of ex-military personnel who had joined the association, saying that membership stood at only 1 500. The number of members who separated from the BDF is said to exceed 10 000.

 

Maj. Gen. Oitsile thanked President Masisi for making time to address members, a gesture that showed commitment and support government had for the association. ENDS